Utah head swimming coach Joe Dykstra has announced that 11 recruits have signed National Letters-of-Intent during the early fall signing period. The Utes’ swim program added three men and five women to the 2015-16 roster, while head diving coach Richard Marschner added one diver on the men’s side and a pair of women divers to the roster as well.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome these 11 talented student-athletes to our team,” said Dykstra. “They come from a wide range of backgrounds and geographic locations, but all have the qualities we are looking for in that they are highly motivated to improve, want to be a part of a great team dynamic, and love the University of Utah. They will definitely come in and contribute immediately and help us keep the program on an upward trajectory over the next four years.”
MEN
Cole Avery
Hometown: Bellingham, Wash.
High School: Sehome High School
High School Coach: Don Helling
Club Team: Bellingham Bay Swim Team
Club Coach: Sean Muncie
Avery is a No. 5-ranked recruit out of Washington, according to CollegeSwimming.com. He is a three-time high school state champion and holds numerous state records. A Junior National qualifier, Avery was a two-time team captain at SHS and he is a 2014 PNS LC Champion, as well as a PNS all-time record holder. His best events include the 200 fly (1:48.27), 400 IM (3:55.47), 200 IM (1:51.17) and 100 fly (49.97). Avery chose Utah over West Virginia, U.S. Naval Academy, Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo.
Why Avery Chose Utah: “Utah demonstrates excellence both academically and athletically. The team environment is very supportive and positive. I felt at home right away with all the amazing people and the gorgeous campus.”
Coach Dykstra on Avery: “We have done very well recruiting the Pacific Northwest the past two years and Cole definitely continues that trend for us. He is a great under water kicker and that skill lends itself to success in collegiate swimming in a variety of events.”
Connor Cain
Hometown: Clovis, Calif.
High School: Buchanan High School
High School Coach: Lindsay Crawford/Teresa Hall
Club Team: Capital Divers
Club Coach: Dede Crayne
Cain is a two-time Tri-River Athletic Conference champion and a two-time CIF Central Section Division I champion as well. He was named the 2014 NorCal Diver of the Year and was a 2014 NISCA Diving All-American. He was a finalist in the one-meter at the 2014 USA Diving Age Group Nationals. His top scores include the one-meter (504.30) and the three-meter (497.05). Cain chose Utah over Cal Poly, UNLV and Florida.
Why Cain Chose Utah: “The first time I stepped onto Utah’s campus, all I could think of was how perfect it was. Then I met the team and fell in love all over again. I love how the swim and dive teams are a family rather than acting like two totally separate teams. I can’t wait to call the University of Utah home next year.”
Coach Marschner on Cain: “Connor is already a high level diver and I think he has great upside. He isn’t able to train very much in the winter due to a lack of opportunity in Fresno, so he will really develop once he gets here. Connor is a very hard worker with a great attitude that will fit in seamlessly with our team.”
Daniel McArthur
Hometown: Lakewood, Calif.
High School: Lakewood High School
High School Coach: AJ Butler
Club Team: Lakewood Aquatics
Club Coach: Jon Moore
McArthur is a No. 8-ranked recruit out of California, according to CollegeSwimming.com. An Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100 back, McArthur is also a seven-time All-American, a four-time CIF Division II champion and a record holder in the 100 back. He is a 12-time league champion and a Southern California record holder as well. His best events include the 100 back SCY (48.38), 200 back SCY (1:44.39), 200 IM SCY (1:47.86), 400 IM SCY (3:55.55), 100 free SCY (46.05) and 200 free SCY (1:40.98). McArthur chose Utah over Alabama, USC and Michigan.
Why McArthur Chose Utah: “There are many reasons I decided on the University of Utah, but what it really came down to was the extreme enthusiasm I experienced from the coaching staff and the motivation I saw in the entire team to be the best.”
Coach Dykstra on McArthur: “Daniel is one of the highest ranked recruits to ever commit to Utah and we are so excited he chose to come join our program after being heavily recruited by several of the traditional powerhouses in our sport. He is already fast enough to score in multiple events in the Pac-12 Conference, and has the potential to be an NCAA qualifier and possibly an All-American as a freshman. He has great size, great work ethic, and a desire to keep getting faster and make a name for himself at the highest level.”
Colten Montgomery
Hometown: Winters, Calif.
High School: Winters High School
High School Coach: Kevin Chester
Club Team: Davis Aquamonsters
Club Coach: Matt Crawford
Montgomery’s best events include the 50 free (20.22), 100 free (45.85) and the 100 fly (49.93). Montgomery chose Utah over Wisconsin, Stanford, Tennessee, Arizona and Auburn.
