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Nathan Hayes from Shoreline, Washington has announced he plans to swim for Georgia Tech in the class of 2024.
“I am very excited to announce my commitment to Georgia Tech! What really moved me to choose Georgia Tech over all the other colleges was how close knit the team was. It truly felt like a family. It’s been a long and hard road to get to where I am now, but I’ve loved every minute of it. I would like to thank all of the coaches I have had, especially my current coach, Tommy Cunningham, as well as my parents for all their sacrifices and support they have given me throughout all the years I have been swimming. Also, a special thanks to my teammates who continue to believe in me and push me past my limits. I am really looking forward to starting my new adventure with the Yellow Jackets!!!🐝”
Hayes is a senior at O’Dea High School in Seattle. He swims year-round for Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club. In his last high school season, he placed second in the 100 back (50.11) and fifth in the 200 IM (1:54.62) at the WIAA Boys 3A State Championships. He went 23.65 to lead off the third-place medley relay and 50.65 to lead off the 10th-place 400 free relay.
Hayes swims year-round for Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club. This summer he fired off a lifetime-best 2:01.74 to win the 200 back at the Pacific Northwest LSC Long Course Championships in July, punching his first ticket to Omaha for 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. A week later he lowered his PB to 2:01.43 with a runner-up performance at Speedo Junior Nationals. Also in Palo Alto, he placed 14th in the 100 back (57.32), and split 53s on two 100 freestyles for various SMAC relays.
Georgia Tech graduated its top backstrokers last year, seniors Rodrigo Correia and Colton Williamson. Then-freshman Kyle Barone, who joined Correia in the B final of the 100 back at 2019 ACC Championships, is the fastest returner. He went 46.59/ 1:45.17 in the 100/200 back last season. Hayes will also overlap with Leon Warnakulasuriya (49.54/1:46.62) and Austin Daniel (49.77/1:54.61).
Hayes will hit the ground running when he arrives in Atlanta. He already has a 200 back time that would have put him in the C final at conference. It took 48.0/1:47.1 to score in the 100/200 backstroke events at the 2019 ACC Championships.
Top SCY times:
- 200 back – 1:45.38
- 100 back – 49.66
- 50 back – 23.20
- 400 IM – 4:04.31
- 200 IM – 1:54.45
- 200 free – 1:43.15
- 100 free – 47.63
Batur Unlu, Caleb Blischke, and Sean McNicholl have also verbally committed to Georgia Tech for 2020-21.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Go Nathan!
Justin Alderson of PAWW, Illinois has also committed to Georgia Tech 2020-2021.