Head coach Duane Sorenson announced Tuesday that the Iowa State swimming and diving team will add four new members to the 2015-16 roster.
“We really like the potential of all four of the women we signed,” Sorenson said. “Three of them were on state championship teams, so they come from a winning background. That’s really going to help them and help our team because they understand winning, how to win and what it takes to win.”
Recent Iowa State signing classes have made immediate impacts during their freshman seasons, and the ISU coaching staff expects next year’s crop of newcomers to be no different.
“You never know until they’re here and they get into the whole training cycle, but we see that they are going to come in and be contributors right away,” Sorenson said.
Ashton Ehrecke swam for Pleasant Valley High School and the Piranhas Swim Club in Bettendorf, Iowa under coach Jay Smith. During her high school career, Ehrecke received first-team all-conference, first-team all-state and All-America honors while setting school records in the 50 freestyle, 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay. Ehrecke was also a member of the state champion 200 freestyle relay team during her senior year.
“Ashton played soccer as well as being a varsity swimmer in high school,” Sorenson said. “She is very strong, has a lot of power and I think we can harness her power to help her become even faster.”
Evan Hundley, a swimmer from Eldridge, Iowa, brings All-America credentials in the 200 freestyle relay to Iowa State. As a member of the Pleasant Valley High School swim team, Hundley compiled first-team all-state honors four years in a row.
As a Cyclone, Hundley will be reunited with teammate Ehrecke after winning a state championship together at Pleasant Valley.
“Evan is a multisport athlete and has a father who played Division 1 football, so she comes from an athletic family,” Sorenson said. “She has a lot of potential in the 100 free as well as the 200 free. We have to decide which way we are going to go with her, if she’s going to be a 500 freestyler, a 50 freestyler or she may even become a good backstroker.”
Kaarin Quaerna, a freestyler and butterfly swimmer from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, swam for the Badger High School Co-op under coach Glenn Biller. A captain of her high school team, Quaerna earned all-state and All-America consideration in the 100 freestyle, received all-state honors in the 50 freestyle and is a four time state qualifier.
Quaerna also qualified for YMCA nationals as a member of the the Geneva YMCA Swim Team under coach Amber Johnson.
“Kaarin also comes from a very athletic family, her father was a Division 1 football player also. I would compare her to Amanda Paulson as far as her strength as size,” Sorenson said. “She is very explosive off the blocks and off the walls. We see her as untapped potential that could become very, very good in the spring freestyle events.”
Haley Ruegemer swam for Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minnesota under coach Elizabeth Hansen. Ruegemer earned four letters during her career at Wayzata, served as captain of the 2014 team and helped lead the Trojans to consecutive class AA state championships in 2013 and 2014. Ruegemer also swam club for the Aquajets under coach Kate Lundsten.
“Hayley is another multisport athlete who has been a state champion. She was a synchronized swimmer and is pretty new to the competitive side of swimming, but we see a huge upside to where she could go in the next few years,” Sorenson said.
The Iowa State coaching staff plans to continue their recruitment efforts and add signees for the 2015-16 season, Sorenson said.
2015-2016 Season Signees
Ashton Ehrecke, Bettendorf, Iowa
Evan Hundley, Eldridge, Iowa
Kaarin Quaerna, Lake Geneva, Wis.
Haley Ruegemer, Plymouth, Minn.
College Swimming News courtesy of Iowa State Swimming and Diving.
