SIOUX FALLS – Entering the second year of competition in program history, University of Sioux Falls Swimming head coach John Maccoll announced the addition of 20 swimmers for the 2017-18 season. USF is coming off their inaugural season in which they qualified five individuals for the NCAA Championships.
 
Joining the squad are 19 freshmen and one transfer, adding to the already diverse USF Swimming program. Maccoll adds 15 swimmers spanning 12 states and adds five more from four different countries. With additions from Brazil and Spain, USF Swimming represents seven different countries (United States of America, Brazil, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Spain) and has student-athletes hailing from 13 different states.
 
As the Cougars continue to build their program at a conference and national scale, Maccoll and his staff add student-athletes who specialize in all areas of swimming, including three international signees who have competed in various events at the national championships of their home countries.
 
Below is a list of the 2017 recruiting class.
 
Cassie Wright
Christchurch, New Zealand (Papanui High School)
Club: QE2 Swim Club
Backstroke
Career Highlights: Ranked third in 50-meter backstroke and 16th in 100-meter backstroke in New Zealand.
Personal: Daughter of Jeanette and Nigel Wright.

Giulia Marcon
Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Club: Minas Tenis Clube
Freestyle
Career Highlights: Advanced to the A final of the 100 freestyle at the ISF World School Championship in 2015.
Personal: Daughter of Maria Cecilia Fazza … plans to major in art and psychology.

Gigi Bario
Cumming, Ga. (South Forsyth High School)
Club: Swim Atlanta
Freestyle / Backstroke
Personal: Daughter of John and Danielle Bario … member of National Society of High School Scholars … plans to major in pre-medicine.
 
Nina Groene
Viernheim, Germany (Kurpfalz Gymnasium Mannheim)
Club: SV Nikar Heidelberg
Distance
Career Highlights: South Germany Open Water junior champion and overall (all ages) runner-up in 2017 … placed sixth in the Germany Open Water Championships (all ages) in 2017 … won Baden Wuerttenberg overall and junior open water 5k championship … won state titles in 200-, 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyle … received Alfred-Maul-Gedaechtnis Medal of Honour from government for outstanding performance in sport.
Personal: Daughter of Burkhard and Claudia Groene … plans to major in applied mathematics.
 
Chantal Kasch
Stade, Germany (Vincent-Luebeck Gymnasium)
Club: Buxtehuder Schwimm-Club
Breaststroke
Personal: Daughter of Fred and Franca Kasch … plans to major in psychology.
 
Alexandra Sanchez Clark
Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain (IES Puerto del Rosario)
Club: Club Natacion Las Escuevas
Distance
Career Highlights: Placed fifth in the open water 10,000-meter swim at the Spanish junior nationals … regional champion in 800- and 1500-meter swims … sub-regional champion in 200 fly and 400 free … fourth in open water 7,500-meter Spanish junior nationals in 2016.
Personal: Daughter of Victoria Farquharson Clark and Rafael Sanchez Aleman … graduated with honors, received certificate for outstanding academic report and selected to participate in ESTALMAT for mathematical talent … plans to major in biology.
 
Joelle Beachler
Las Vegas, Nev. (Legacy High School)
Club: Sandpipers of Las Vegas
Breaststroke / Butterfly
Career Highlights: Received No Limits Award from the RJ Review Journal … named team MVP all four years … placed fourth in 100 yard breaststroke at Nevada state meet … all-state swimmer and 2017 student-athlete of the year at Legacy High School.
Personal: Daughter of Michelle Beachler … plans to major in nursing.
 
Brooklynn Janis
New Baltimore, Mich. (Anchor Bay High School)
Club: Great Lakes Tritons
Freestyle / Butterfly
Career Highlights: Named team MVP of Anchor Bay High School swim team … earned all-county honors.
Personal: Daughter of Craig and Jennifer Janis … plans to major in psychology.
 
Evelyn VanDeMark
Alma, Michigan (Alma High School)
Club: Alma Swim Club
Freestyle
Career Highlights: Four-time All-Conference and All-State performer …student-athlete of the month in October 2016 … female athlete of the year in 2016 … state champion in the 500-yard freestyle in 2016 … earned Championship Panther award and Scholar Athlete Award.
Personal: Daughter of Joel and Heidi VanDeMark … member of Alma High School Student Council and Gratiot County Youth Advisory Council.

Jenna Krahn
Johnston, Iowa (Johnston High School)
Club: Central Iowa Aquatics
Freestyle / Backstroke
Career Highlights: Four-year letterwinner and senior captain who led Johnston High School Dragons to four straight regional championships … led team to runner-up and third-place finishes at state meet in senior and junior seasons, respectively … swam legs of school record 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.
Personal: Daughter of Wayne and LuAnne Krahn … plans to major in exercise science.
 
