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#10 UCLA

It’s easy to overlook Cyndi Gallagher amid her Pac 12 coaching colleagues.  She doesn’t have the Salo brand.  Isn’t the latest media darling like McKeever (not to say it isn’t deserved) or even the hard-charging image of Mauer or Tierney.  Say this about her though, she continues to bring impressive classes to Westwood and the fact that so many come from large, successful, local programs gives you a sense of the respect she’s earned.

Once again, UCLA didn’t have to go far to assemble this class.  Six of the seven signees hail from California and they’re led by two of the top distance recruits in the country - Megan Rankin (Irvine) and Kathryn Campbell (LaCanada).  Add in Alexa Troup (Danville) and you get the sense that Gallagher will quickly be rebranded as a ‘distance coach.’ 

The biggest void for the Bruins wasn’t distance but rather butterfly where Yashi Jahanshahi and Bianca Casciari have held the fort.  To address that need Gallagher not only looked in-state Madison Applegate (Terrapins) but also to her hometown of Issaquah, Washington where she nabbed Kathryn Kinnear. 

The biggest void for UCLA as they head into next season is that spark who can get their relays back to the NCAA meet.  Baring the addition of a 3x1650 Free Relay to the meet program, this class doesn’t address that, but help is already on the way with an early commitment from Junior Madison White.

Incoming Freshmen Rank Name State Score 16 Megan K Rankin CA 1.48 37 Kathryn M Kinnear WA 2.17 55 Kathryn Campbell CA 2.72 120 Arlyn Upshaw CA 4.86 238 Madison A Applegate CA 10.90 247 Alexa K Troup CA 11.39

Losses Name Conference Points NCAA Points Jahanshahi, Yasi 42 7 Casciari, Bianca 41

#9 Michigan

Over the past quarter century, as the competition to recruit women’s swimmers became more combative and heated, Jim Richardson always stood out as a coach who placed a premium on finding good people first, good swimmers second.  What was more impressive is that he was able to do so while still remaining competitive.  Unfortunately, Richardson won’t be able to enjoy the fruits the best Wolverine class in years. 

Whoever winds up succeeding Jim will benefit from a class that is long on talent and character.  It’s headlined by Marni Oldershaw.  Oldershaw is the ranked fifth among this year’s crop of Canadian talent and will arrive with teammate Sharalynn Missiuna.  The connection with Canada has continued to get stronger each year on the men's side which only fuels speculation that the Wolverines could be looking at a combined program in the not-so-distance-future.  Sprinter Zoe Mattingly and Distance Swimmer Jessica Wolf are both immediate Big Ten contributors.  Mattingly brother was a big-time sprinting talent that never quite put it together at Indiana, but little sister Zoe looks to be the real deal.  As for Wolf, she's one of the top distance talents out there and both of their signings from nearby states could signal a revitalized recruiting effort in America's heartland.

It’s just a shame Richardson won’t be there to see it.

Incoming Freshmen Rank Name State Score 21 Marni Oldershaw CAN 1.57 56 Zoe Mattingly IN 2.75 75 Marie F Georger PA 3.30 91 Jessica J Wolf WI 3.85 173 Alexandra M DeLoof MI 7.42 174 Sharalynn Missiuna CAN 7.43

Graduating Seniros Name Conference Points NCAA Points Dauw, Caitlin M 31 1 Mehesan, Alexa A 6 Cole, Kristyne A 7

#8 Tennessee

Few teams scored more points – on the NCAA or conference level – with fewer people than Tennessee.  Just fourteen swimmers scored at the SEC Championships and only one scorer from last year’s 7th place NCAA team won’t return.

Granted that one person is Jenny Connolly but the Lady Vols have added a rising superstar in Faith Johnson.  She’s the number one American-born sprinter in the class and she was sold on the program Head Coach Matt Kredich and Assistant Jennifer Woodruff are building. 
“Their program is well thought out, is techniquely driven and scientifically based. I feel they are on the cutting edge of swimming and will develop me further as a swimmer.” 

The best part of this class is that it doesn’t thin out after the top dog.  Backstroker Madison Hahn will help ease the loss of Connolly, but Amanda Carner and Anna DeMonte actually have more range and versatility.  The sleeper of the group is Mary Griffith.  Two weeks ago the Californian posted big drops at the CIF meet and still has a ways to go.  Most importantly, all four are among the top 100 in the country meaning the Vols will the type of depth they’ve lacked in years past and the type of depth neeed to make a run at a SEC title.  It also means they won’t have to put all of their faith in Johnson.

