Valerie Bates

Class:
Sophomore
High School:
Ravenwood H.S.
Hometown:
Brentwood, Tenn.

SIU TOP TIMES

100-yard butterfly: 1:00.95
200-yard butterfly: 2:10.64
100-yard backstroke: 1:00.90
200-yard backstroke: 2:07.70
200-yard IM: 2:13.94
400-yard IM: 4:38.51
500-yard freestyle: 5:47.40

2023-2024 (SENIOR)

- Competed at five meets
- Set season best at the 2023 A3 Performance Invitational in the 200 fly (2:18.56) and 200 back (2:10.68)

2022-2023 (JUNIOR)

- Competed in six events including "B" finals at the 2022 A3 Performance Invitational in the 400 IM, and 200 back.

2021-2022 (SOPHOMORE)

- Competed in six events...
- Set new personal records in 200- and 400-IM...
- Swam in 500-freestyle for the first time in college career
- Swam to an eighth-place finish in the 200-fly "C" final at 2022 MVC's
- Best finish was second place in 200-fly in dual with McKendree on 10/8/21
- Eight top-eight finishes.

2020-2021 (FRESHMAN)

Swam in six events throughout the year... best finish was second place in 400-IM (4:40.07) in tri-meet against Valparaiso and Eastern Illinois on 3/27/21... three top-five marks.

PRIOR TO SIU

Valerie Bates is a 16-time state qualifier from Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tenn. Bates advanced to the TISCA state meet in four events in each of her four seasons. She made an immediate impact as a freshman, as she advanced to the state meet in four events which included a fifth-place finish in the 200-medley relay. The following season, she again qualified in four events and helped Ravenwood place sixth in the 200-medley relay. Bates was a four-time qualifier in the 100 back and a three-time qualifier in the 200 IM.

PERSONAL

Born August 18, 2001 to Brian and Susanne Bates...majoring in animal science.