Swimcloud

Wisconsin-Milwaukee Signs Five

Five individuals have all signed with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee swimming teams and round out a solid incoming freshman class, head coach Kyle Clements announced this week.

David Chokran of South Elgin, Ill., Noah Dalluge of Rogers, Minn., Yevgeniy Foster of Eden Prairie, Minn., and Evan Kuker of Blue Mounds, Wis., will join the men's team and Sarah Grieve of Glenview, Ill., joins the defending Horizon League Champion women's team this coming fall.

"I am happy to announce this year's spring signing class," Clements said. "This group is full of great talent and, better yet, great people. When put together with the group from the fall, you are able to see the full picture and how bright the future is here in Milwaukee. This class brings with them the ability to score in very important places; they add the depth and potential to not only continue the success of our program, but to expand on it. They are all coming off tremendous senior seasons and we are going to look to them to continue to build on their success."

Chokran comes to Milwaukee after a strong senior season at St. Charles High School. Brother of current Panther Joe Chokran, David was a sectional champ in the 100 breaststroke and qualified for the state championships in both the 100 breast and the 200 IM. He boasts impressive times in all three of his main events and is the 70th-ranked swimmer in the state of Illinois, according to CollegeSwimming.com.

"We are so pleased that David chose to swim at UWM," Clements said. "He is a great addition to our young program. Already at his young age he is a three-event swimmer and we will be able to use all three. His older brother Joey took off in our program last year and we know that David will do the same. He has all the tools to make himself a great Milwaukee and Horizon League swimmer, and it will not take him long to make a name for himself."

Dalluge just graduated from St. Michael-Albertville High School and becomes the first swimmer from his high school to swim at the Division I level. He had an outstanding state meet as a senior, breaking the school record in the 50 free with a runner-up finish, topping the school record in the 100 free to take 14th overall and helping both the 200 and 400 free relay teams to podium finishes. In all, Dalluge was a huge part in his team finishing ninth overall at the state meet, the highest finish ever for the Knights.

"Noah is one that the league better look out for," Clements said. "This young man is extremely gifted in the sprint free and there is so much more room for improvement. He continues to drop big chunks of time every time he tapers. With his natural athletic ability, training, and collegiate experience, the sky is the limit. Big things are in this young man's future and we are a better team with him on the roster."

Foster also hails from the greater Minneapolis area, having just graduated from Eden Prairie High School where he created an incredible swimming resume in his four years. Foster helped his team to back-to-back state titles as an All-State and All-Conference swimmer. He also earned Scholastic All-American honors and helped his team to a 13-0 dual-meet record as a senior.

"Yev takes this class to a different level," Clements said. "Just with his high school times he would be a difference maker, but this young man has a lot of room to grow and excel. He will benefit greatly from our dry-land and weight program. He also adds much needed depth in our butterfly events. We will look to him early and often throughout the season for big time swims. I can not wait to get Yev here in Milwaukee."

Kuker hails from Mount Horeb High School and just won four medals at the state meet this past February. Kuker dropped nearly a full second in the 50 freestyle to win the silver medal, grabbed bronze in the 100 free and also made the podium with the 200 free and 200 medley relay teams. He qualified for state an impressive 14 times over his high school career and graduates with a school record under his name.

"I can not express enough how happy I am to have Evan joining us here at Milwaukee," Clements said. "This young man keeps getting stronger and faster with each swim. He had a great high school state meet where he dropped over a half second off his lifetime best, then followed that up with two great stroke swims at a club meet the next week. If he continues on the learning curve that he is currently on, there is no telling how far and fast this young man can go. He has the potential to be great in so many different events and we are really looking forward to working with him."

Grieve joins the women's team coming out of Glenbrook South High School and swimming for Glenview Titan Aquatic Club. The senior helped her high school team to a fourth-place showing at the Illinois state meet this year after a sixth-place finish one year ago. She was a part of the 200 medley relay that won sectionals her junior year and took fourth this past season.

"Sarah was a great late addition to the women's team. She really rounded out the ladies' early signing class," Clements said. "Sarah will swim middle distance and give that group another strong swimmer. Having her on the roster will allow us to move some other swimmers around and that will make us an even better team."

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