Toledo Welcomes Five Freshmen to its 2016-17 Squad

TOLEDO, OH – The University of Toledo women’s swimming and diving team will welcome five freshmen to its 2016-17 squad. Head Coach Jonas Persson announced on Thursday. The newcomers will include Anna Dunphy, Corinne Harris, Isobel Jones, Maureen O’Sullivan and Bec Welke.

Dunphy comes to the “Glass City” from Victoria, BC. Dunphy qualified for the 2016 Canadian Age Group Nationals in seven events, and she was a member of the gold, silver and bronze relay teams at the 2016 Provincial Championships. Dunphy was also a finalist at 2015 and 2016 Western Canadian Championships and qualified for 2015 Canadian Age Group Championships in two events. She is a member of Team Alberta and attended Claremont Secondary School. Dunphy plans on majoring in bio-engineering.

“Anna can swim both sprint and middle distance freestyle and has a very impressive backstroke. She will have great impact on our team in individual events and on relays. It will be a lot of fun figuring out what her top events are going to be.” – Head Coach Jonas Persson

Harris was a four-year letterwinner at Calvert High School from nearby Tiffin where she broke eight school records in the pool. Harris was a Division II state finalist as a senior and was the district champion in 200- and 500-yard free. She also earned All-Ohio, all-district and Academic All-Ohio honors her senior year. Harris was a Division II state qualifier her junior year and earned all-district as a sophomore and junior. She was also a four-year letterwinner in cross country and two-year letterwinner in track & field. Harris plans on majoring in speech and language pathology.

“Corinne is a swimmer with great potential, despite having a limited swimming background. She will make a great impact, as she is a hard worker and a great teammate. She will also greatly benefit from training against her teammates on a daily basis.” – Head Coach Jonas Persson

Jones hails from Ivinghoe, England where she attended the Cottesloe School. In 2016, Jones was theCounty and East Region of England Short and Long Course Champion in the 400-meter free, 800-meter free, 100-meter back and 200-meter back. Her junior year, Jones was the 2015 Regional Champion in the 200-meter back, 200-meter free and 400-meter free. A year earlier, she was the County Champion in eight events. Jones is currently the county and club record holder in the 200-, 400- and 800-meter free and the club record holder in the long and short course 100-meter free. She was also a member of regional and national cross country team that finished top-30 in the country and placed second on two occasions at the British Biathlon, which earned her a place on the England Talent Programme. Once at Toledo, Jones plans on majoring in kinesiology.

“Izzy will greatly strengthen us in sprint and middle distance freestyle and backstroke. She is still developing and will be a great addition to all of our relays. Izzy had a great summer competing in Great Britain with some nice time drops. I’m excited to work with her and see how far she can take her collegiate and international career.” – Head Coach Jonas Persson

O’Sullivan is a native of Pound Ridge, NY and attended Fox Lane High School where she was a Scholar-Athlete and on the Honor Roll. O’Sullivan was a conference, section and state qualifier, placing sixth in the 100-yard backstroke at the New York State Championships. Her 100-yard back time qualified her for the ISCA Junior National Championship, NCSA Junior National Championship, the Arena Pro Series Grand Prix and the AT&T Winter National Championship. Her personal best time in the 100-yard back is 55.82, and she is currently working towards an Olympic qualifying time. O’Sullivan plans on majoring in English.

“Maureen is a solid backstroker and will have an immediate impact on scoring at conference and improving our medley relays. She is very strong in the water, and I’m excited to see what she can do, not only in her top two events, but also in some other strokes.” – Head Coach Jonas Persson

Welke comes to Toledo all the way from Toowoomba, Australia. She attended the Glennie School where she was a team captain and named the school’s 2016 Sportswoman of the Year. Welke was the2016 Australian University Games Champion and the current record holder in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke. She was also a semi-finalist in the women’s open 50-meter breast at the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships. In 2015, Welke was the School Sport Australia Champion in the girl’s 50-meter breast and the 4×50-meter medley relay and still holds the Australian record in the 4×50-meter medley. At the 2015 Queensland State Sprint Championship, she finished first in the women’s open 50-meter breast and girls’ 50-meter breast and at the 2015 Queensland State Short Course Championship she touched first in the girls’ 50- and 100-meter breaststroke. Welke was a member of the Swimming Queensland State Short Course team, Queensland School swim team, and Darling Downs School sport swim team. Welke plans on majoring in finance at UT.

“Bec is a breaststroke specialist who has a lot of potential in both the 100 and 200. She has a great training background and very technically sound. I’m looking forward to continuing to develop her breaststroke, plus making improvements in her other strokes.” – Head Coach Jonas Persson

This swimming news story is courtesy of University of Toledo.