NEW COMMIT: Raleigh, North Carolina native and high school junior Amanda Ray has given her verbal commitment to the University of Florida and will join the Gators in the fall of 2020.
Ray does her club swimming with New Wave Swim Team and is a five-time Winter Juniors (or faster) qualifier which includes a trio of U.S. Open cuts. She capped off an extremely successful long course season with a silver medal in the 200m fly at Junior Nationals where she also finished seventh in the 400m free. She recorded 100% best times at NC LCM Seniors and took fourth in the 200m fly at the Charlotte UltraSwim. She finaled in the 200 fly at Juniors East last winter and had five second-swims at NCSAs in March.
Also competing for Leesville Road High School, Ray is a four-time North Carolina State Championship finalist. She won the 100 fly and took second in the 500 free as a sophomore after placing third and sixth, respectively, in those events during her freshman season. Ray has also earned both NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors for her efforts.
She told Swimming World:
“I’m so excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Florida!! I could never have gotten here if it wasn’t for my amazing teammates and coaches!! I can’t wait to be a gator!!”
Her best times include:
- 100 fly – 54.28
- 200 fly – 1:59.00
- 400 IM – 4:20.56
- 200 free – 1:49.45
- 500 free – 4:52.17
When she suits up for the Gators as a member of the class of 2024, Ray will add her talents to a fly group that includes Mabel Zavaros and a mid-distance free squad led by Leah Braswell and Taylor Ault. Even with just under two years of club swimming still to go before arriving in Gainesville, Ray’s best 200 fly time would’ve scored in the C-final of the 2018 SEC Championships.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
