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Laura Gaffney of Yorktown, VA has verbally committed to swim at Towson University beginning in the fall of 2021. Gaffney is a senior at York High School and she is a year-round swimmer at for the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins’ National Team under Coach Jack Bierie.
Super excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim at Towson University! Can’t wait to be a tiger! #TU2025 🐯🖤💛 pic.twitter.com/yeVSPvzmJS
— Laura Gaffney (@lauragaffney_) September 4, 2020
In February, Gaffney competed at the 2020 Virginia Class 3 State Championship. The York High School junior swam the 100 fly and the 200 IM, earning a spot in the final in both events. She placed 3rd in prelims of the 200 IM and remained 3rd in finals (2:06.89). Colby Hurt of Lafayette High School took first and Athena Vanyo of Monticello High School finished second. Her prelims 100 fly time of 56.25 placed her 5th, and she touched 6th in finals (56.75). She swam the third leg of York’s 200 free relay, splitting a 50 free time of 26.36 in prelims and a 26.92 in finals. She led off their 400 free relay, going a 53.56. They touched second behind Independence High School.
Last summer Gaffney swam at the Futures Championships in Geneva. She swam the 200 fly, the 200 free, and the 200 and 400 IM. She earned spots in the B-final of the 200 free and fly and a spot in the C-final of the 200 IM. She finished 16th in the 200 fly and the 200 free, 24th in the 200 IM, and 25th in the 400 IM. She ended the meet with personal best times in every event.
Top SCY Times:
- 100 fly – 56.25
- 200 fly – 2:02.32
- 200 IM – 2:05.93
- 400 IM – 4:28.53
- 200 back – 2:05.24
Towson University will welcome Gaffney beginning in the 2021-2022 season. She will contribute to the Tigers’ strong butterfly program, which developed U.S. National Team member Jack Saunderson (class of 2018). Her 200 fly would have made her the team’s second-fastest behind Colonial Athletic Association champion Megan Cowan. She would have been their third-fastest 200 IMer behind Cowan — who won her second 2020 conference title in the event — and Kasey Gamache.
Gaffney’s top times would have placed her in the A-final of the 200 fly and the 200 IM, and she would have earned spots in the B-final of the 100 fly and the 400 IM.
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