NEW COMMIT: Fresh off winning the 2018 ACC Swimming & Diving Championship title, the University of Virginia swimming program has picked up a verbal commitment for the class of 2023 from standout sprinter Kate Douglass. She announced the news via her Instagram handle:
Douglass swims for Chelsea Piers Aquatics Club in Stamford, CT and is also a member of the USA Swimming National Junior Team. Throughout her age group swimming career, she has won Junior National titles, competed across the world for the United States and broken National Age Group Records formerly held by the likes of Simone Manuel and Dara Torres.
At the 2017 FINA World Junior Championships, Douglass finished tenth in the 50 free after placing in the top three in three events at Summer Junior Nationals in Long Island. She has also earned numerous New York state and sectional high school titles competing for Pelham Memorial High School. Douglass is a NISCA All-American and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.
Douglass’ Best Times:
Short Course:
50 free – 22.04
100 free – 48.54
200 free – 1:48.10
100 breast – 1:00.26
200 breast – 2:10.59
100 fly – 54.81
200 IM – 1:58.12
Long Course:
50 free – 25.50
100 free – 56.16
200 free – 2:04.46
100 breast – 1:10.05
200 breast – 2:30.40
100 fly – 1:02.04
200 IM – 2:15.09
Douglass will make an immediate impact on the ACC and the UVA program. She would have made the A final at this year’s Championship in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 breast and 200 breast. In her signature 50 freestyle, she would have come in third only behind UVA’s Caitlin Cooper (21.54) and North Carolina’s Caroline Baldwin (21.89).
Cooper led the Cavalier sprint relays to two ACC titles this season, so Douglass’ verbal commitment comes at a great time for the program since Cooper graduates this fall. The team will lose other crucial sprinters Laine Reed and Dina Rommel this year for the same reason.
For Virginia Specifically, Douglass would have been the fastest 100 and 200 breaststroker this season. Her times in both events are under the NCAA ‘B’ cut standard as she would be in top 50 overall in these events as a junior in high school. Her 50 freestyle, also a ‘B’ standard, would currently put her tied for eighteenth in the NCAA in the hunt for an individual bid to the NCAA Championships.
