Additional Info:Fly - State Champ 100 fly; “Kevin was the top swimmer that we were interested in out of Wisconsin,” Dale said. “He really has it all. He has great size at 6-5 and is outstanding in the sprint freestyle and butterfly events. He has a very bright future.” ; Y-National Finalist; Junior Consol Finalist; 21.14, 46.07; Fly 49.79 Alson considered Wisconsin, Purdue and Maryland.
Belk, Molly
Hometown:Minneapolis, MN
Swim Club:Twin Cities Swim Club
Additional Info:Fly/Free/IM - Multiple time state finalist, National Qualifier (100 and 200 fly), Trials qualifier (200 Fly, Say Kremer and Nieszner, "Molly is a true Minnesota student-athlete, growing up in our pool, swimming for TCST and Jim Andersen. As coaches there is always a deeper level of pride and honor to have the best swimmers in our state choose to represent Minnesota."
Braun, Meghan
Hometown:Edina, MN
Swim Club:Team Foxjet
Additional Info:Fly/Free - State record 200 free, Trials qualifier (100 free), National Qualifier (50-100 free, 100-200 fly). Say Nieszner and Kremer, "It is very important for us to keep Minnesota’s finest at home representing Minnesota. Megan is definitely one of the most versatile swimmers to come out of Minnesota in years. Her competitive and fiery personality combined with her talent make her a very valuable addition to our Team.”
Brown, Andrew
Hometown:Centennial, CO
Swim Club:Mile High Dive Club
Additional Info:Diving - Senior National qualifier, an AAU National champion, HS All-American. Says Baumann, “He comes from Mile High Dive Club coached by Jack Perkins and Jennifer Hess, a great program that has produced several very successful Division I divers. Drew is one of the top diving recruits coming out this year. He is a hard worker, with a great attitude, a great team leader, and I can’t wait to work with him. He has already qualified for the Senior National Championships last summer. He will immediately make a positive impact on our team.” Recently trained in China with the US Junior Diving All-Star team and competed against the Shanghai Junior All-Stars.
Carlson, Curt
Hometown:Maple Grove, MN
Swim Club:Team Foxjet
Additional Info:State Champion 100, 200 freestyle, says Dale, “Curt was one of the top prospects across the country and we are thrilled that he will attend Minnesota. He is an outstanding trainer and has a great work ethic. He is also an outstanding citizen.” NISCA All-American, USAS Scholastic All-American. 20.93, 45.92, 1:39.46 Free; Also considered Indiana and Ohio State
Hillstrom, Steph
Hometown:Brooklyn Center, MN
Swim Club:Team Foxjet
Additional Info:National Qualifier. “Steph will bring the Team Foxjet work ethic and dedication to excellence,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “She is a proven hard-worker with a great attitude and we are looking forward to developing her potential.”
Jamison, Kaylee
Hometown:St. Charles, IL
Swim Club:St. Charles Swim Club
Additional Info:Free/Fly/IM - Junior Qualifier, Sectional and State finalist; Academic All-American. “We are very excited to have Kaylee join the Gophers,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “She is an outstanding student and her swimming career is just beginning to take off. The improvements she made this summer, along with her present high school performances indicate her potential is unlimited. A multi-talented swimmer and athlete, her versatility will be fun to work with and even more fun to watch develop. She is definitely one to keep an eye on.”
Jensen, Alicia
Hometown:Eden Prairie, Minn.
Swim Club:Former Auburn swimmer
Additional Info:University of Minnesota women's swimming and diving head coaches Kelly Kremer and Terry Nieszner have announced that Auburn All-American swimmer Alicia Jensen has transferred to the University of Minnesota after her sophomore season in 2006-07. Jensen, an Eden Prairie, Minn., native will have two years of eligibility remaining and will compete in the Golden Gopher breaststroke events.
During her tenure with the Tigers, Jensen finished third overall in the 200 breaststroke event at the 2006 NCAA Championships to earn first-team All-America honors. Her 200 breaststroke time of 2:10.81 broke the Auburn school record. She followed with an 11th-place finish in 2007 at the NCAA Championships at the University Aquatic Center to earn All-American honorable mention honors. Prior to her arrival at Auburn, Jensen placed 21st in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events at the 2004 Olympic Trials in Long Beach, Calif. She also held her best 100 breaststroke performance at the 2004 Junior National Meet. She enters her Minnesota career with a personal best times of 1:01.78 in the 100 breaststroke, 2:10.81 in the 200 breast and 2:01.00 in the 200 individual medley. Jensen competed with Team Foxjet under coach Ann Urschel with attending Eden Prairie High School.