Why Montgomery Chose Utah: “The area school is in is gorgeous and I love hiking and snowboarding, so that was definitely a big plus. I also believe in the team and the coaches and how up and coming their program is. I believe they can and will continue to do big things in swimming.”
Coach Dykstra on Montgomery: “Colten comes from a small town in California and has to commute to Davis to train. He has already graduated high school and is using this year to get stronger and more race-ready for Pac-12 competition. He has a great feel for the water and a wiry kind of strength. We can’t wait to get him here and start him in our sprint program.”
WOMEN
Jordan Anderson
Hometown: Granite Bay, Calif.
High School: Granite Bay High School
High School Coach: John Sherman
Club Team: Sierra Marlins Swim Team
Club Coach: Scott Shea
Anderson is a No. 50-ranked recruit out of California, according to CollegeSwimming.com. She is a high school All-American in multiple events and competed at the U.S. Open Water Nationals. She received two “Marlin of the Year” awards for SMST and earned a multitude of high school awards, including Team MVP. She was also a member of the CIF Section Championship team. Her best events include the 1650 free (16:51.18), 1000 free (9:58.75), 500 free (4:52.79), 200 fly (2:02.17), 400 IM (4:21.19) and 200 free (1:51.35).
Why Anderson Chose Utah: “I chose Utah because of the incredible coaching staff and how supportive the team is. The family-like atmosphere also drew me to Utah and I can’t wait to be apart of such an amazing program.”
Coach Dykstra on Anderson: “I can’t wait to have Jordan here in the water next year. She has incredible enthusiasm, a real positive attitude and a tremendous upside. Her older sisters were both swimmers on the US Olympic Team and she has the talent to be a major player in the Pac-12 and NCAA.”
Makenzie Caufield
Hometown: Reno, Nev.
High School: Bishop Manogue Catholic HS
High School Coach: Austin Iveson
Club Team: Nevada Diving Club
Club Coach: JianLi You
Caufield is a three-time first-team all-state selection and she was named Nevada’s Diver of the Year in 2013 and 2014. She has been both a regional and national qualifier since 2009 and is a three-time second-place state champion as well. She also served as a team captain for the Nevada Diving Club team. Caufield chose Utah over Western Kentucky, Denver, Wisconsin and Ohio.
Why Caufield chose Utah: “I really enjoyed the team atmosphere. It seems like everyone treats each other like family and I am very excited to represent Utah next year.”
Coach Marschner on Caufield: “Kenzie really impressed the team on her recruiting trip and it was evident that she is just the type of person and diver we want to join us. Her talent is quite evident, but it is her desire to become better and really excel that will make her a great diver for us in the coming years.”
Olivia Payne
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
High School: St Anthony College Prep H.S.
High School Coach: Charlie Collins
Club Team: McCormick Divers
Club Coach: Debbie McCormick
Payne was a 2014 AAU Nationals finalist in both the one-meter and three-meter events. She placed fifth overall at CIF finals in 2014 and was a finalist for All-American accolades.
Coach Marschner on Payne: “Olivia is a bit of an under the radar recruit who we think extremely highly of. She has some serious untapped potential with the drive and work ethic to become great. She will be one of those divers in a couple years and people will say ‘where did she come from?’, because she is going to be great but people haven’t gotten the chance to see that in her yet.”
Genevieve Robertson
Hometown: Guelph, Ontario Canada
High School: John F Ross
High School Coach: James Ball
Club Team: Guelph Marlin Aquatic Club
Club Coach: Don Burton and Kendra Burton
Robertson is ranked No. 11 internationally, according to CollegeSwimming.com. She has represented Team Ontario at the Canadian Summer Games, as well as Canada in the Junior Worlds that were held in Dubai in 2013. In 2014 she represented Canada at the Junior Pan Pacs in Hawaii. She finished ninth in Canada in the 200 breast and ranked 15th in the 100 breast as well. Her best events include the 200 breast LCM (2:31.00) and 100 breast LCM (1:11.00). Robertson chose Utah over Cincinnati and Nebraska.
Why Robertson Chose Utah: “Utah is where I felt that I would benefit the most from the facilities and the coaching staff. The campus is gorgeous and training at altitude would definitely be beneficial. I have not yet visited the school, but I am extremely excited to do so. Also being apart of a competitive conference was important, and Utah is part of the Pac-12, which is highly competitive.”
