Courtesy: TCU Athletics
FORT WORTH — TCU swim and dive welcomes eight young women in its 2020 recruiting class, head coach James Winchester announced today.
Jessie Beckwith
Hometown: Castle Rock, Colorado
High School: Rock Canyon High School
Previous School: Arkansas (Beckwith is an incoming sophomore)
Club Team: The University of Denver Hilltoppers (TOPS-CO)
Highlights: Set a personal best in the 100 (55.08) and 200 (2:03.40) fly while setting a season-best in the 100 free with a time of 51.96 at the 2020 SEC Championships.
Consistently scored in the 100yd and 200yd fly at all meets for the Razorbacks as well as contributing in relays.
Currently a 4.0 student-athlete.
Has completed over 500 hours of community service in the past five years.
100yd fly Continental League Champion her junior and senior year.
Top-five all four years in high school in the 100yd fly and 100yd free at the 5A State Meet.
Competed at the Sectional level since 7th grade.
Junior National Qualifier throughout high school.
#WhyTCU: “I chose TCU because of the incredible opportunities that the University and the team hold,” Beckwith said. “I am so excited to join a team that supports one another like a family, and I look forward to giving them my all in the classroom and in the pool Go Frogs!
Coach Quote: We have had some great success with swimmers from the state of Colorado recently and it is with great enthusiasm that we add Jessie to that mix,” Winchester said. “Walking in the door, Jessie is going to be one of our fastest butterfly swimmers and will impact our relays immediately. Away from the pool, her infectiously personality is going to add to our strong women’s team culture, and we cannot wait to have Jessie with us here in the Fort.
Emma Hultquist
Hometown: Rockwall, Texas
High School: Rockwall High School
Previous School: Arkansas (Hultquist is an incoming sophomore)
Club Team: Rockwall Aquatics Center of Excellence
Highlights: Set a personal best in the 50 (24.19), 100 (2:03.40), 200 (1:48.14) and 500 (4:55.27) free at the 2020 SEC Championships.
4th at Texas UIL State in the 200 Free.
Member of the winning relay at NSCA meet.
National Meet qualifier.
#WhyTCU: “I chose Texas Christian University because I was looking for a team that felt like family and a team I was proud to represent,” Hultquist said.
Coach Quote: It’s a great pleasure to welcome Emma to Funkytown,” Winchester said. “Emma had a very strong showing her freshman year at Arkansas and in the SEC, and has a chance to make a big impact on our team early and make some noise within the Big 12 as well. Emma is going to add to a very strong freestyle group and will find her name in the TCU history books quickly. Welcome home Emma!
Mary Jania
Hometown: St. Charles, Ill.
High School: Saint Charles East High School
Club Team: St. Charles Aquatics/New Trier Aquatics
Highlights: Four-time IHSA finalist in 2020 (100 and 200 breast, 200 and 400 IM)
2020 IHSA Results: 2nd place 200 Y Breast (2:16.15), 2nd place 400 Y IM (4:24.33), 3rd place 100 Y Breast (1:03.13), 4th place 200 Y IM (2:04.32)
2019 IHSA 100 Y Breast Champion (1:03.53)
Jr. National Qualifier
Jr. National Finalist
#WhyTCU: “I knew TCU was the right place for me to start the next chapter of my life because of the amazing academic and athletic opportunities that await,” Jania said. “I could not be more excited to be a part of this team! Go Frogs!”
Coach Quote: Mary was one of our first commitments for this recruiting class, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the #FrogFam,” Winchester said. “Mary has a lot of strengths in different events, and will be one of our strongest breaststroke, butterfly, and medley swimmers from day one. Apart from her swimming strengths, Mary has an infectious personality, and we cannot wait to see what she does for our program over the next four years.
Sydney Jorgensen
Hometown: Ankeny, Iowa
High School: Ankeny Centennial High School
Club Team: Midwest Diving Academy
Highlights: Iowa State Girls High School Diving Champion
#WhyTCU: “I chose TCU because of the incredible culture of both the school and the team,” Jorgensen said. “From the moment I stepped on campus I knew I was home. The coaches are committed to my success both in and out of the water, and the athletes could not have made me feel more welcome. The swim and dive team is truly a special thing to be a part of and I can’t wait to join the journey!”
Coach Quote: “From the moment Sydney stepped on campus we knew it would be a perfect fit for us,” head diving coach Anthony Crowder said. “She brings so much energy and passion to everything she does. Very excited to bring in this young lady from Iowa and very excited for what is to come from her. Sydney has maintained a standard of excellence in the classroom that will fall in line with our teams academic pursuit to excellence. Thankful and ecstatic to welcome Sydney to the Horned Frog family.”
