{"id":460161,"date":"2021-01-21T20:27:45","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T03:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=460161"},"modified":"2021-01-21T20:27:45","modified_gmt":"2021-01-22T03:27:45","slug":"mizzou-grabs-2022-verbal-commitment-from-colorado-5a-state-finalist-sydney-bales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/mizzou-grabs-2022-verbal-commitment-from-colorado-5a-state-finalist-sydney-bales\/","title":{"rendered":"Mizzou Grabs 2022 Verbal Commitment from Colorado 5A State Finalist Sydney Bales"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW COMMIT:\u00a0<\/strong>Broomfield, Colo. native\u00a0Sydney Bales\u00a0<\/strong>has announced her decision to continue her academic and swimming career at the University of Missouri beginning in the fall of 2022.<\/p>\n

She will join\u00a0Grace Striley<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and Grace Hanson<\/a> <\/strong>as a member of the Tigers\u2019 Class of 2026.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI had a feeling the moment I stepped on campus that Mizzou was the place for me. Throughout the whole process, I fell in love with the family culture of the team and support staff, and I connected with the team immediately. The energy Mizzou has is unmatchable, and I can\u2019t wait to spend the next four years with such an amazing group of people who share the same passion for swimming and in life. GO TIGERS!!!!! I am so incredibly excited and humbled to announce my verbal commitment to further my athletic and academic career at the University of Missouri!! A big thank you to my family, friends coaches and teammates who have helped me get to where I am today, it\u2019s a dream come true. I can\u2019t wait to be apart of the zou family, GO TIGERS!!\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A talented backstroker, Bales does her club swimming with Front Range Barracudas and earned 100% best times at the FAST Showcase last month. Last winter, she recorded three top-10 finishes at the Pioneer Open which included a runner-up showing in the 100 back.<\/p>\n

In Summer 2019, she finished fourth in the 100m back at Arena Western Zones.<\/p>\n

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