Courtesy: NM State Athletics
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Another year with Head Coach Rick Pratt at the helm and yet another year with a strong recruiting class for NM State.
The Aggies will add eight individuals ahead of the 2023-24 season as Pratt announced Riley Crespo, Callie Ceshker, Emily Dobbins, Foteini Charitou, Annabella Marthaler, Kodi Wiman, Taylor Craft and Ellen Osthelder will head to Las Cruces next fall.
Riley Crespo | New Orleans, La.
Crespo is set to join the Aggie squad after swimming under Coach James Winchester for the NU Wave Swim Club in Louisiana.
“We are very excited to recruit one of Louisiana’s top swimmers to our program,” said Coach Pratt. “Riley swims many things well and is extremely hard-working and dedicated. She is going to make an immediate impact in the breast and IM events but has the potential to contribute in many other events as well. Riley is very kind and will make a very strong teammate. We are thrilled to be able to be a part of her progress as a student-athlete.”
Personal Bests:
400 IM (4:24.33y), 200 IM (2:08.02y), 200 Breast (2:21.07y)
Callie Ceshker | Lake Genevea, Wisc.
Ceshker will add to the list of strong swimmers to compete for the Aggie program from the Wisconsin area. She specializes in the sprint freestyle events and most recently spent time swimming with Schroeder YMCA Swim Team for Coach David Anderson.
“Callie was on our recruiting list early in the process and is a great fit for our program in many ways,” noted Pratt. “She was attracted to the strong animal science program here at NM State and is an amazing student and potential leader. We were looking for a hard-working sprinter and found an amazing one with Callie. We are excited to have her be an Aggie!”
Personal Bests:
50 Free (23.75), 100 Free (52.05)
Emily Dobbins | Newcastle, Australia
Dobbins is set to become just the second Australian swimmer in program history – joining WAC Champion Jessica Legge who also hails from Newcastle. Dobbins is a talented swimmer specializing in the backstroke events and will contribute immediately.
“We were fortunate to have a connection with Emily and the more we got to know her the more we felt she could be a huge addition to our program,” said Coach Pratt. “She is a talented overall athlete and besides being very competitive in the backstroke events has great potential in the sprint freestyle events as well. She has a great personality, is mature and is a strong student. Emily is the complete package and we’re thrilled to have her join us in the fall.”
Personal Bests:
100 Back (1:04.33LCM), 200 Back (2:17.71LCM), 50 Free (26.93LCM)
Foteini Charitou | Athens, Greece
Charitou will be the first Aggie swimmer to venture to Las Cruces all the way from Greece. Her specialty is in breastroke events and is ranked among the top ten in Greece and she will contribute immediately for the Aggies.
“Foteini has the talent and skills to compete at the highest level,” Pratt mentioned. “Her energy and enthusiasm really stood out in the recruiting process, and her technique and strength will allow her to be very successful at the WAC Level and beyond. She’s a lot of fun to be around and we’re thrilled to have her commitment.”
Personal Bests:
100 Breast (1:13.20LCM), 200 Breast (2:38.07LCM)
Annabella Marthaler | Albuquerque, N.M.
Marthaler will join the Aggies after swimming for coach John Butcher with Charger Aquatics and attending La Cueva High School in Albuquerque. Marthaler will swim distance free, IM and breaststroke for NM State and has the potential to be and amazing student-athlete for the Aggies.
“Annabella’s leadership qualities, hard work ethic and personality really got our attention during the recruiting process,” Pratt said. “She is going to be a lot of fun to coach and has the talent and potential to become an amazing swimmer and teammate for our team.”
Personal Bests:
500 Free (5:09.43y), 400 IM (4:37.09y)
Kodi Wiman | Kelowna, B.C., Canada
Wiman will be the second Aggie to head south of the border from the Kelowna Aquajets Swim Team and swims for Head coach Marc Trembley – joining current Aggie Molly Hill. Kodi will be another incoming signee specializing in the breastroke and IM events and should make a big impact for the Aggies.
“It is always fun when younger teammates of current Aggies want to also be Aggies and getting to know Kodi with Molly’s connection was very special,” mentioned Coach Pratt. “She is a mature, kind and very hard-working swimmer and has many positive attributes to contribute in several ways. Her technique is very strong and has the potential to be very fast.”
Personal Bests:
100 Breast (1:14.32LCM), 200 Breast (2:38.77LCM), 200 IM (2:25.82LCM)
Taylor Craft | Katy, Texas
Craft will join the Aggies next fall after a successful career with Katy Aquatics and Coach Bill Bailey. Craft is yet another breaststroker to commit for the Aggies and will already have swims placing her in scoring position in the WAC.
“Taylor is a raw and upcoming breaststroker who has tremendous potential,” Pratt remarked. “She also has the potential to be a great sprint freestyler and is getting better at the longer distances as well. She will impact our relays and team in many ways. Watching her develop and get faster throughout the process this fall was very exciting and I think she is going to be a star for our team. She’s a great person, will make a strong teammate and we are thrilled about her commitment.”
Personal Bests:
100 Breast (1:02.99y), 100 Free (52.14y)
Ellen Osthelder |Madison, Wisc.
Osthelder will join the Aggies next fall and has had a successful career swimming for Badger Aquatic Club with Coaches Chris Wills and Jacob Johnson. She recently finished third in the Wisconsin high school championship meet in the 100 fly. She also specializes in the Freestyle and Backstroke events.
“Ellen is a great find for our program and is still getting faster and has much potential,” Pratt said. “She is a great student and is a lot of fun to be around. She has the physical attributes and drive to be an amazing college swimmer and will be a great teammate for our squad.”
Personal Bests:
100 Fly (56.02y), 200 Fly (2:04.93y), 100 Back (58.26y), 50 Free (24.16y)
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Super human and great Coach and great program!