The Crimson Tide got a second verbal in as many days when Northview High School senior Knox Auerbach gave them his verbal commitment. Auerbach will be joining Evan Heldman who announced his verbal commitment to the Tide yesterday.
This is one of those instances when swimming brings people together and makes them friends for life, and then gives them an opportunity to continue that friendship in a new setting. Auerbach told SwimSwam, “Evan is one of my best friends. We swam together freshman year in high school and at Dynamo and we’re excited to be back together.”
Auerbach is defending Georgia state high school champion in the 200 free (1:37.86) and 500 free (4:33.55). His 200 was an all-American auto cut while the 500 made consideration. But his most successful distance is the 100 free; his C-final finish in long course meters at Nationals this summer landed him on USA Swimming’s National Junior Team for 2014-15.
“I was beyond impressed by the team and the coaching staff at Alabama.”
Auerbach swims under Coach Franz at Dynamo’s Alpharetta location. His top times going into the 2014-15 season are:
| 100y free: 44.58 | 100m free: 50.45 |
| 200y free: 1:37.68 | 200m free: 1:52.35 |
| 500y free: 4:27.56 | 400m free: 4:02.47 |
| 50y free: 20.95 | 50m free: 24.19 |
A 44.58 100 free would have put him 33rd in prelims at SECs this year, while the 1:37.68 would have been 31st and would have qualified as a 2014 NCAA “B” cut. Auerbach stands 6’ tall, 165 pounds at 16. He’s improved both his short course and long course 100 free by 2-2.5 seconds over the last two seasons, and his 200 frees by 3-3.5 seconds. It isn’t hard to imagine he will be a significant contributor from the time he arrives in Tuscaloosa next fall.