The Florida Gators’ biggest need for next fall is a breaststroker, as their best by far in that stroke, All-American Hilda Luthersdottir, is graduating.
Head coach Gregg Troy did a little bit of work on that with the signing of a 1:05.0 100 yard breaststroker in the fall class, Paige Sheriger, but overall, it’s a glaring hole in their line-up.
Their first signee of the spring semester, though, is a really interesting story and a very good grab for them. Ally Donahue from Greater Tampa Swimming signed on Thursday to become a Gator. She is the defending Florida High School State Champion in both the 100 breaststroke and the 50 free for 4A (the biggest schools). Her yards best times are 23.60 in the 50 free and 1:01.97 in the 100 breast.
Typically, swimmers of that caliber don’t have to wait until the spring to sign, however Donahue is leaving Plant High School after her junior year. She finished high school a year early and has opted to head to Florida to get a jump on her college career. She ultimately won’t be all that young compared to the freshman class, as she turns 18 in September, but she will still begin class at Florida as just a 17-year old.
Donahue is a swimmer who is on-the-rise. In just the fall of her junior season (she hasn’t rested in the spring yet), Donahue dropped over a second in her 100 breaststroke and over six-tenths in her 50 free.
She trains at Greater Tamp Aquatics under Jimi Kiner and for Plant High School under Gil Gonzalez. In addition to her 50 freestyle and 100 breast, she also broke the Plant High School Record in the 200 IM in the 2013-2014 season in 2:06.48.
Ally congrats on a job well done! Here is to an amazing future! We are so happy and proud of you! The Jenkins Family (Sam)
Congrats Ally! Wow, you are fast! The next four years as a Gator are gonna be GREAT! See you in the Fall!
Ok, first of all, like everyone said, the cut-off date in Florida is sept 1st, but secondly, why does it matter? I have some friends who started school a year later, what’s the problem? Every family gets to make their own choice about that, it’s not like they have an advantage that wasn’t available to everyone else too. Regardless, the point is she finished four years of high school in three years which is very impressive. Ok, sorry, rant over.
Graduated HS at 16, just skipped kindergarten. Did’t hurt my swimming at D III school.
Got Tim Tebow for her first picture as a Gator, impressive. Kinda looks like he let himself go a bit, though.
It is always wise to check your facts & math before posting.
In Florida and MOST ALL South Eastern states, the birthdate cutoff is prior to Sept 1st. Therefore, kids must be 5 BEFORE kindergarten, thus turning 18 BEFORE entering college.
This talented, young lady was merely 16 before her Senior year, competing against kids +/- a year older. Pretty impressive! We should be happy for others and teach our children accordingly.
I went to public school and swam in florida k-12. I personally have known very very few people in who have graduated highschool and started college before they were 18. As Braden pointed out her birthday puts her just out of the cutoff and because of this she was just one of the older people in her grade. She still finished highschool early which takes hard work.
Right; it sounds like she either started school a year late as a youngster or lost a year somewhere along the way for whatever reason, and then eventually took enough credits to catch up with her same-age peers. A 1:01.9’s not bad and if she can improve will plug the gap a bit and keep the Gators in contention.
liquidassets – in most states, a September birthday puts you in the next class year. Florida has a September 1 cutoff.
Here’s an (unofficial) list that I found on the internet.
http://users.stargate.net/~cokids/kindergarten_cut-off_dates.htm
She didn’t start school late or lose any years. She just wanted to graduate early.