Coach Dykstra on Robertson: “Genevieve is one of the top ranked breaststroke recruits in the world this year and we are thrilled for her to join our team. She will immediately be a big scoring factor for us at meets and will have a chance to qualify for NCAA’s right away. She will also make a great training partner for Stina Colleou and Brianna Francis in our breaststroke group.”
Gillian St. John
Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M.
High School: Eldorado High School
High School Coach: Quint Seckler
Club Team: Lobo Aquatic Club
Club Coach: Doug Forbes
St. John is the No. 1-ranked swimmer out of New Mexico and ranks No. 89 overall, according to CollegeSwimming.com. She is a four-time high school All-American and a two-time Scholastic All-American. She was a team captain at Eldorado High School and was a state champion as well. She swam on the USA Swimming Zone Select team and is a three-time USA Swimming Age Group Top-10 award winner. She ranks inside the USA Swimming all-time top-100 list in the 50 free and holds multiple state records. She swam at the USA Swimming Summer Juniors and was a Winter Nationals qualifier. Her best events include the 50 free SCY (23.13), 100 free SCY (50.88) and 200 free SCY (1:50.02). St. John chose Utah over Arizona, San Diego State and Hawaii.
Why St. John Chose Utah: “I chose Utah because I loved the atmosphere of Salt Lake City and the team was very welcoming. The coaching staff has some really great ideas and the University was beautiful! I am really looking forward to the next four years.”
Coach Dykstra on St. John: “You always need to sign a good sprinter in every recruiting class and Gillian is certainly that for our women’s class this year. Gillian fit in so well with our team on her recruiting visit and I knew it would be a great match right away. She has the speed and athleticism to immediately make our “A” relays next year, and she will be a big boost to our team.”
Julienne Tadena
Hometown: Orangevale, Calif.
High School: Granite Bay High School
High School Coach: John Sherman
Club Team: Sierra Marlins
Club Coach: Scott Shea
Tadena is a No. 45-ranked recruit out of California, according to CollegeSwimming.com. She was a 2013-14 CIF SaJoaquin Section champion in the 100 breast and a NISCA/Speedo Girls High School Swimming All-American in the 100 breast as well, where she ranked 47th overall. She was a member of the 30th-ranked 200 medley relay and 38th-ranked 200 free relay teams, and she is also a two-time school record holder in the 100 breast. She was a USA Swimming Summer Junior National and Winter National qualifier. Her best events include the 100 breast (1:03.09), 200 breast (2:18.34), 200 IM (2:04.94), 50 free (24.47), 100 free (52.93) and 100 fly (57.47). Tadena chose Utah over Hawaii, San Jose State, Wyoming and San Diego State.
Why Tadena Chose Utah: “I am so excited to become a Ute! I chose Utah because I think it is the perfect fit for me as a student and as an athlete, where I know I can reach both my career and swimming goals. I love the team; it’s philosophy and the training program and I know it will help me accomplish everything I have set my mind to do over the next four years.”
Coach Dykstra on Tadena: “Julienne is teammates with Jordan Anderson at the Sierra Marlins, which is a team we have a good pipeline of talent coming from these days. She is a tremendously powerful breaststroker and will definitely be a scoring factor for us in those races, as well as the 200 IM.”
Darby Wayner
Hometown: Savannah, Ga.
High School: Savannah Arts Academy
High School Coach: Townley Smith and Karin Best
Club Team: Georgia Coastal Aquatic Team
Club Coach: Bill Forrester
Wayner is a 23-time Age Group Georgia State Champion, as well as a multi state record holder. A GCAT team captain, she was also a team captain at Savannah Arts Academy where she helped lead her squad to a state championship. She finished in the top-three in four of her six events during her career. She is a two-time Savannah Swimmer of the Year, named by the Savannah Morning News and she also represented USA Swimming for the state of Georgia. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is a two-time state qualifier in cross-country as well. Her best events include the 50 free SCY (23.59), 50 free LCM (26.77), 100 free SCY (51.30), 100 breast SCY (1:04.22) and 200 IM LCM(2:21.55). Wayner chose Utah over South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Minnesota and Michigan State.”
Why Wayner Chose Utah: “Utah had many amazing factors about it, but what made the school stand out the most were the people. The team and the coaches were welcoming and positive about the future. The campus is beautiful. Overall the school was a perfect fit for me and I can’t wait to be a part of this family.”
Coach Dykstra on Wayner: “We don’t get a lot of swimmers out of the southeast, but we thought so highly of Darby throughout the recruiting process and it was an immediate great fit on her visit. She is a dynamic and versatile swimmer that can cover sprint freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke, and IM races. It will be a lot of fun to have her on the team and to see her continue to develop into a national caliber swimmer.”
