{"id":348020,"date":"2019-01-20T19:53:42","date_gmt":"2019-01-21T02:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=348020"},"modified":"2019-01-20T19:53:42","modified_gmt":"2019-01-21T02:53:42","slug":"auburn-secures-verbal-from-swimmacs-kensley-merritt-for-class-of-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/auburn-secures-verbal-from-swimmacs-kensley-merritt-for-class-of-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Auburn Secures Verbal from SwimMAC’s Kensley Merritt for Class of 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW COMMIT:\u00a0<\/strong>Auburn University has gained a verbal commitment for the fall of 2020 from Huntersville, North Carolina native and current high school junior\u00a0Kensley Merritt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Merritt swims year-round with SwimMAC Carolina and owns five Winter Junior cuts which includes the U.S. Open standard in the 100 back. She earned five new personal bests at Juniors East last month where her highest finish was a 19th-place showing in the 200 free. The NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American raced three events at Junior Nationals this past summer and won the 200 back at Greensboro Speedo Sectionals last March. Also competing for William Amos Hough High School, she was the 100 back runner-up and took fourth in the 200 free as a sophomore at the North Carolina 4A State Championships after placing seventh in both the 100 back and 50 free during her freshman season.<\/p>\n

She told\u00a0Swimming World:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI chose Auburn University because of the balance between academics and athletics along with the instant connection I felt with the coaches and team! I fell in love with the campus and town the first time I visited and can\u2019t wait to carry on the traditions already built! War Eagle!!\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Her best times include:<\/p>\n