NEW COMMIT: Gainesville, Fla. native Georgia Bates has opted to stay close to home for her college career, verbally committing to the University of Florida for the 2021-22 season.
She’ll be reunited with her older sister, Talia Bates, who is a rising sophomore All-American for the Gators.
She will join Ekaterina Nikonova, Olivia Peoples, Anna Auld, Mary Kate Kelley, Micayla Cronk, and Brooke Zettel in Gainesville as a member of the class of 2025.
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“It’s great to be a Florida Gator!! I’m so proud to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at The University of Florida!! I’d like to thank my family, coaches, friends, and Hank for all the support. I can’t wait to be a part of such an amazing group of girls!!”
Familiar with Florida’s program, Bates swims year-round with Gator Swim Club and recorded six top-10 finishes at the Florida Spring Championships in 2019 before going on to race four events at NCSAs. Last summer, she finaled in the 50m back and 50m fly at Gainesville Sectionals.
Her best times include:
- 50 back – 26.89
- 100 back – 56.70
- 200 back – 2:01.44
- 100 fly – 55.68
- 50 free – 23.70
- 100 free – 51.25
Also competing for F.W. Buchholz High School, Bates is a six-time Florida 4A State Championship finalist. The USA Swimming Scholastic All-American finished 10th in both the 50 free and 100 fly as a junior while taking sixth in the 100 free and 14th in the 100 back during her sophomore season. She also raced to seventh in the 100 back and 100 free as a freshman.
With a year to go before suiting up for the Gators, Bates is already close to scoring at the conference level in her best events. It took 53.63/1:56.19 in the 100/200 back, 53.77 in the 100 fly, and 22.59/49.34 in the 50/100 free to score at 2020 SEC Championships where Florida finished second overall in the team standings.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
