UMass women's swimming and diving head coach Bob Newcomb has announced the signing of four swimmers and a diver during the November early National Letter of Intent period.
The Minutewomen will welcome Emily Anderson (Wading River, N.Y.), Maja Boric (Croatia), Ashlyn Butkowski (Cary, N.C.), Meghan Gray (Kensington, N.H.), and Kristyn Popowski (South Hadley, Mass.) beginning with the 2016-17 season. The strong group brings credentials to the program which will allow them to make an instant impact in several key areas.
"This is the best class we have signed early," said Newcomb. "There is diversity and talent that will help our program for years to come. We are very excited to have this group of student-athletes join our program in our quest for an Atlantic 10 title."
Anderson has been a standout for Shoreham-Wading River High School where she qualified this year for her fourth career trip to the New York State Championship Meet. She is a two-time Section XI champion in the 100 breast while also placing fourth this year in the 200 individual medley. She also swims for the Three Village Swim Club outside of her high school team and has been a qualifier for the NCSA Junior Nationals and the Speedo Championship Series for long course meters.
"Emily will join our already solid group of breaststrokers and together they will be become a better group," said Newcomb. "Her ability in the event will provide an immediate impact next season."
Boric is a Croatian national who will join Mandy Hixon's diving squad. She has competed in both the one-meter and three-meter events along with synchronized diving experience. This past summer She competed twice at the FINA World Championships, took part in the FINA World Junior Diving Championships, and was one of the top divers at the European Games this past June.
"We are looking forward to having Maja as a part of our diving team," said Hixon. "She will be a terrific addition to our already strong women’s team. She brings a wealth of international experience which we have not seen up until now."
Butkowski will come to UMass after a standout career at Apex High School and with the TAC Titans Club. The distance freestyler has been a Scholastic All-American and has competed at the NCSA Junior Nationals, the Speedo Champions Series, and the North Carolina Summer Long Course Championships. Last Spring, she placed fourth in both the 1,000 free (10:17.74) and the 1,650 free (17:10.67) at the Speedo Champions Series marking her fastest career marks in the events As a junior, she also placed 10th in the North Carolina 4A State Championships in the 500 free.
"Ashlyn is one of the best distance swimmers we have ever brought into our program," said Newcomb. "She will be an instant impact performer on the Atlantic 10 stage."
Gray will join the Minutewomen as a backstroke specialist from the Exeter Swim Club. The native of Kensington, N.H., has competed in both the long course and short course Speedo Champions Series over the last two years. In addition to the backstroke, Gray has competed in the 200 and 400 freestyle events. In 2014, she took first place in the 200 free at the Speedo Champions Long Course Series held in Buffalo, N.Y. She is the sister of current UMass men’s swim team freshman Kellen Gray.
"Meghan will help fill a hole from this season's graduating class," said Newcomb. "She is a talented backstroker and it will be a nice fit for her to join us while having her brother on the men's team."
Popowski will remain close to home as she joins fellow South Hadley native Mariza Werenski next season with the Minutewomen. Popowski has been a top swimmer at Holyoke Catholic, the Greater Holyoke YMCA Vikings swim team, and this winter for the newly formed Pope Francis Cardinals swim team. She is an All-Western Mass distance freestyle and butterfly specialist. Over the past two years, she has competed in the YMCA Short and Long Course National Championships. In 2013-14, she also finished fourth in the 100 fly and the 500 free at the Massachusetts State Division II Championships.
"Kristyn is another distance swimmer who will help create a strong distance culture within our program," said Newcomb. "She is a versatile performer who can also contribute in the freestyle, individual medley and butterfly events."
