{"id":439510,"date":"2020-07-10T18:51:29","date_gmt":"2020-07-11T01:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=439510"},"modified":"2020-07-10T18:51:29","modified_gmt":"2020-07-11T01:51:29","slug":"gator-swim-clubs-georgia-bates-will-stay-close-to-home-verbals-to-florida-for-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/gator-swim-clubs-georgia-bates-will-stay-close-to-home-verbals-to-florida-for-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Gator Swim Club’s Georgia Bates Will Stay Close to Home, Verbals to Florida for 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW COMMIT:\u00a0<\/strong>Gainesville, Fla. native Georgia Bates <\/strong>has opted to stay close to home for her college career, verbally committing to the University of Florida for the 2021-22 season.<\/p>\n

She’ll be reunited with her older sister, Talia Bates<\/strong>, who is a rising sophomore All-American for the Gators.<\/p>\n

She will join Ekaterina Nikonova<\/strong><\/a>, Olivia Peoples<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Anna Auld<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Mary Kate Kelley<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Micayla Cronk<\/strong><\/a>, and Brooke Zettel<\/strong><\/a> in Gainesville as a member of the class of 2025.<\/p>\n

Regarding her commitment, she said:<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s great to be a Florida Gator!! I\u2019m so proud to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at The University of Florida!! I\u2019d like to thank my family, coaches, friends, and Hank for all the support. I can\u2019t wait to be a part of such an amazing group of girls!!”<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Familiar with Florida’s program, Bates swims year-round with Gator Swim Club and recorded six top-10 finishes at the Florida Spring Championships in 2019 before going on to race four events at NCSAs. Last summer, she finaled in the 50m back and 50m fly at Gainesville Sectionals.<\/p>\n

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