NEW COMMIT: The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill has earned a new verbal commitment for the 2020-21 season from Johns Greek, Georgia native and high school junior Katharine Ward.
Primarily an IMer with a strong breaststroke, Ward does her club swimming with Dynamo Swim Club and owns three Winter Junior standards. She raced four events and achieved a pair of lifetime bests at Juniors East in December and capped off her summer long course season with a runner-up finish in the 200m IM at Cary Futures. She also recorded four best times and registered five second-swims at the Southern Premier Invitational last March.
Also competing for Centennial High School, Ward is a six-time Georgia 6A/7A State Championship finalist. She helped her team to two relay victories and also won the 200 IM and placed third in the 100 breast during her junior season after placing first and second, respectively, in those events as a sophomore. Ward has also earned both NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors.
She told Swimming World:
“I am so excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of North Carolina!! Thank you to my family, friends, and coaches who have helped me along the way. GO HEELS!!”
Her best times include:
- 100 breast – 1:03.52
- 200 breast – 2:17.55
- 200 IM – 2:02.71
- 400 IM – 4:23.62
Although she’s not in scoring range just yet at the ACC Championships, Ward has continuously made improvements each season with 1.5 years of club swimming still to go before suiting up for the Tar Heels. Over the past three seasons, she has shaved just over four seconds off both breaststroke events, five seconds off the 200 IM and eight from the 400 IM.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
