Auburn Receives Trio of 2021 Verbals from Fletcher Hayes, Jacques Rathle & Andrew Simmons

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr / Swimming Australia Ltd.

NEW COMMITS: Auburn University has landed three more verbal commitments for their growing class of 2025 from Fletcher Hayes, Jacques Rathle, and Andrew Simmons.

All three talented swimmers will join Grant Davis and Nate Stoffle at the start of the 2021-22 season.

FLETCHER HAYES

Photo Courtesy: Fletcher Hayes via CollegeSwimming

A native of Englewood, Colo., Hayes swims year-round with Aces Swim Club and capped off his successful long course season with 100% best times at Des Moines Futures where his highest finish was a fifth-place showing in the 100m back after seven top-8 finishes at Colorado LCM Seniors. The owner of a pair of U.S. Open cuts, he raced three events at Juniors West last December and raced to fifth in the 200 back at Phoenix Sectionals.

A current junior at Arapahoe Senior High School, Fletcher is a four-time Colorado 5A State Championship finalist. He earned silver in the 500 free and bronze in the 200 IM as a sophomore while finishing eighth and sixth, respectively, in those events during his rookie season.

Regarding his commitment, he said:

“I am very honored and excited to announce that I will be continuing my swimming and academic career at Auburn University. When I first stepped foot on campus I knew it was the school for me, the coaches and swimmers made me feel like family and I knew I had found my place. I cannot thank my family, coaches, teammates and friends enough for all their support! WAR EAGLE!!”

His best times include:

100 back – 50.73
200 back – 1:48.02
200 IM – 1:51.49

JACQUES RATHLE

Photo Courtesy: Jacques Rathle via CollegeSwimming

Hailing from Thibodaux, La., Rothle does his club swimming with Crawfish Aquatics and has achieved four U.S. Open cuts. This past summer, he finaled in the 400m IM at Junior Nationals after earning four gold medals at Louisiana LCM Seniors. He also notched three best times at Juniors West last winter before going on to placed 12th in the 200 breast at College Station Sectionals.

Also competing for E.D. White Catholic High School, Rathle is a six-time Louisiana DIII State Championship gold medalist. The two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American has remain undefeated in the 200 IM and 100 breast at the state championship level, and he most recently set a new state record in the 200 IM.

Regarding his commitment, he said:

“I am beyond blessed and humbled to announce my verbal commitment to further my academic and swimming career at Auburn University. From the moment I stepped foot on campus, I knew that I was home. Thanks to my family, teammates, and all of my coaches through the years. #WAREAGLE #WDE”

His best times include:

200 IM – 1:49.91
400 IM – 3:58.78
100 breast – 56.11
200 breast – 2:03.68

ANDREW SIMMONS

Photo Courtesy: Andrew Simmons via CollegeSwimming

Training and competing year-round with Dynamo Swim Club, Simmons is the owner of three U.S. Open qualifying standards and placed 21st in the 200m back at Junior Nationals in August. A native of John’s Creek, Ga., he earned a best time in every event he swam at Juniors East last short course season before going on to finish 15th in the 200 back at the Southern Premier Invitational.

Simmons has been a member of two winning relays at the Georgia 6A State Championships for John’s Creek High School, helping his team to the state title last season. The two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American was the 200 IM runner-up as a sophomore and placed fourth in the 100 back in 2017 and 2018.

Regarding his commitment, he said:

“I am honored and excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and further my studies at Auburn University! Thank you to my family, friends, and coaches who have helped me along the way. War Eagle! #WDE”

His best times include:

50 back – 23.80
100 back – 50.50
200 back – 1:48.74
200 IM – 1:51.50
400 IM – 4:01.56

If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.

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