"I am very excited to be back in Minnesota and to be swimming with such great coaches and teammates," Jensen said. "It is great to be back home and to have such amazing support from the Minnesota crowd. I am really looking forward to representing the Golden Gophers in the next two years."
"We are very excited to have Alicia in Maroon and Gold," Kelly Kremer and Nieszner said. "She will contribute to our team in so many ways both in and out of the pool and we are looking forward to having the opportunity to work with her."
Nilsson, Emilia
Hometown:Linkoping, Sweden
Swim Club:Linkoping Allmanna
Additional Info:Fly - Multiple gold, silver and bronze medalist at the Swedish National Championships since her time there from 2003-2007. European Junior finalist. “Emilia brings great international swimming experience to our team,” Kremer and Nieszner said. She is so versatile and will help us in almost every stroke and distance. Emilia is a serious student athlete and we are excited that she has chosen to continue her academic and athletic career at Minnesota.”
Peterson, Chris
Hometown:St. Charles, IL
Swim Club:Saint Charles Swim Club
Additional Info:State Champ 500 Free, “Any time you sign a high school champion, especially one that was a champion as a junior, you are very excited,” assistant coach Bill Tramel said. “I have talked extensively with his high school coach, Rob Rooney, and we both believe that we has tremendous upside. He will have an outstanding senior season and an even better collegiate career.” Multiple NISCA High School All-American and competed at the 2006 U.S. Junior Nationals in the 100, 200 and 400-meter free. 46.91, 1:40.07, 4:33.80
Radecke, Meagan
Hometown:Stillwater, MN
Swim Club:Star Swim Club
Additional Info:Sprint Free - State finalist, “Another outstanding student athlete from Minnesota, Meagan will bring tremendous leadership skills to our program,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “Her level of commitment and her loyalty to the team is enormous. Meagan is one of Minnesota’s top high school sprinters, and we are very excited to have her join our Golden Gopher Family.”
Richards, Michael
Hometown:Falcon Heights, MN
Swim Club:Star Swim Club
Additional Info:Junior National Champion 50 free; Says Dale, “He was a top priority for us and we are thrilled that Michael chose Minnesota. He is a great sprinter and has an amazing work ethic. In addition, he is an excellent student. Michael will be a great addition to our program.” Trials Cut 50 Free; Also considered Indiana, Ohio State and California.
Ridder, Kelsey
Hometown:Ballwin, MO
Swim Club:Parkway Swim Club
Additional Info:State finalist, Junior and Sectional Qualifier, “Kelsey is an outstanding student-athlete who will only get better during her college career,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “We are very excited to have another Parkway Swim Club athlete join our program. Kelsey will be counted on to help our Team improve in the butterfly and freestyle events.”
Tyler, Jilliam
Hometown:Calgary, Alb
Swim Club:Nos Creek Swim Association
Additional Info:Breast/IM - Canadian Trials qualifier, 100 breast finalist Pan Pacific Championships “Jillian was developed by one of Canada’s top coaches, Nandi Kormendi, and now is swimming under the tutelage of Dave Lloyola,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “She is certainly one of the top breaststroke prospects coming out this year, and we are thrilled she has chosen to call Minnesota her home. Jill brings international experience to our team, and will be counted on to lead us in the breaststroke events in the years to come.”
Veerman, Courtney
Hometown:Verona, WI
Swim Club:Badger Aquatics
Additional Info:Free - State champion, national finalist, “Courtney is a strong competitor who brings a high level of experience with her,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “Swimming for Coach Jack Pettinger, Courtney has learned how to work hard for her successes. She will set a very high standard of commitment. Courtney has proven herself at the Junior National level and we look forward to helping her get to the next level.”
Weis, Zach
Hometown:St. Paul, MN
Swim Club:STAR Swim Team
Additional Info:Brother Adam swims with Gophers; Junior Finalist; “First and foremost, Zach is one of the best swimmers graduating from a Minnesota high school this year,” assistant coach Bill Tramel said. “Our goal each year is to show these high school seniors they need not look elsewhere for academics or a top flight swimming program. He is a senior level breaststroker and has a great work ethic. Zach is also an amateur boxer, which intrigued us when recruiting him. I think it shows an extra toughness that we want on our team.”
