The University of Michigan men’s swimming and diving team announced on Tuesday (Nov. 15) the addition of diver Ross Todd (Happy Valley, Australia) to the team’s roster in January, while four swimmers — Luiz Borges (São Paulo, Brazil), William Roberts (Annapolis, Md.), Ricardo Vargas (Cuernavaca, Mexico) and graduate transfer James Peek (Forest Row, England/Duke) — will join the team next fall.
“The exciting thing about this class is the potential,” said head coach Mike Bottom. “It’s a small class, but each of these guys are hard workers. Our staff is confident in their ability to come in and compete from day one.”
“Ross is a phenomenal athlete,” said diving coach Mike Hilde. “He’s going to elevate our entire men’s program to be more competitive at the Big Ten and NCAA levels. I think he’s a guy who can not only qualify for the NCAA Championships, but final in all three disciplines. He’s just a great kid with a great work ethic.”
Luiz Borges | Freestyle (Sprint) | São Paulo, Brazil (St. Nicholas School/Pinheiros Swim Club)
The son of former U-M swimmer Gustavo Borges, a four-time Olympian and 10-time NCAA champion, Luiz figures to add to Michigan’s depth in the sprint freestyle events. He swims for Pinheiros Swim Club in São Paulo.
TOP TIMES: 50m FR (23.30), 100m FR (51.55)
William Roberts | Freestyle (Distance) | Annapolis, Md. (Broadneck Senior/Naval Academy Aquatic Club)
Roberts is a distance freestyle swimmer who trains at the Naval Academy Aquatic Club in Annapolis, Md. His father, Bill, is the head coach at the U.S. Naval Academy. Roberts finished sixth in the 1,000-yard freestyle at the 2016 NCSA Spring Championships and was a three-time finalist at the Speedo Championships Series at Christianburg.
TOP TIMES: 200y FR (1:42.70), 500y FR (4:29.06), 1650y FR (15:28.90), 400y IM (3:58.21)
Ricardo Vargas | Freestyle (Distance) | Cuernavaca, Mexico (Instituto Technologico y De Estudios Superiores de Monterrey/Cdom Mexico)
Vargas is a distance freestyle swimmer from Cdom Mexico. He represented Mexico at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, finishing 25th in the 1,500-meter freestyle (15:11.53). He is the current Mexican national record holder in the 400-, 800- and 1,500-meter freestyles. He also represented Mexico at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and the 2015 FINA World Junior Championships.
TOP TIMES: 400m FR (3:53.39), 800m FR (8:01.60), 1500m FR (15:11.53)
Ross Todd | Diving | Happy Valley, Australia (Reynella East College/Diving South Australia)
Todd, from Happy Valley, Australia, is a current member of the Diving Australia National Squad. He is slated to make his second consecutive appearance for Australia at the upcoming FINA World Junior Diving Championships after winning bronze in the Boys 14/15 one-meter springboard competition in 2014. This year, he’ll compete again on one-meter and also on platform. This past summer, he placed third on platform and seventh on three-meter at Australian Olympic Trials.
James Peek | Freestyle (Sprint) | Forest Row, England (Millfield School/Duke University)
Peek will join the team next fall as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining after spending three years at Duke. A two-time NCAA Championships qualifier for the Blue Devils, Peek earned an NCAA All-America honorable mention on their 200-yard medley relay last season. He also swam in two individual events, finishing 28th in the 50-yard freestyle and 46th in the 100-yard freestyle. Peek holds program records in both the 50-yard freestyle (19.54) and 100-yard backstroke (47.94), and is No. 2 in the 100-yard freestyle (43.53).
TOP TIMES: 50y FR (19.54), 100y FR (43.53), 100 BK (47.94)
WOMEN
The University of Michigan women’s swimming and diving team announced its seven-member recruiting class for the 2017-18 season on Tuesday (Nov. 15). The signees include swimmers Kate Krolikowski (Irvine, Calif.), Claire Maiocco (Winter Park, Fla.), Alexis Margett (Glendora, Calif.), Daria Pyshnenko (Lake Forest, Ill.) and Sierra Schmidt (Erdenheim, Pa.), as well as divers Nikki Canale (Waxhaw, N.C.) and Christy Cutshaw (Durham, N.C.).
“By the end of their freshman year, I think we’ll look back and see that this was one of the best classes in the country and one of the best in our program’s history,” said head coach Mike Bottom. “These women are capable of contributing in multiple events, which adds depth and makes our team stronger. We’re thrilled to have them.”
