The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee swimming & diving team added seven more individuals to its incoming 2014-15 roster, head coach Kyle Clements announced today.
The newcomers include Sara Bentley of Ames, Iowa; Maggie LaMere of Shoreview, Minn.; Natalie O'Connell of Chicago, Ill.; Charli Wike of Sterling, Ill.; Draven Feustel of Neenah, Wis.; Marcel Harris of Sheboygan, Ill.; and Seth Johnson of Fort Wayne, Ind.
"Spring signing could not have gone any better for us," Clements said. "We were able to build upon the great fall class and address the events that we did not cover in that early signing. Each one of these new Panthers has the ability to score points in the Horizon league. As our program continues to grow and develop, these young men and women will be instrumental in the direction of that development, and I know that they will all be up to that task. I once again need to thank our current roster and our recruiting coordinator coach Dave Joyce in all the work that they have done to help me insure the future progression of this team."
Bentley is one of the top swimmers in the area and is ranked ninth in the entire state of Iowa by CollegeSwimming.com. The highly touted high school standout helped Ames win four-straight state titles. She helped break the state record in the 200 medley relay as a senior and winning the 100 back state title back-to-back years with some very impressive times.
"Sara was an important sign for this program," Clements said. "Every year we look to improve in every event, and having Sara on the roster will help us achieve those goals. The times that she brings with her into UWM are already faster than our freshman records. She will have a lot of opportunities to score a lot of points. She will be an immediate contender for a medley relay spot and also have a very good chance to make the Horizon League championship roster in her first year."
LaMere hails from Shoreview, Minn. where she helped Mounds View High School improve each year. She earned trips to the state meet both her junior and senior seasons, both times in the 200 free relay.
"Maggie immediately helps solidify our young team for next year. When we were first contacted by her last October she immediately went to the top of our call list. She can swim anything from freestyle to IM, and she will have plenty of chances to do so. Having a young lady like Maggie on our roster only makes us better."
O'Connell qualified for state her final three years at Lane Tech High School on Chicago's north side. She is a breaststroke specialist that also earned trips to state in the individual medley and is ranked in the top-100 in the state of Illinois.
"There is nothing but upside to Natalie," Clements said. "She is already a very accomplished swimmer, and more importantly, it is in a event that we needed to add more depth to. She has all the tools and we are looking forward to working with her on a daily basis. When this young lady puts it all together and gets a little more experience, she will become a perennial Horizon League finalist."
Wike is a five-time sectional champ out of Sterling, Ill. Wike also primarily swims breaststroke events and also qualified for state three times. She also comes from a deep-rooted swimming family, with cousin James a nine-time All-American at Auburn and cousin Emily competing at Oakland.
"I knew that Charli was going to be a Panther," Clements said. "During our initial meeting, we talked about her goals and our team goals and they lined up perfectly. She is a very determined young lady and determination mixed with athletic talent is a combination that we can work with. I know that we will be able to put her in important spots next year and get real production out of her. We are really looking forward to having her."
Feustel is the first of a pair of diving standouts to join Milwaukee next year. The Neenah phenom won the state title as a senior with a score of 421.65 after earning trips to the state meet as a sophomore and junior, as well.
"This was a very important addition for our team," Clements said. "Having this state champion on our roster takes our team and diving program to a different level. Draven will help raise the level of all the other divers around him, and our program will help raise his. The impact of Draven and the rest of men divers will be felt in the league this coming season."
"Draven comes to UWM after finishing first at this year's D1 state meet," Milwaukee diving coach Todd Hill said. "He comes from club and high school programs with one of the best coaches in the state. We are excited to have him on the team and he is a great addition to our men's diving program."
Harris is the other diving star from the state to join UWM next year. The Sheboygan North standout finished runner-up at the state meet with a score of 412.90 and, alongside Feustel, the duo was widely considered the top-two divers by far in Wisconsin.
"Marcel is going to be an immediate difference maker to our men's diving roster," Clements said. "This young man has just started to scratch the surface of his ability and we could not be happier about him being a Panther."
Added Hill, "Marcel is one of the top recruits in Wisconsin and we very excited to have on board for next season. Having finished second in the D1 state meet and, coming from an excellent club diving program, we expect Marcel to have an immediate impact."
Johnson rounds out the group with high honors attached to his name coming from Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. Johnson is ranked in the top-25 in the state according to CollegeSwimming.com. He competed in four events at the Indiana state meet as a senior, taking sixth in the 100 backstroke and winning the B-final of the 100 butterfly.
"Seth might just be that one late sign that makes all the difference next season," Clements said. "This young man has made big improvements recently and there is no reason to think he is slowing down anytime soon. We were so happy with our fall recruiting class, but we were saying to ourselves `If we could only get one more'. Seth stepped up to fill that roster spot and he will make an immediate difference on our men's team next season."
