Illinois HS Girls Sectional Champion Samantha Rhodes Commits to UC Davis

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Samantha Rhodes of Evanston, IL has announced her decision to continue her academic and athletic career at the University of California at Davis beginning in the fall of 2021. Rhodes is a senior at Evanston Township High School. She currently swims club at the Wildkit Swimming Organization under the direction of Coach Kevin Auger.

Rhodes competed at the first in-person meet of her high school season in October of 2020. The earlier meets in the season were virtual due to Covid restrictions, but she was able to compete at the Illinois HS Sectional Meet at Glenbrook South. She swam the 500 free, the 100 breast, and the 200 IM.

She won gold in the 500 free, finishing 1.96 seconds ahead of silver-medalist Kamila Nowak. Her teammate Jenna Wild touched third. She earned another medal in the 100 breast, touching third in a personal best time of 1:05.30. Finally, she finished fourth in the 200 IM. She recorded personal best times in all three events.

Three days before the Sectional meet, Rhodes competed on Evanston Township’s 200 medley, 200 free, and 400 free relays, which all achieved All-American time standards

The State meet was cancelled, making the Sectional meet her final championship meet.

A week later, she competed in her final meet of 2020. Her team held a Wildkit Swimming Organization Time Trails meet. She swam the 200 free (1:57.32), the 200 breast (2:22.57), and the 400 IM (4:32.18).

Top SCY Times:

• 100 breast – 1:05.30
• 200 breast – 2:22.57
• 200 IM – 2:07.18
• 400 IM – 4:31.72
• 1650 free – 17:31.98

Rhodes will become an Aggie in the fall of 2021. Her top times would have placed her within the top 16 in the 100 and 200 breast and the 200 IM at the 2021 MPSF Championships. Her 400 IM would have finished 7th at the 2021 conference champs, while her 1650 free time would have earned her a bronze medal.

She will be UC Davis’ top 1650 freestyler and their third-fastest 400 IMer and 100 breaststroke.

Raegan Jaco and Sasha Soroosh have also announced their decision to swim for the Aggies’ class of 2025.

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