Audrey McMurry
Hometown: Keller, Texas
High School: Keller High School
Previous School: Texas A&M (McMurry joined the team this past winter and is a redshirt junior)
Club Team: North Texas Nadadores
Highlights: Registered NCAA B cuts in the 200, 500, & 1650 free her freshman year at Texas A&M.
Summer and winter Junior National Qualifier 2014-2017.
Three time state qualifier.
State runner up in the 500 free in 2017.
Five top eight finishes at state from 2014-2017.
District champion in the 200 IM and 500 free in 2015 and 2017.
Two-time regional champion in the 200 IM.
Team record holder for both club and high school.
#WhyTCU: “I chose TCU because I was inspired by the enthusiasm and dedication of the coaches to the team’s success,” McMurry said. “TCU offers excellent academics as well as a supportive and competitive team atmosphere. This combination is rare and I believe it will lead to success in and out of the pool.”
Coach Quote: Audrey will be one of the most talented swimmers to step on to campus in recent history here at TCU and has a chance to reset the Top 10 record books in multiple events,” Winchester said. “She will have an immediate impact for us in the Big 12 and will elevate our program to the next level. We’ve been fortunate to have Audrey on campus since January, and we look forward to working with her for the next two years.
Ashleen O’Brien
Hometown: Moraga, Calif.
High School: Campolindo High School
Previous School: UC Davis (O’Brien is an incoming sophomore)
Club Team: Diablo Aquatics
Highlights: Four-time Diablo Athletic League All-League first team member.
Four-time NCS (North Coast Section) finalist.
Four-time CIF State Championship finalist 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Junior Nationals qualifier.
Four-time All-American qualifier.
#WhyTCU: “I chose TCU because of the school’s elite academics and athletics, as well as the amazing team culture,” O’Brien said. “I can’t wait to be a part of the team. Go Frogs!”
Coach Quote: “We are excited to welcome Ashleen from UC-Davis to the Horned Frog Family,” assistant coach Jean Madison said. “Not only will Ashleen be a contributor in both backstroke and butterfly events, but also in the classroom and is sure to be a strong addition to our team culture. We are happy that TCU will be her new home!”
Cayla Prophater
Hometown: Mercer Island, Wash.
High School: Mercer Island High School
Club Team: Bellevue Club Swim Team
Highlights: Two-time finalist at 2019 WIAA Girls 3A State Championship – 2nd place 500 free (4:59.48) 4th place 200 free (1:53.17).
Two-time finalist at 2019 Pacific Northwest Swimming Senior Championships (6th place 800 free (9:22.33) and 8th place 400 free (4:42.65).
Mercer Island High School Athlete of the Year and MVP
Washington First-Team All-State
Blue Valley North High School Record Holder in the 50 Free and 100 Back.
Blue Valley North High School MVP.
Kansas First-Team All-State.
Kansas Best of Preps Award.
Sunflower All-League Honors and High Point Award.
#WhyTCU: “I chose TCU because of the excellent academic and athletic programs,” Prophater said. “I am extremely excited to work with the amazing coaches and train with such a supportive team.”
Coach Quote: “A bright young woman who we believe to have strong mid-distance and distance swimming potential, Cayla embodies the positivity, enthusiasm and ambition TCU swimming and diving is known for, assistant coach Nathan Lavery said. “A true team player with an already demonstrated passion for TCU and Horned Frog athletics.”
Valerie Anne Staffeldt
Hometown: The Woodlands, Texas
High School: The Woodlands High School
Club Team: Magnolia Aquatic Club
Highlights: NISCA All-American.
1st place in 50 L Fly (28.70), 3rd place in 50 L Free (26.80) and 7th place in 50 L Back (31.41) at Southern Zone Senior Championships.
1st place in 100 Y Free (51.57) and 2nd place in 50 Y Free (23.61) at 2019 UIL 6A Region 4 Championship.
2nd place 50 Y Free (23.47) at Gulf Swimming Southern Senior Champs
#WhyTCU: “What sold TCU for me was the team,” Staffeldt said. “I love the dynamic and how the team pushes each other to be better! I’m looking forward to being a part of it!
Coach Quote: “Keeping Texas talent close to home is a program priority, and we are extremely pleased to bring Valerie Anne to Fort Worth,” Winchester said. “From the moment we started the recruiting process together, we could tell Valerie Anne would bring a lot to our program inside and outside the pool. Welcome to our family Valerie Anne!”