“Nikki and Christy will raise our program to a whole new level,” said diving coach Mike Hilde. “They raise the bar for what we’re looking at in terms of competitive ability and make us a more well-rounded team. As those two help each other improve, our team gets better.”
Nikki Canale | Diving | Waxhaw, N.C. (Marvin Ridge/Carolina Diving Academy)
Canale, a springboard specialist, is a two-time North Carolina 3A state champion on three-meter. She qualified for 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in that event, finishing 17th. At the 2016 USA Diving National Championships, Canale finished fifth on three-meter and ninth on one-meter.
Christy Cutshaw | Diving | Durham, N.C. (Durham Academy/North Carolina Diving)
Cutshaw trains at North Carolina Diving under former Michigan diver Abel Sanchez. Specializing in platform diving, she qualified for 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing sixth in women’s synchronized platform and 23rd in senior women’s platform. At the 2016 USA Diving National Championships, she took fourth in senior women’s platform.
Kate Krolikowski | Freestyle | Irvine, Calif. (Woodbridge/Aquazot Swim Club)
Krolikowski is the most versatile swimmer in the class. Swimming for Aquazot Swim Club, Krolikowski has been best in the mid-distance events, winning the 500-yard freestyle and finishing second in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2016 CIF Southern Section D-I Championships. She also took 15th in the 200-meter butterfly at the 2016 U.S. Open.
TOP TIMES: 100y FR (49.77), 200y FR (1:45.96), 500y FR (4:47.54), 100y FL (54.57), 200y FL (2:00.31), 200y IM (2:01.49), 400y IM (4:16.81)
Claire Maiocco | Butterfly | Winter Park, Fla. (Trinity Preparatory School/Trinity Prep Aquatics)
Maiocco specializes in the butterfly and swims for Trinity Prep Aquatics. She is a two-time individual event finalist at the FHSAA 1A State Championships, and is a 10-time NISCA All-American. Maiocco won the 50-meter butterfly and took second in the 100-meter butterfly at the Speedo Champions Series in Orlando.
TOP TIMES: 100y FL (53.87), 200y FL (2:06.80)
Alexis Margett | Butterfly | Glendora, Calif. (Glendora/Brea Aquatics)
Like Maiocco, Margett also swims the butterfly, winning the 100-yard butterfly (meet record) and 200-yard IM at the 2016 CIF Southern Section D-II Championships. She also took fourth in the 100-meter butterfly at the Speedo Summer Junior National Championships.
TOP TIMES: 100y FL (52.59), 200y FL (1:57.74), 200y IM (1:59.78)
Daria Pyshnenko | Freestyle (Sprint) | Lake Forest, Ill. (Lake Forest/Cats Aquatic Team)
Pyshnenko is the lone sprinter in the class. She is the daughter of Vladimir Pyshnenko, a four-time Olympic medalist for Russia. In 2015, she won the 50- and 100-yard freestyles at the 2015 Illinois State Championships. She swims for Cats Aquatic Team.
TOP TIMES: 50y FR (22.52), 100y FR (49.14)
Sierra Schmidt | Freestyle (Distance) | Erdenheim, Pa. (North Baltimore Aquatic Club)
One of the top young distance swimmers in the country, Schmidt brings a ton of international experience to Michigan. A member of the 2015-16 U.S. National Team and a current member of the U.S. Junior National Team (2016-17), Schmidt was named Swimmer of the Meet at the 2014 Junior Pan Pacific Championships after winning the 800-meter freestyle and 1,500-meter freestyle. She also won those two races and the 400-meter freestyle at the 2014 Speedo Junior Nationals. Last summer, she won gold in the 800-meter freestyle at the 2015 Pan American Games. Schmidt also had two top-10 finishes at 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, finaling in the 800-meter freestyle (eighth) and also taking 10th in the 400-meter freestyle.
TOP TIMES: 200m FR (2:01.64), 400m FR (4:07.47), 800m FR (8:27.54), 1,650y FR (15:57.89)
News courtesy of Michigan Athletics.
AB
What about Emma Cleason?
meeee – while we can’t say for sure, but if an athlete isn’t on scholarship they can’t sign a real, binding letter of intent (they can do whatever they want ceremonially). If they don’t sign a letter of intent, the school can’t announce them.
So, either:
1) She changed her mind
2) She’s a walk-on; or
3) She’s waiting until spring to sign
Men on way down, women on way up
Trying to figure out what the “8” in the headline refers to
Go Blue! Another Borges dynasty