Juniors Finalist Katie Rauch Verbals to UNC Tar Heels, Will Join Brother for 2021-22 Season

Photo Courtesy: Katie Rauch Instagram (@katie_rauch1)

NEW COMMIT: The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has scored a new verbal commitment for the 2021-22 season and beyond from in-state standout Katie Rauch of Charlotte, N.C.

Rauch, who owns the Olympic Trials cut in the 200m back with six additional Junior National standards, swims year-round with Aquatic Team of Mecklenburg and most recently placed fifth in the 200 back and 14th in the 200 free at Juniors East. She finished fourth in the 200m back (2:13.67) at Junior Nationals this past summer to achieve her Trials cut after placing eighth in the 100m free at North Carolina LCM Seniors.

A current junior at South Mecklenburg High School, Rauch is a three-time North Carolina 4A State Championship finalist. The two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American was the runner-up in both the 200 free and 500 free during her sophomore season while taking seventh in the 100 fly as a freshman.

Photo Courtesy: Katie Rauch Instagram (@katie_rauch1)

Her best times include:

100 back – 55.84
200 back – 1:56.50
50 free – 23.87
100 free – 51.46
200 free – 1:48.59
500 free – 4:45.21
1000 free – 9:53.17
100 fly – 57.16
200 fly – 2:05.95
200 IM – 2:02.27
400 IM – 4:22.95

Even with 1.5 years of club swimming still to go before suiting up for the Tar Heels in the fall of 2021, Rauch will make a big impact in their mid-distance freestyle and backstroke group. She would’ve ranked first on the team last year in the 500 free, second in the 200 back, and third in the 1000 free and has already seen some big time drops so far this year.

Rauch will join twins Olivia and Georgia Nel as members of the Tar Heels’ class of 2025 and will have one year of overlap with her brother, Jacob Rauch, who’s currently a sophomore breaststroker on UNC’s men’s team.

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

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