The University of Denver swimming and diving team added
nine athletes to its 2014-15 signing class, head
coach Brian Schrader announced on
Monday. Five swimmers will join the women’s squad, while four will
join the men’s team.
“This is one of the best classes we have
signed,” Schrader said. “Every athlete in this class will play a strong role on our team and has the potential to be or already are
national level athletes. This is a great start to our class for
next season and we look forward to growing this group in the
spring. It’s a fun mix of local, national, and some interesting
characters from abroad. We are excited about the personalities and
talent coming onto campus. They will help our program get to a
higher level.” Heidi Bradley (Victoria,
British Columbia) was the Provincial High School Champion in 2011
in the 100 fly and again in 2012 in the 100 fly as well as the 100
back. She was her Junior Team MVP in 2011, her Senior Team MVP in
2013 and her Team Captain in 2013. “We are excited to have another
national level athlete coming to us from Canada. Heidi is ranked
32nd in Canada for the 100 fly and would be a US Olympic Trials
level competitor here in the US. She is versatile as she swims
freestyle and backstroke events. She will impact us immediately in
those events and continue to help a group of national level
backstrokers and flyers to be challenged every day. She has been a
local leader on her teams, being team captain and I anticipate her
bringing good leadership and commitment to our squad. We really
liked her when she came on her trip –she may have known more about
DU then any athlete we have recruited.” Morgan
Wice (Colorado Springs, Colo.) is the Colorado Long
Course State champion in the 50 free. “We always want local kids to
come be a part of things here at DU and Morgan coming from Colorado
Springs is exciting for us. She is the kind of student athlete that
will thrive in our program. She is a very versatile freestyle
specialist that swims the 50 through the 1000. She was a finalist
at the Colorado State High School Meet. Morgan is also an excellent
student and an athlete that will come in and challenge to be on our
relays right away. I think Morgan can be a national level athlete
in our program– if she doesn’t reach that level before she gets
here. Her coach, Joe Novak, has done a great job preparing her for
Division I swimming.” Alex
Walton (Lafayette, Colo.) set high school records in
the 500 free and 400 free relay in 2013. His high school’s 2013/14
team captain, Walton lettered in varsity swimming in 2011, 2012 and
2013. “We have had our eye on Alex for quite a while and have seen
him develop over the last few years. Watching Alex swim at the
Colorado State Meet and the summer sectional meets, we realized
that he was an up and coming athlete here in Colorado that would be
a great fit for our program. And as we started the recruiting
process, we discovered we were recruiting a great student as well
as a great person. Alex has exponential potential in the freestyle
events and is coached by Ironman great Wolfgang Dittrich in Boulder
at Flatirons swim club. Alex has reached the finals at the Colorado
State Meet and Western Sectional Meet and we feel like he has just
broken the surface of a great career as a distance and middle
distance athlete. A great student, Alex has done his homework and
will enter the Daniels College of Business in his first year.”
Anton Loncar (Hillboro, Ore.) is the 2013
100 backstroke OSAA State Champion and holder of eight high school
records. Before this year Loncar was the NWOC Swimmer of the Year
in 2012, the 2012 100 backstroke OSAA State runner up and a
six-time NWOC district champion. “We have had great success with
our backstrokers and Anton was on our radar from the start of this
process to make sure we continue this trend. He has developed into
a national level athlete under coach James Resare at the Hillsboro
Heat in Oregon. As a 17-year-old, he has World Championship trials
standards in the 200 back and will be a force in the 100 back,
butterfly, and freestyle events as well. As an academic
All-American, a high school swimming All-American, and a USA JR
National finalist in his events, we feel like he is a great match
for our program. He definitely fits our profile and is an athlete
we are excited to coach.” Madeline
Myers (Arvada, Colo.) was voted MVP for her high
school team two years in a row. She also received all-state,
all-American and academic all-American honors. “This young woman is
a great student athlete and is performing at a high level under
coach Brett Stoyall for the North Jeffco Hurricanes. A US Open and
National level qualifier in the freestyle events, Maddie excels at
distances from the 400 freestyle and 400 IM up thru the 1000 and
the 1650. Because of this, she is a great match for our distance
program. She has been a Colorado state high school finalist, a
Western Zones and Sectionals finalist, and has been competing at
the National level for the past two seasons. We know we will
continue to see her at the national level here at Denver. Maddie is
a fun signing for our team because she is the sister of former team
captain and Sun Belt Swimmer of the year, Clay Myers.”
