Christi Riley, who transferred into the Bolles School for her senior season in 2014, has verbally committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
“I am thrilled with the opportunity Coach (Bill) Dorenkott has offered me to join a program that prides itself in developing swimmers. I felt comfortable and inspired by the coaching staff, the team, and the campus atmosphere from the moment I visited. The academic and athletic opportunities at The Ohio State University are fantastic and I can’t wait to be a part of the school. The Coaches at Bolles have helped my confidence and swimming so much in such a short time, and I’m looking forward to building on that in the future with the Buckeyes.”
Riley has had a long and winding journey to the Big Ten. She began her high school career in 7th grade with Jacksonville’s Episcopal High School, and scored at the Florida 1A State Championship meet as both an 8th grader and 9th grader, and was named all-First Coast.
She then spent two years focusing exclusively on club swimming, and her progress slowed as a sophomore and junior while she dealt with a medical condition that ultimately led to surgery on both ankles.
This summer, though, she transferred to Bolles, and, finally healthy again, excelled. That included a 6th-place finish in the 100 free at Florida 1A State Championship meet this past weekend with a 51.78 and an 8th-place finish in the 50 free. In both races, she went best times at the State Championship meet – perhaps a product of doing dry-land training for the first time in her life.
Riley’s best times in yards:
- 50 free – 23.88
- 100 free – 51.44
- 200 free – 1:53.89
- 100 back – 59.02 (as a freshman)
- 200 back – 2:15.08 (as a freshman)
- 100 breast – 1:07.50 (as a freshman)
- 100 fly – 57.67 (as a freshman)
The Buckeyes really needed to add sprinters in this recruiting class, and Riley’s addition gives them just that. She’ll be in contention as a freshman for a spot on Ohio State’s sprint free relays, and by her sophomore year, after the Buckeyes graduate several of their top sprinters, she’ll be in an even better position to contribute.