Haley Bishop of the YMCA of the Triangle Area team in North Carolina has verbally committed to the Kansas Jayhawks.
“I picked Kansas for the family culture of the team and the connection between swimmers and coaches,” Bishop said of her decision. “I look forward to helping KU achieve their team goals as well as my individual goals.”
Bishop’s best event is the 100 fly, where she has been 54.98 over 100 yards and 1:02.97 over 100 meters.
She adds secondary events in great freestyle versatility, including 51.4 in the 100 and 1:50.8 in the 200; and a solid 200 yard fly time of 2:03.38.
She will have an immediate and undeniable impact on the Kansas program. Bishop is already faster than Kansas’ best butterflier from last year (senior Sonja Filatova, since graduated, who was 55.17 at Big 12’s), and will have the opportunity to earn a spot on all 5 Kansas relays as a freshman. In combination with Leah Pitzer, who when Bishop arrives will be a junior, the Jayhawks will have a nice 1-2 punch, as both have very similar strengths.
Bishop swims at YOTA, for whom she finished 8th in the 100 fly at the 2014 YMCA National Championships; as well as at Panther Creek High School. With Bishop’s swims making a significant contribution to the cause, Panther Creek finished 7th at the 2014 North Carolina High School State Championship meet in the 4A (large school) classification, and Bishop was 3rd in the 100 fly (finishing behind current Division I freshmen Elsa Welshofer and Heather Merritt).
Bishop says that she plans to enter the pharmacy school, and thanked her parents for their love and support, and her club coach Chad Onken for his help and encouragement during the recruiting process.
YAS HALEY YAS