Kentucky high school record-holder Zach Hils has verbally committed to swim for the University of Georgia in the class of 2023. The Lexington Catholic High School junior swims year-round for Lexington Dolphins.
“I am very excited to announce my commitment to the University of Georgia to further my academic and athletic careers. Big thanks to my family, friends, and all the coaches who have gotten me to this point. #GoDawgs”
In his three years of high school swimming, Hils has won the 200 IM three times and the 100 fly twice. As a freshman he kicked off his prep career with wins in the 200 IM (1:49.43) and 100 free (45.63). The following year he broke the state record in the IM (1:48.83) and placed third in the free (45.00). This February the junior took a huge chunk out of that IM record (1:46.83) and claimed the 100 fly title (48.93). He also cracked a 21.93 fly leg on LexCath’s runner-up medley relay and anchored the second-place 400 free relay with 44.94.
After high school season, in which he scored PBs in the IM and fly, Hils proceeded to improve his 100/200 back and 50/100/200 free times at NCSA Spring Championship and Kentucky 13 & Over Short Course Championships.
Hils will fit nicely into the Bulldogs’ lineup, which will soon be without IMers Gunnar Bentz and the Litherland triplets. James Guest and Aidan Burns will also be gone by the time Hils gets to Athens, but he will be able to join Javier Acevedo and Clayton Forde, as well as incoming freshman Andrew Abruzzo. Hils’ 200 IM, 100 back, and 50/100 free times would have been Georgia’s 4th-fastest this season; he also would have been top-10 in the 400 IM, 200 back, 100 fly, and 200 free.
Top SCY times:
- 200 IM – 1:46.83
- 400 IM – 3:53.96
- 100 back – 48.80
- 200 back – 1:46.71
- 100 fly – 48.93
- 50 free – 20.57
- 100 free – 44.76
- 200 free – 1:38.45
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].
Those are good dogs
Another IM’er for Jack! Nice pick up.