NEW COMMIT: The University of Alabama has scored their third verbal commitment for the fall of 2022 from Olympic Trials qualifier Laci Black of Rockwall, Texas.
She will join Mackenzie Brandt, Kylee Grafmiller and Stella Grace Watts in Tuscaloosa as a member of Bama’s Class of 2026.
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“I am beyond thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to further my swimming and academic career at the University of Alabama! I want to say a special thank you to my coaches, teammates and family for helping me along this journey. Alabama is an amazing University and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. Roll Tide”
One of the top 400 IMers in the class with a knack for distance freestyle as well, Black does her club swimming with Rockwall Aquatic Center of Excellence. She earned bronze in the 400 IM at Juniors West where she also placed 10th in the mile and more recently recorded five top-8 finishes at College Station Sectionals.
In Summer 2019, she had a great showing at Austin Sectionals where she took third in the 200m fly, fourth in the 400m IM, and fifth in the 400m free. She then went on to place 11th in the 800m free and 18th in the 400m IM at Junior Nationals.
Her best times include:
- 200 free – 1:50.49
- 500 free – 4:51.63
- 1000 free – 10:02.57
- 1650 free – 16:37.34
- 100 fly – 57.43
- 200 fly – 2:00.18
- 200 IM – 2:04.27
- 400 IM – 4:14.92
Even with just under two years still to go before arriving on campus at the start of the 2022-23 season, Black – along with her future classmates – will make an immediate impact as Alabama has made a big push for recruiting distance freestylers.
Black’s future classmates and potential training partners Brandt (9:57.88/16:38.25), Grafmiller (10:02.10/16:28.47) and Watts (10:23.71/16:33.68) are also extremely 1000/milers. All four swimmers will arrive in Tuscaloosa following the graduation of Kensey McMahon, the 2020 SEC champion in the mile.
Black will likely focus more on IM as her primary event, however, since she would’ve been Alabama’s third-fastest 400 IMer last season. She would’ve placed in the C-final of that event at the last year’s conference championships.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