Maddie Donohue
Snohomish, Wash. (Snohomish High School)
Club: Stingray Swim Team
Freestyle
Career Highlights: Four-year letterwinner … four-year state qualifier and medalist … captained Snohomish High School swim team as junior and senior … outstanding scholar award … 400 free relay all-conference senior season.
Personal: Daughter of Chad and Ginger Donohue … member of national honor society and president of Spanish Club … earned Washington State Honors Award, which is presented to top 10 percent of graduating seniors statewide … plans to major in nursing.
 
Tori Bailey
Casper, Wyo. (Kelly Walsh High School)
Club: Iron Dolphins
Freestyle / Breaststroke
Career Highlights: All-conference swimmer at Kelly Walsh High School … set conference record in 100 yard breaststroke and led Trojans to conference championship … anchored 400 freestyle relay for three years … broke three conference records as member of 200 and 400 free relays… recorded two top-three finishes at club state meet.
Personal: Daughter of Tim and Sheri Bailey … member of national honor society and marching band at Kelly Walsh High School … plans to major in computer science.
 
Jamie Funk
Norfolk, Neb. (Norfolk Public Senior High School)
Club: Aquajets
Distance
Personal: Daughter of Dan and Deb Funk … plans to major in a science discipline (biochem or chemistry).
 
Lauren Gallick
Macomb, Mich. (Henry Ford II High School)
Club: Great Lakes Tritons
Backstroke
Career Highlights: Four-year letterwinner at Henry Ford II High School … two-time team captain … two-time second-team all-county … team MVP as a senior.
Personal: Daughter of Jim and Brenda Gallick … member of student council and National Art Honor Society … plans to major in graphic design and minor in entrepreneurial studies.
 
Julia Linebaugh
New Hope, Minn. (competed for Robbinsdale Armstrong High School)
Club: Lifetime Swim MN
Backstroke
Career Highlights: Five-year letterwinner and team captain as junior and senior … earned all-conference as a junior and honorable mention all-conference sophomore and senior seasons … state qualifier and finalist as a senior … member of record-breaking relay in junior and senior seasons.
Personal: Daughter of Matt and Charis Linebaugh … plans to major in exercise science.
  
Elizabeth Moriarty
Brookings, S.D. (Brookings High School)
Previous School: University of Mary
Butterfly / Individual Medley
Career Highlights: All-NSIC in 100 IM with runner-up finish at NSIC Championships … scored for U-Mary in 100 and 200 butterfly at NSIC Championships … four-time South Dakota Individual Club State champion … named Brookings High School Athletic Scholar.
Personal: Daughter of Gerard and Jean Moriarty … plans to major in business/entrepreneurial studies.
 
Aleah Rohde
Anchorage, Alaska (AJ Dimond High School)
Club: Aurora Swim Team
Butterfly / Backstroke / Individual Medley
Career Highlights: Four-year letterwinner and four-year Alaska state meet qualifier … won 200 IM regional in 2017 and placed top four in three events at Alaska state meet in senior season.
Personal: Daughter of Troy and Annette Rohde … plans to study pre-med at USF … honors student all four years at AJ Dimond HS.
 
Sydnie Saddoris
Highlands Rach, Colo. (Mountain Vista High School)
Club: Foothills Swim Team & Highlands Ranch Aquatics
Freestyle
Career Highlights: Four-year letterwinner and state qualifier … earned all-state honors in 200 medley relay and nominated for All-American honors in 200 medley relay.
Personal: Daughter of Jim and Susie Saddoris … plans to major in nursing.
 
Hannah Sowers
Dodge City, Kan. (Dodge City High School)
Freestyle
Career Highlights: Four-year letterwinner … first-team all-conference as a junior and senior and second-team honoree as freshman and sophomore … holds school record in 50- and 100-yard freestyle … member of school record-holding 200 freestyle relay squad … three-time state qualifier … earned letters in tennis and basketball.
Personal: Daughter of Rob and Jennifer Sowers … member of National Honor Society … four-year Western Athletic Conference 4.0 All-Academic Team … plans to major in radiologic technology.
 
Lauren Tabbert
Le Mars, Iowa (Le Mars Community High School)
Club: Le Mars YMCA
Freestyle / Backstroke / Butterfly
Career Highlights: Served as captain and earned coach's award for Le Mars Community High School swim team.
Personal: Daughter of Bruce and Wendy Tabbert … member of National Honor Society … plans to major in biology and chemistry.