SIOUX FALLS –   University of Sioux Falls Swimming head coach Chris Hamstra announced the signing of five student-athletes during the NCAA signing period for recruits.  Maggie Voyles of Blakesburg, Iowa; Megan Burrows of Mankato, Minn.; Valerie Childs of Big Lake, Minn.; Abby Ford of Grand Ledge, Mich.; and Burke Henderson of Owatonna, Minn., have signed with USF and will continue their academic and athletic careers at USF.

The Cougars, which placed 25th in the NCAA DII nationals a year ago after a program-best third place finish in the NSIC, have had a strong start to the 2018-19 season and stand 3-2 in duals. The recruits will add depth and strength to a program on the rise, USF Head Swimming Coach Chris Hamstra said.

"I am so happy and pleased to announce the foundation of our 2019 class," said Hamstra. "We welcome a group of young women who are committed to the USF 'Culture of Service' tradition. Our program looks for recruits that are excited and devoted to make a positive change to the world around them. Athletically, we have a very balanced group," he said.  "We have our bases covered with Megan (Burrows), Maggie (Voyles) and Valerie (Childs) swimming in the butterfly; Megan and Maggie helping in the backstroke; while Burke (Henderson) and Abby (Ford) are a great one-two punch for the breaststroke.  In addition, Abby is a force in the freestyle events from the 50 to the mile and Valerie rounds out her events with her strength in the freestyle events," added Hamstra.

  Megan Burrows – 5-2 – Butterfly/Freestyle/Backstroke  – Mankato, Minnesota
Burrows, the daughter of Jeanne and Kelly Burrows, will compete in the butterfly, freestyle, backstroke and IM events at USF. She plans to major in biology at USF. Burrows, who has three siblings (Kelsen, Jamae and Taz), was part of Mankato East High School's 200 and 400 freestyle relays that finished 10th at the Minnesota State Meet. At Mankato East, she participated in both swimming and track and field (hurdles, pole vault). She was named Academic All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-Conference. Burrows's personal bests include: 100 backstroke: 1:02.04; 100 butterfly: 1:01.90: and 200 IM: 2:25.50. Burrows, who swam for the Mantas Swim Club, was on the A Honor Roll, member of Student Council and the Key Club at Mankato East. Her service work has included working on Toys for Tots program as well as helping organize a statewide swimsuit drive and participating with backpack food program drives. 
 
Valerie Childs – 5-5 – Butterfly/Freestyle – Big Lake, Minn.
Childs, the daughter of Dan and Kathy Childs, will compete in the butterfly and middle distance events at USF. She plans to major in nursing at USF. From 2015-18, Childs was an All-Mississippi 8 All-Conference honoree. She was also named Academic All-Conference from 2014-18 and earning the Spotlight on Scholarship swimming honor from 2014-18. She has personal bests as follows: 200 freestyle, 1:58.84; 100 butterfly, 58.30; and 200 butterfly, 2:21.35. Childs, who swam for the Sea Devils Club Team, qualified for the state meet in the 100 butterfly and finished 13th (ninth, prelims) and in the 200 freestyle where she was 19th. At Big Lake High School, she earned a band letter twice (2016-17, 2017-18), National Honor Society letter (2017-18) and was in the M8 Jazz Band (2017, 2018), participated in the 7AA Solo and Ensemble (2016-18) and attended Bemidji Honor Band. She has been active in community service including work with Feed My Starving Children, maintenance on the city parks, gave band lessons and doing free clinics for Big Lake swimmers.
 
  Abby Ford – 5-8 - Breaststroke-Freestyle – Grand Ledge, Michigan

Ford, the daughter of Andrew and Jill Ford, will compete in the breast and free events at USF. She plans to major in exercise science at USF.  Ford, who has two siblings, Caleb and Noah, competed in swimming at Grand Ledge High School and with the Mid Michigan Aquatics Club team. She was named to the Lansing State Journal Dream Team for swimming four straight years. A team captain for the Grand Ledge High School squad, she set numerous school records and was named to the Academic All-MISCA team. She helped lead the Grand Ledge Water Polo Team to the district title in 2018. She was a USF Swimming sectional cut holder in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke and 100 freestyle and a USA Swimming state cut holder in the 100 and 200 breaststroke as well as the 200 IM, 500, 1000 and 1,650 freestyle.  Ford was All-CAAC in the four events in 2018 with three first-place finishes. Her all-league honors including the 500 freestyle (first place), 50 freestyle (fourth place), 200 medley relay (first place) and freestyle relay (first place). In 2017, she was all-league with four top-four finishes including the 400 freestyle relay (first place), 200 freestyle relay (first place) 200 IM (fourth place) and 500 freestyle (second place). In 2016, she earned four top-three finishes at the conference meet and was all-league in the 200 freestyle relay (first place), 100 breaststroke (second place), four freestyle relay (third place) and 200 freestyle relay (third place). She was also honorable mention All-CAAC in the 50 freestyle (fifth place) and 200 medley relay (fourth place) in 2016. She had numerous top 20 placings at the state championships including: 2015 – 100 breaststroke, 18th; 2016 – 200 freestyle relay, 20th; 2017 – 100 breaststroke, 20th; 400 freestyle relay, 11th place (first-ever relay placing by Grand Ledge at the Michigan DI Championships), 200 freestyle relay, 12th place; and 2018 – 500 freestyle, 20th; 50 freestyle, 20th; 200 medley relay, 10th and 400 freestyle relay, 10th place. In terms of service, Ford volunteers at the Grand Ledge Baptist Church in the preschool room and volunteered for four years at the Grand Ledge Baptists' Vacation Bible School (pre-school children) while also volunteering at Shared Pregnancy in Lansing, Mich.; and at the Woldumar Nature Center (mentored elementary students).
 
Burke Henderson – 5-5 – Breaststroke-Freestyle-IM – Owatonna, Minnesota  

Henderson, the daughter of Chad and Michelle Henderson, will compete in the butterfly, freestyle and IM events at USF. She plans to major in physical therapy at USF.  Henderson, who has two siblings, Breck and Brittan, competed in swimming for the Huskies for which she lettered every year since eighth grade.  As a freshman, she was named honorable mention all-conference and was all-conference as a senior. She received Double AA honors from the MSHSL and the Dog Fight and Husky Pride awarded from her coaches. Henderson, who swam for the Mantas Swim Club, set the following personal bests: 50 breaststroke, 31 (relay); 200 IM, 2:24; 100 breaststroke, 1:09. She was involved in service including work as a religion education teacher, participating in a Youth Service Leadership class, and participating in AVID, a 20-hour community service learning project as well as being part of the Big Brother Big Sisters program at Owatonna HS.
 
  Maggie Voyles – 5-1 - Butterfly-Freestyle – Blakesburg, Iowa

Voyles, the daughter of John and Heather Voyles, will compete in the butterfly and freestyle events at USF. She plans to double major in biology and chemistry in following a pre-med track at USF. She competed at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School where she was second in the 200 IM at the CIML Metro Conference meet in 2017. Voyles, who swam for the South East Aquatics Club Team, recorded personal bests in the following events: 50 freestyle: 26.60; 200 breaststroke: 2:43.56; 100 butterfly: 1:02.78;. At Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School, she was involved in Student Council, National Honor Society, RCYF Youth Group, and Junior Red Cross. Voyles was active in service work and helped at a toy drive with the Ottumwa Fire Department, tutored students and volunteered with Sunday school and Vacation Bible School.