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Bella Ekk, a Florida High School 3A state champion out of Tallahassee, FL, has decided to swim for Auburn University beginning in the fall of 2024.
Ekk announced her decision by saying, “I am extremely honored and excited to announce my verbal commitment to further my academic and athletic career at Auburn University! I am so grateful to God, my family, my friends, my community & my supportive coaches for getting me to experience this opportunity. I’m excited to be part of an amazing Auburn Family & ready to attain my goals! Thank you Coach @rwochomurka & the supportive coaching staff for this opportunity. To my family & friends: You helped uplift me, cheer for me & love me. I can’t wait to be a part of such an amazing and supportive team!! WAR EAGLE 🦅🧡”
As a sophomore swimming for Lawton Chiles High School, Ekk took gold in the 100 yard freestyle at the 2021 Florida high school state championships.
During her junior year after transferring to Alfred B Maclay High School, Ekk had an impressive showing at the 2022 Florida 1A state championship meet, finishing 2nd in both the 100 and 200 yard freestyles (50.11/1:48.18). Both swims were Speedo Winter Junior National qualifying times, as well as personal bests for Ekk.
Top SCY Times:
- 50 free- 23.30
- 100 free- 49.80
- 200 free- 1:48.18
- 500 free- 4:52.22
Ekk’s current best time of 49.80 in the 100 freestyle would put her at 6th on Auburn’s team this season. At the 2023 SEC Women’s Championships, Auburn placed 7th overall. Auburn’s highest finish at the SEC Championships in the past 5 years was in 2020, where the women finished 5th .
Ekk joins a relatively large recruiting class of 2024 for Auburn, which currently includes Annika Finzen, Kate Murray, Ashlyn Morr, Audrey Crawford, Izzy Iwasyk, Carly Bixby, Georgia Colborn, Audrey Olen, and Amie Perna. All 10 of Auburn’s 2024 commits thus far are ranked top 20 recruits from their respective states. Annika Finzen is a reigning 2x Kansas High School state champion from 2022, winning both the 100 back (55.16) and the 100 fly (54.36). Georgia Colborn is a 2x 2023 Delaware High School state champion in the same events as Finzen, winning the 100 fly in 55.63 and the 100 back in 55.27. Auburn adds another state champion in Amie Perna of Dallas, TX, to the recruiting class of 2024. Perna won the Texas High School state championship title in the 100 backstroke in 2023, posting a time of 54.74. With the addition of Bella Ekk, Auburn’s recruiting class of 2024 now consists of 4 state champions.
Bella’s two younger brothers, Owen Ekk and Ethan Ekk, seem to be following in their sister’s footsteps of swimming success. At just 14 years old, Owen had several top 8 finishes at the Southern Zone South Sectional Championships in February, a meet open to swimmers of any age. 15 year old Ethan Ekk finished 14th overall in the 200 backstroke at the 2022 East Speedo Winter Junior National Championships (1:46.58).
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