Courtesy: JMU Sports
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Eleven student-athletes are set to join the James Madison swimming & diving program for the 2020-21 campaign, as announced by head coach Dane Pedersen on Wednesday, May 6.
“We are very excited to welcome our new class to JMU,” said Pedersen. “While their talent and accomplishments grabbed our attention, they are more than just the right swimmers/divers for our program, they are the right people for our team dynamic and the JMU community. They will fit into and expand upon our established culture beautifully. We cannot wait to incorporate them into the fold of our team and campus. Each one of them have not approached their performance ceiling which is very exciting, and I cannot wait to see what their impact will be.”
Lauren Aylmer
Height: 5’8
Hometown/High School: Garnerville, NY // North Rockland HS
Career Highlights: Two-time Lohud Rockland County Simmer of the Year… three-time All-Section and All-League…a member of the NYS Aquatics club team…member of six Honor Societies…plans to major in economic with a minor in justice studies.
Madison Cottrell
Height: 5’10
Hometown/High School: Henrico, Va. // Mills E Godwin
Career Highlights: A four-year varsity letter winner…six-time Virginia 5A Championships finalist…placed sixth in the 50-yard free her junior campaign…swam for NOVA of Virginia Aquatics…holds a personal best of 23.38 in the 50-yard free… a member of the National Honor Society…plans on majoring in justice studies.
Meg Cresci
Height: 5’4
Hometown/High School: Troutman, N.C. // South Iredell
Career Highlights: Three-year varsity letter winner…Thee-time All-Conference placing first on the 1-meter board…two-time All-Region placing first her senior campaign…All-State her senior season after placing third on the 1-meter… a member of the Carolina Diving Academy…a member of three honor societies…plans on majoring in nursing with a minor in Spanish.
Sydni Diehl
Height: 5’7
Hometown/High School: Barrington, RI // Barrington
Career Highlights: Four-time All-State First Team selection… two-time Rhode Island Female Swimmer of the Year…three-year champion in the 50-yard and 100-yard free at Rhode Island States…a member of the winning 200-yard and 400-yard free relays at States…a member of the honor roll.
Emily Drakopoulos
Height: 5’9
Hometown/High School: Centreville, VA // Centreville
Career Highlights: A four-year varsity letter winner…placed in the top-10 at the State meet in the 100-yard back and 100 free all four years…was a member of the 2017 state champion 200 free relay…named the 2019-20 MVP on her team…claimed the silver in the 100 back and 100 free at the District meet and at Regionals…a member of the National Honor Society and German Honors Society…plans to major in business.
Cameron Gring
Height: 5’9
Hometown/High School: Reading, PA // Muhlenberg
Career Highlights: A four-year varsity letter winner, four-time All-American selection…won the gold at the state meet in 2020 and 2018…claimed the gold at the District Meet for four consecutive years…helped her team to a winning seasons her senior year…swan for Reading and Berk County YMCA Swim Team…Member of the National Honor Society and on High Honor Roll…plans to major in health sciences.
Lexi Lehman
Height: 5’4
Hometown/High School: Orefield, Penn. // Parkland
Career Highlights: Four-year varsity letter winner… 2019 All-American on the 1-meter board…three-time District Champion…claimed the gold at the Eastern PA Conference meet on the 1-meter her freshman and senior campaign… placed fifth at states her junior campaign and sixth during her senior season… member of the Parkland Diving Club…plans on majoring in biology.
Jordyn Schnell
Height: 5’8
Hometown/High School: St. Michael, Minn. // St. Michael-Albertville // South Dakota
Career Highlights: A four-year varsity letter winner…three-time High School All-American and All-State in 200 medley relay…a two-year member of the South Dakota State University swim & dive team…2019 Summit League All-Conference in 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay…member of the 2019 Academic All-Summit League team…majoring in business marketing.
Anna Weinstein
Height: 5’6
Hometown/High School: Brookfield, CT // Brookfield HS
Career Highlights: A four-year varsity letter winner… All-SWC first team… two-time YMCA National Finalist…2017 CT Class M State Champion in 200 IM…swam for Regional YMCA of Western CT Makos.
Emily Wisnieski
Height: 5’8
Hometown/High School: Moorestown, NJ // Moorestown HS
Career highlights: A four-year letter winner… captain during senior campaign… qualified for States all four years… placed fourth in 100-yard fly at 2020 state meet…named 2018 BCT Swimmer of the Year… three-time SJISA second team member…a member of the Honor and Service Society.
Maddie Yager
Height: 5’2
Hometown/ High School: Middletown, NY // Minisink Valley HS
Career Highlights: 2020 New York State Runner-up on the 1-meter board … Section IX record holder with a score of 562.40…three-time Minisink Valley Varsity Diver of the Year …two-time Section IX Outstanding Diver and Most Valuable Diver…competed on High Dive Champions club team…dual athlete running indoor track as well… a member of the National Honor Society…plans to major in health sciences.
The 11 newcomers will join a Dukes team that loses eight letter-winners from a team that claimed it’s third consecutive CAA Championship title and 10th title for the program.
