NEW COMMITS: The University of Virginia has been on a roll with their class of 2025 recruiting and have recently scored two more verbal commitments from Ella Bathurst and Kate Morris. They will join Abby Kapeller, Caroline Pennington and Reilly Tiltmann in Charlottesville at the start of the 2021-22 season.
Both swimmers will make an immediate impact for the Hoos. Under head coach Todd DeSorbo, Virginia took the runner-up spot in the team standings at the ACC Championships and placed sixth at NCAAs last season.
ELLA BATHURST
The Tampa, Fla. native swims year-round with Tampa Elite Aquatics and has achieved the 2020 Olympic Trials cut in the 200m free. At Junior Nationals this past summer, she finished fourth in the 200m free, sixth in the 100m free, 14th in the 200m IM, and 16th in the 100m back. She took 10th in the 100 breast at Juniors East last winter and placed fourth in the 200 free at NCSAs.
A current junior at H.B. Plant High School, the two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American is already a four-time Florida 4A State Championship finalist. She won the 100 breast and was the 200 free runner-up during her sophomore season while taking fourth in the 100 free and ninth in the 50 free during her rookie campaign.
Her best times include:
- 50 free – 23.49
- 100 free – 49.81
- 200 free – 1:46.82
- 100 back – 53.72
- 200 back – 1:58.09
- 100 breast – 1:01.75
- 200 breast – 2:14.67
- 100 fly – 57.35
- 200 fly – 2:07.35
- 200 IM – 1:59.76
- 400 IM – 4:19.46
Bathurst will make an immediate impact when she suits up for the Hoos at the start of the 2021-22 season. She would’ve scored in the B-final of the 200 free and 200 IM as well as the C-final of the 100 back and 100 breast at the 2019 ACC Championships.
KATE MORRIS
Hailing from Glen Ellyn, Ill., Morris does her club swimming with BR Ryall NW Dupage YMCA and owns three U.S. Open standards. She capped off her extremely successful long course season by winning the 200m free and taking second in the 50m/100m free at YMCA Nationals with four lifetime bests. Last winter she took 14th in the 100 free and 19th in the 50 free at Juniors West, won the 200 free at Illinois Seniors, and earned silver in the 50/200 free at YMCA Nationals.
Also competing for Glenbard West High School, the NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American is already a four-time Illinois State Championship finalist. Morris grabbed gold in the 200 free and raced to fifth in the 100 free as a sophomore while placing seventh and third, respectively, in those events during her rookie campaign.
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“I am extremely thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic careers at the University of Virginia! I am beyond grateful for all the support from my family, coaches, friends, and teachers throughout this entire journey! Go Hoos!! #shift2021 #wahoowa”
Her best times include:
- 50 free – 22.81
- 100 free – 49.83
- 200 free – 1:46.75
- 100 fly – 54.68
- 100 back – 56.68
Like Bathurst, Morris will also make an immediate impact for the Cavaliers both individually and on relays when she arrives in Charlottesville in 2021. She would’ve scored in the B-final of the 200 free and the C-final of the 50 free at the ACC Championships.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
