Haley Horton, a senior at Southwest Guilford High School in High Point, North Carolina, has given her verbal commitment to Mars Hill University’s class of 2021. “Proud to be a lion, thanks to everyone who has helped me to grow as a person and an athlete along the way.”
Horton trains year-round for the GCY Makos (also known as YMCA of Greensboro), whose Swim Team Director and head coach, Brad Herndon, told SwimSwam, “Haley is a versatile swimmer, with no weak strokes and an amazing improvement chart over the past 3 seasons. All times below would score in the A finals at Appalachian Swimming Conference Championships, and her current best times in 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke, and 100 freestyle would have gotten her top 4 overall.”
Horton was a finalist in the 100 fly at the 2017 NCHSAA 4A State Championships, finishing 14th with a PB of 58.14. She led off Southwest Guilford’s 200 medley relay in prelims, as well. Horton has made enormous progress in all strokes during her high school years. As an example, here are her butterfly progressions:
- 2017 – 58.14
- 2016 – 58.99
- 2015 – 59.67
- 2014 – 1:04.23
- 2013 – 1:07.69
- 2012 – 1:11.13
The rest of her top SCY times are:
- 50 back – 28.18
- 100 back – 58.81
- 50 free – 24.63
- 100 free – 53.04
Current best times for the long strokes/IM (all swum during in-season meets, not rested):
- 200 fly – 2:11.80
- 200 back – 2:18.91
- 200 breast – 2:40.58
- 200 free – 1:59.01
- 200 IM – 2:16.43
- 400 IM – 4:50.96
The Mars Hill women placed fifth at the 2017 Appalachian Swimming Conference Championships, only 40 points behind third-place West Virginia Wesleyan. Horton will have a huge impact on the Lions’ results from the outset.
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Go Teddy!