{"id":446040,"date":"2020-09-08T08:02:31","date_gmt":"2020-09-08T15:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=446040"},"modified":"2020-09-08T08:02:31","modified_gmt":"2020-09-08T15:02:31","slug":"kentucky-state-champ-holden-smith-de-commits-from-alabama-verbals-to-texas-for-2022-after-gap-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/kentucky-state-champ-holden-smith-de-commits-from-alabama-verbals-to-texas-for-2022-after-gap-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky State Champ Holden Smith De-Commits from Alabama, Verbals to Texas for 2022 After Gap Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW COMMIT:\u00a0<\/strong>After originally committing<\/a> to the University of Alabama, U.S. Open qualifier Holden Smith\u00a0<\/strong>of Louisville, Ky. has changed his verbal pledge to the University of Texas.<\/p>\n

Smith, who will take a gap year next year, plans on joining the Longhorns in the fall of 2022.<\/p>\n

Regarding his decision, he said:<\/p>\n

“I feel blessed and honored to announce my verbal commitment to further my academic and swimming goals at the University of Texas. I want to first thank God for giving me such a special opportunity. Also, I want to thank Coach Reese and Coach Collins for welcoming me into the Longhorn Family! HOOK EM!??”<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Smith does his club swimming with Race Pace Club and finished seventh in the 100 fly at Juniors East in December and placed ninth in the 200m fly at the Des Moines TYR Pro Swim Series in March.<\/p>\n

In 2019, he earned 100% best times at the Kentucky LCM Championships and placed ninth in the 100 fly at the Southern Premier Invitational.<\/p>\n

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