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HOPE HAYWARD
A senior at New Trier High School in Illinois, Hayward finished 13th in the 100 breast at last year’s IHSA State Championships, only one place out of making finals. She’s also a Winter Juniors qualifier in the 200y breast.
“I chose Indiana University because within seconds of meeting the team and the coaching staff I felt at home. I have never met a more welcoming group of people. To have the opportunity to be part of such a hardworking and truly inspiring team is unreal. Also, the balance between academics and athletics at IU is a perfect fit for me. Go Hoosiers!”
Hayward’s Top Times (SCY/LCM)
- 50 breast – 29.80/33.91
- 100 breast – 1:04.36/1:14.89
- 200 breast – 2:19.46/2:43.40
Hayward won’t get a chance to fight for a finals spot at this year’s IHSA Championships, as she chose to stick with club swimming with New Trier Swim Club for the year.
Indiana had a huge breaststroke hole last season, which sunk their medley relays at every meet despite having talents like Brooklynn Snodgrass and Gia Dalesandro on their back and fly legs. They’ve since reloaded in a big way with freshmen Lilly King and Miranda Tucker, and Hayward will continue to add legitimate breaststroke strength to their roster.
Hayward’s best shot at scoring at Big Tens next year would be in the 200 breast, where a 2:16 made it back in the C final. It also took a 1:02 high to make it back in the 100 breast, so Hayward will have her eyes set on these marks for next season. She’s not the only breaststroker in her family to swim at a big-time NCAA program– her sister Riley is a junior on USC’s team.
LYDIA WELTY
CSP Tideriders’ Welty is a bit stronger than Hayward in the 200 breast, though Hayward brings more sprint speed to the Hoosiers.
Welty’s Top Times (SCY/LCM)
- 100 breast – 1:05.87/1:16.43
- 200 breast – 2:18.11/2:39.55
- 200 IM – 2:04.51
- 400 IM – 4:25.07
Welty will probably focus more on her 200 breast, which is easily her strongest event, though she shows promise in the IM. She’s a Winter Juniors qualifier in the 200 breast in both short and long course.
Like Hayward, Welty is a bit off of what it took to qualify for B1G Finals last season. Nonetheless, the addition of these two is exciting for Indiana’s breaststroke future. They have a lot of young talent on board this season, and they’re turning around from having one C finalist in the 100 breast and zero 200 breast finalists last season to having the strength to put up a fight against Minnesota for the best breaststroke group in the Big Ten this season.
Hayward and Welty join a class of 2020 that is now four-strong, adding to Nevada state champion Shelby Koontz and 14-time Wisconsin age group state record holder Cassy Jernberg for next fall.
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