Incoming Freshmen Rank Name State Score 23 Faith Johnson NC 1.62 59 Mary E Griffith CA 2.82 62 Madison E Hahn VA 2.87 66 Anna DeMonte MI 3.21 69 Amanda Carner VA 3.24 121 Harper Bruens FL 4.87 232 Caroline Finkbeiner PA 10.39

Graduating Seniors Name Conference Points NCAA Points Connolly, Jennifer 53.5 31 Gelb, Samara 12 Colonias, Kirstyn 15 Trudeau, Gaby 38

#7 Virginia

Just when North Carolina thinks it’s taking steps forward Virginia turns around and signs another stellar class.  Last year UVA showed that it could survive without Lauren Smartt.  This year their biggest loss is backstroker Erika Stewart, but considering the Cavs landed J-Nat champion Courney Bartholomew, its safe to say ‘Dino and crew are over it.  Bartholomew is the best backstroker not going to Cal next year and her sub-52 100 puts her in position to final as a freshman. 

The Hoos added another J-Nat champ in Rachel Moore.  Moore’s going to be labeled a flyer, but she’s so much more than that.  According to Head Coach Mark Bernardino she’s “probably the single-most versatile athlete in this group” and that will be key because the Cavs, lacking star power, will be counting on their relays to lift their finish in march. 

Bartholomew and Moore are the biggest gems, this is one of those rare classes where every single member has the potential to get to the big met.   Hanne Borgerson, Samantha Janes and Kristin Vandeventer are all up-and-coming freestylers while the versatility of Whitney Allen and Haley Durmer will help them find the lineup on a deep team.  If there is one shortcoming in this class it was in Virginia’s inability to strengthen its relatively think breaststroke corps.  There are hints that this class may not be finished just yet, but if it is, you can expect that to be on the top of the Cavs wish-list for 2013.

Incoming Freshmen Rank Name State Score 26 Courtney Bartholomew MI 1.67 34 Rachel Moore MA 1.98 82 Samantha James IL 3.74 96 Whitney Allen TX 4.30 97 Hanne Borgersen MD 4.31 103 Natalie Martin VA 4.38 118 Haley J Durmer GA 4.85 298 Kristin VanDeventer IN 13.92

Graduating Seniors Name Conference Points NCAA Points Stewart, Erika 28 Flynn, Kelly 19

#6 Southern California

While California’s Teri McKeever was throwing out the first pitch at an Oakland baseball game last month, USC’s Dave Salo was assembling a recruiting class that would have made A’s general manager Billy Beane and any fan of his Moneyball ways proud.   While Katinka Hosszu was winning NCAA titles last year, not a single Trojan relay made the championship final.  This class, led by Jasmine Tosky and Kendyl Stewart should help address that weakness.

If there was a prototype NCAA swimmer its Tosky.  First night she’s going to bring you some individual points, but more importantly won’t miss a beat on your 400 Medley Relay even if you have to switch her from fly to breast (or free).  On Friday she gives you a choice of top-eight finishes and still has the legs to make that 800 Free Relay Fly.  Finally, she’s going to finish up with the 400 Free Relay where she’ll outrun some of the night’s earlier top-eight finalists.

Kendyl Stewart has some overlap in events, but given the improvement we’ve seen in USC’s IM’ers she’s probably as underrated as a Top Ten recruit can get.  Henriette Stenkvist is the biggest catch from outside of California but the sleeper of the bunch is Brianna Weinstein.  The Irvine breaststroker has seen steady drops over the past three seasons and poised to open people’s eyes much the way Breeja Larson has at A&M

Table

Incoming Freshmen Rank Name State Score 1 Jasmine Tosky CA 1.00 11 Kendyl Stewart CA 1.24 22 Henriette Stenkvist NC 1.59 72 Nikki Chang CA 3.27 97 Brianna Weinstein CA 4.31

Losses Name Conference Points NCAA Points Hosszu, Katinka 96 57 Krisman, Tanya 72 22 Smith, Amanda 52 5.5 Kidron, Ella 14

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