{"id":221395,"date":"2016-09-18T15:21:34","date_gmt":"2016-09-18T22:21:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=221395"},"modified":"2016-09-22T09:32:47","modified_gmt":"2016-09-22T16:32:47","slug":"emma-otten-lauren-hilt-both-give-verbal-nod-to-south-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/emma-otten-lauren-hilt-both-give-verbal-nod-to-south-carolina\/","title":{"rendered":"Emma Otten, Lauren Hilt Both Give Verbal Nod to South Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The University of South Carolina secured two verbal commitments this afternoon.\u00a0Emma Otten\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Lauren Hilt\u00a0<\/strong>both announced their commitments on Twitter.<\/p>\n

Otten swims for Countryside YMCA and is primarily a backstroker. At this summer’s YMCA Nationals, she finished in the top six in the 100 and 200 backstrokes.<\/p>\n

In short course, her lifetime best times are 26.45, 55.06, and 1:58.82 for the 50 through 200. Otten has also been a 2:02.57 in the 200 butterfly, good for a Winter Juniors cut. Her best times in all of the backstroke events come from last spring’s YMCA Nationals and she cut over a second off her 200 time since 2015.<\/p>\n

Hilt swims for\u00a0Fox Valley Wave Swim Team Inc in Wisconsin. The Appleton, Wisconsin native is primarily a sprinter. Her best events are the 50 free (24.02) and 100 butterfly (57.26) though she swam those times when she was 15. Last spring, Hilt posted best times in the 100 backstroke (57.75) and 100 freestyle (52.55). After a 1.63 second drop in her 100 backstroke last year, Hilt could be challenging her new teammate by the fall.<\/p>\n

The Gamecocks finished 11th at the 2016 SEC Championships.<\/a>\u00a0Making it into in the C final of the 100 backstroke required a 54.70. Otten could be in that range by the time she arrives in Columbia next fall. Then senior\u00a0Ashley Ferguson\u00a0<\/strong>was the only Gamecock swimmer in that final last season. Otten could also challenge for a relay spot in her freshman year.<\/p>\n

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I am thrilled to announce my decision to swim at the University of South Carolina! Go Cocks! \ud83d\udc14\u2764\ufe0f #spursup<\/a><\/p>\n
— Lauren Hilt (@Hilt_L) September 18, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n