{"id":473133,"date":"2021-05-16T10:57:33","date_gmt":"2021-05-16T17:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=473133"},"modified":"2021-05-16T10:57:33","modified_gmt":"2021-05-16T17:57:33","slug":"gators-secure-verbal-pledge-from-florida-1a-bronze-medallist-jessica-strong-for-class-of-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/gators-secure-verbal-pledge-from-florida-1a-bronze-medallist-jessica-strong-for-class-of-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Gators Secure Verbal Pledge from Florida 1A Bronze Medallist Jessica Strong for Class of 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW COMMIT:\u00a0<\/strong>The University of Florida has continued forming a stellar Class of 2026, recently picking up another verbal commitment from Junior National qualifier Jessica Strong <\/b>of Houston, Texas.<\/p>\n

She will join\u00a0Hayden Miller<\/strong><\/a>, Zoe Dixon<\/b><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Scarlet Martin<\/b><\/a>\u00a0as well as Florida natives\u00a0Mallory Schleicher<\/b><\/a>,\u00a0<\/b>Bella Lojewski<\/b><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Anna Moore\u00a0<\/b><\/a>in Gainesville at the start of the 2022-23 season.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Florida! I have so many people to thank, who got me to where I am today. Thank you to all my coaches and teammates who have made me fall in love with the sport and have pushed me to be my best. Also, a big thank you to my parents, who have supported me through everything! GO GATORS!??\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Strong, who does her club swimming with the Bolles School Sharks, swept both breaststroke events at the Florida Senior Championships – North in March after finaling in those events at the Southern Zone Sectional Championships in February.<\/p>\n

Originally from Canada, Strong has finished 16th in the 100m breast at the Canadiana Junior Championships in July 2019. She also placed seventh in the 100m breast and 13th in the 200m breast at the British Columbia Summer Provincial Championships that same summer.<\/p>\n

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