Four RBHS students solidified their decisions to continue their athletic careers into the collegiate level.
Seniors Chelsea Tatlow, Hannah Flanagan, Kortney Betz, and Lily Salzer were four students at RBHS to sign letters of intent Nov. 20, and all committed to different schools. Tatlow committed to the University of Arkansas, Flanagan to Missouri State University, Betz to Truman State University and Salzer to the University of Wyoming.
Salzer knew she wanted to swim in college, but the only real decision for her was where she would attend.
“There was definitely no doubt in my mind that I wanted to swim for a college team,” Salzer said. “I decided to pick Wyoming because I the team is really great there and I think that I would fit in very well.”
None of the four swimmers are members of the RBHS swimming and diving team and instead swim for the Columbia Swim Club, where their coach is Phil Garverick. Garverick says he wasn’t a key player in the process of choosing where these girls chose to attend college; rather, he said he helped them weigh their options.
“I wasn’t really involved in the decision making process,” Garverick said. “On Mondays after they went on visits I would help them list the pros and cons, but ultimately, of course it would be a decision between them and their parents. Sometimes they would send me a text right before they contacted the college coach, but I didn’t know much in advance.”
These swimmers add to a long list of RBHS students who have signed letters of intent this week, which is now at a total of 18 students.
The athletes that committed the next four years to their life are ecstatic about their opportunities to continue their passions. All of the swimmers mentioned at the signing that there was an important sense of community between them.
“Swimming is not only something that I love, but it’s a part of me,” Betz said. “I can’t imagine passing up the opportunity to swim for a college.”
By Luke Chval
