The Missouri Tigers picked up a verbal commitment for both their men’s and women’s swim teams – and both swimmers are high school champions of their respective states.
Alex Moore – Virginia
For the men, the pickup was Alex Moore from Menchville High School and Southeast Virginia Aquatics.
Moore, whose given name is Colson, is exactly the type of sprint freestyler that the Tigers needed to bring to help fill the gap in the fall of 2017 that will be left by star Michael Chadwick.
Moore is a 4-time Virginia 5A High School State Champion, having swept the 50 and 100 freestyles as both a sophomore and a junior, and was a part of Menchville’s first-ever team state title in swimming.
“I chose the University of Missouri because the campus, facilities, and academics all blew me away. The coaching staff is phenomenal as well. It is the place where I can grow as a swimmer, a student, and an overall person.”
Moore defended his state sprint titles as a junior, and continued to improve in his best events, but what really accelerated his stock in the recruiting market was a drastically-improved versatility during his junior season that included showing off his abilities over 200 yards:
| Sophomore | Junior | |
| 50 free | 21.25 | 20.59 |
| 100 free | 45.57 | 45.08 |
| 200 free | 1:40.30 | 1:38.47 |
| 100 fly | 51.08 | 50.02 |
| 200 fly | 1:53.92 | 1:50.16 |
| 100 back | 51.44 | 50.75 |
| 200 IM | 1:53.39 | 1:50.39 |
In long course, Moore placed 5th at last summer’s NCSA Junior National Championships in the 50 free.
Caitlin Clements – Texas
For Greg Rhodenbaugh’s women’s program, the new addition is Texas state champion Caitlin Clements.
She too is primarily a freestyler, and she was the 2015 Texas 5A (small schools) state champion in the 100 yard free with a 50.39.
Clements tends a little longer than her future teammate, and projects out as more of a 100/200/500 swimmer than 50/100 swimmer.
I AM SO SO SOOO EXCITED to announce my verbal commitment to swim for the University of Missouri!! ???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/RBtmURFGfj
— Caitlin Clements (@clemcaitlin) September 28, 2016
Clements’ best times in yards:
- 50 free – 23.63
- 100 free – 50.39
- 200 free – 1:48.14
- 500 free – 4:53.49
- 100 back – 58.07
The Missouri women their best 100 and 200 freestyler, Anna Patterson, at the end of last season, but returned a lot of youth otherwise – led by junior Rachel Hayden. They’ll enter next season, Clements’ freshman year, with high relay expectations from what will be a strong senior class. The way the team shapes up now, Clements could be a final piece to bring that senior class together for a program-peak.
Looks like two awesome recruits
Congratulations, Alex! Great pick up for the Tigers! High quality young man with loads of talent, and an even better work ethic!
Nice pick-ups! Clements will bring great energy to the Mizzou program in and out of the pool.