White, Jared
Hometown:Charlotte, NC
Swim Club:Mecklenburg Aquatic Club
Additional Info:State HS Champion 200 free, runner-up 100 back; National Qualifier; "We are very excited that Jared is joining our program," assistant coach Bill Tramel said. "From the first day when Jay Benner called me about him, I was very interested. Jay spoke very highly of his character, ability and desire. The Charlotte area has a very strong swimming community. Jared fit in well with our team and that is definitely something we look for when we invite someone into our program. He is going to have a great career at the University of Minnesota." 100 Back-50.12, 50 Free-21.40, 100 Free-46.32, 200 Free-1:41.90
Class of 2006
Betuzzi, Ray
Hometown:Calgary, AB
Swim Club:University of Calgary Swim Club
Additional Info:Sprint Free - 04 Canadian National champ 50m free (SC); top-ranked Canadian junior in the 50, 100, 200 and 400 freestyle; 51.09, 1:48.8, 3:50.05 Free (SCM)
Says coach Tramel: “Ray is the number one swimmer graduating from Canada this year.”
Budahl, Katie
Hometown:Mitchell, SD
Additional Info:5x State Champ; Zone Champ; Sectional and Junior Qualifier; Perfect 4.0 GPA; Nieszner says, "Katie is a swimmer we know very well. She attended our summer camps a couple of summers ago, and we felt instantly that she could be a major contributor at this level. Her breaststrokes have improved so much over the last two years and she is only scratching the surface of her capabilities."
Additional Info:Back/IM - Back - NISCA All-American; state champ and record-holder; Junior and National Qualifier; Kremer says, "Dee is such a versatile swimmer and is a great underwater kicker. She can swim every stroke well. We believe she will come in and contribute immediately at both the conference and NCAA meets."
Additional Info:Back/Fly/Free - 8x state qualifier; National Qualifier 400 free relay; All-American consideration; National Honor Society; Nieszner says, "Amy is a great student athlete. Her strong academic background will make her transition a smooth one. We are looking for Amy to strengthen an already great group of middle distance freestylers."
Hoffman, Alexandra
Hometown:Eureka, SD
Additional Info:Zone Champ; State record 50, 100, 200 free, 200 back, 200 IM; State cross-country championship team; National Honor Society, all-state chorus member. Nieszner, "She is an all around athlete who has been her high school¹s MVP in Cross Country, Track and Basketball. What is so exciting to us is that now she will place all of her attention into developing her swimming potential at Minnesota."
Hopkins-Vacca, Corina
Hometown:Gardner, MA
Additional Info:Breast - Open and national Qualifier; state champ; Scholastic All-American team, National Honor Society. Says Nieszner: "We are graduating such a great group of breaststrokers and Corina will step in and continue our tradition of excellence. Her personality and fierce competitiveness are a great balance and fit for our team. Corina will be a leader by example for her Gopher teammates.²
Additional Info:Fly - Open finalist, National Qualifier; 2x State Champ; Says Nieszner: "Kayla will come in as our top sprint flier and add depth to our free relays. She is an outstanding student athlete who comes from a family of elite swimmers. Both of her parents swam at the Division I level, and her mom Patty (Christiansen) is an alum and former captain of the Golden Gophers. Kayla brings with her National swimming experience and a level of maturity that will help our Team take the next step forward."
Schaefer, Robert
Hometown:Moorhead, MN
Swim Club:Moorhead Marlins
Additional Info:State finalist 100 breast, 200 IM, 57.37, 2:09.67 Breast
Solfelt, Mark
Hometown:Eden Prairie, MN
Additional Info:Breast/IM - 200 IM & breast State champ; 200 IM; 2005 Junior Champion, 200 IM;
2005 U.S. Junior National champion in the 200 individual medley, and is widely regarded as the top senior swimmer in the state.
Coach Dale: “We're ecstatic to have Mark Solfelt stay at home and attend Minnesota. He was sought after by every major program in the country.” 1:48.95 IM; Also considered Auburn and Stanford. Sister, Sarah, swam for U of M
Wabeke, Castina
Hometown:Loveland, CO
Swim Club:Loveland Swim Club
Additional Info:Back/IM - 2x state champ; NISCA All-American; Junior Qualifier; Kremer says: "We were so fortunate with Castina. She was one of those student athletes who visited and knew right away Minnesota was the right fit for her. She is knocking on the door of making her Olympic Trial cuts."
