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Payton Baxter of St. Charles, IL has verbally committed to swim for the University of Cincinnati’s class of 2025. Baxter is a rising senior at Saint Charles North High School and she swims club for the Saint Charles Swim Team.
“I’m so excited to announce my verbal commitment and that I will be furthering my academic and athletic career at the University of Cincinnati! I owe a huge thank you to my coaches, family, and friends for the support throughout this process. Can’t wait for the next 4! GO BEARCATS”
At the Illinois Girls Sectional Championships at Saint Charles North, Baxter swam the 100 breast and the 200 IM. She went personal best times in each event, finishing fourth in the 100 breast and taking the top spot in the 200 IM.
A week later, the Saint Charles North junior competed at the Illinois Girls State Championships, finishing 24th in the prelims heats of the 100 breast, and 7th in the finals heats of the 200 IM.
In March, she swam at the Illinois Senior Championships. She earned a spot in the C-final in the 200 breast and IM, and she competed in the A-final in the 400 IM. She dropped 3.6 seconds from her prelims time in the 200 breast, jumping from 28th to 22nd. She moved up 4 spots in the finals heats of the 200 IM, finishing 18th overall. Finally, she came in 5th in the 400 IM, dropping 5.1 seconds from prelims to finals to go a new personal best time of 4:23.38.
Top SCY Times:
- 200 IM – 2:04.39
- 400 IM – 4:23.38
- 200 fly – 2:04.85
- 200 breast – 2:22.82
- 100 breast – 1:05.61
The University of Cincinnati finished 3rd at the 2020 American Athletic Conference Championships, behind the University Houston and Southern Methodist University. Baxter’s top times would have placed her in the B-final of the 200 and 400 IM, as well as in the 200 breast.
Baxter will be joining breast and IM specialist Annabelle Young as a member of the class of 2025.
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