Grace Sommerville (Staveley, New Zealand)
swam on multiple New Zealand youth teams in the last two year
including the 2012 Junior Pan Pacific Championship team for the
10km Open Water Swim where she placed forth. She also competed with
the 2012 Trans-Tasman Open Water Team vs. Australia where she won
both the 10km and 5km and the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic
Festival where she got fifth in the 800m Freestyle. “Grace is
coming to our program from Stavely, New Zealand, and we couldn’t be
happier to have a Kiwi coming to Denver. Grace will be a part of
our distance group here at DU, coming with some great experience.
She placed 4th at the 2012 Junior Pan Pac Championships in the 10k
open water swim and was 5th in the 800 at the 2013 Australian Youth
Festival. She also will help us in the 200 fly and the 500
freestyle. She is an excellent student, looking to continue her
education in the science, and also perhaps dabble in some music
studies, as she has taken lessons with Trinity College’s London
Theory of Music since age 7. We know she will be coachable and a
great teammate and we are looking forward to her arrival.”
Naomi Einhellig (Windsor, Colo.) was named
MVP her junior year for high school swimming. “Also a local student
athlete, Naomi is coming from Loveland Swim Club where she is well
coached by Jim Nichols. Naomi really fits the model of a great,
versatile, athlete we try to recruit with every class. She is a
talented Junior National level backstroker, butterflier and
individual medley specialist, as well as a finalist at the Colorado
State High School meet. She is a bright, coachable athlete and we
are excited to see where she will excel with our program every
season. She will make our team better in every dual meet and
continue to improve as a national level athlete.” Jared
Smith (Boulder City, Nev.) holds All-state titles in
the 200 and 500 freestyle and is an All-American in the 200
freestyle. Additionally, Smith has received awards for Scholar
Athlete, Nevada All State Academic Team Division 1A Swimmer of the
Year and Athlete of the Season. “Jared is one of the best
athletes coming out of the Western US. He is the number one athlete
coming out of Nevada and we couldn’t have been more excited to have
his commitment to Denver. He is going to join a great group of
backstrokers in his class, one of three men that have USA World
Championship trials cuts coming in the 200 back, and his freestyle
events are impactful to our team from the 100 to the 500. He will
be a force on our relays immediately and I anticipate him
continuing to swim and improve at the National level in our
program. He is well prepared for Division I swimming coming from
Boulder City Henderson Swim Club where he is under the excellent
coaching of Mike Polk. He has been a scholar All American, High
School swimming All American and was swimmer of the year in Nevada.
He will make our team even more versatile and will be a great fit
for our program.” Ray Bornman “Ray is coming as
a transfer from Australia. He is a talented, tall backstroker and
freestyler and will help our team in both backstroke events as well
as the 100 and 200 free. I anticipate him making our A relays and
continuing to help Denver be represented at the highest levels. He
is currently ranked 4th in Australia in
the 200 back for his age group, and some of his achievements
include silver medals for the 200m Backstroke, 100m
Backstroke and 50m Backstroke at the Australian School Swimming
Championships in 2011. He is interested in studying engineering
here at DU, and is a strong student. He is one of three
backstrokers coming to Denver as 17/18 year olds with the
equivalent of USA World Trials standards.” The Pioneers end their
fall season with a team training trip to Puerto Rico. Denver then
kicks off 2014 by hosting BYU (M/W) and University of New Mexico
(W) on January 17 at El Pomar Natatorium.
This
release was provided to SwimSwam courtesy of University of
Denver swimming and diving team.
