Junior National Finalist Elise Bauer Sends Verbal to Florida for 2020

Photo Courtesy: Tara Bauer

NEW COMMIT: Ocala, Fla. native and high school junior Elise Bauer has announced her in-state verbal commitment to the University of Florida for the fall of 2020.

Bauer swims year-round for the Central Florida Marlins under head coach Bill Vargo and owns a pair of U.S. Open cuts. She most recently competed in three events at Winter Nationals earlier this month and also attended the USA Swimming National Select Camp at the Olympic Training Center. The distance freestyle specialist finished fifth in the 800m free and sixth in the 1500m free at Junior Nationals this past summer and also won three gold at the 2017 Tennessee Futures Championships.

Also representing Forest High School, Bauer is a three-time finalist at Florida 3A State Championships. She placed second in the 500 free and fifth in the 200 free as a junior after finishing second in the former as well as ninth in the 200 IM during her sophomore season. Bauer has also earned USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors.

She told Swimming World:

“I chose Florida because it is an academic and swimming powerhouse. I am grateful for my parents and coaches who helped me get here and am so excited to swim for one of the best schools in the country. I know that Coach Poppell will help me get to the next level of my swimming career. Go Gators!”

Her best times include:

200 free – 1:50.36
500 free – 4:48.59
1000 free – 10:04.31
1650 free – 16:34.31

When she suits up for the Gators at the start of the 2020-21 season, Bauer will add her talents to a distance freestyle group that includes Taylor Ault and Leah Braswell. Although she sits just outside of scoring range in the 500 free, Bauer’s fastest mile time would’ve placed in the top-20 at the 2018 SEC Championships.

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

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