SIOUX FALLS – The No. 11 University of Sioux Falls Swimming Head Coach Chris Hamstra has announced the signing of seven student-athletes during the NCAA signing period for recruits.  Natalie Escalante of Las Vegas, Nev.; Ashley Hartung, Sylvania, Ohio; Jaidyn Nelson, Fort Collins, Colo.; Domenica Solano Ocampo, Malacatos, Loja, Ecuador; Emily Solarski, Tipton, Mich.; and Ilinde du Plessis, Vereeniging, Gauteng, South Africa, will continue their academic and athletic careers at USF.

The Cougars, which placed 20th in the NCAA DII nationals a year ago after matching a program-best third place finish in the NSIC, have opened 2019-20 season with a school-record 7-0 record in duals.
 
The recruits will feature student-athletes who will contribute immediately while providing depth and talent to a program on the rise,  Hamstra said.

"I am so happy and pleased to announce the foundation of our 2020 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 and deep group," he said. 

 

Natalia Escalante, 5-4, Freestyle/Backstroke, Las Vegas, Nev.
Escalante, a standout middle to distance freestyle and backstroke performer, competed at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Nev. A two-time team captain, she also competed for the Desert Storm Swimming Club Team. In high school she received the Academic Excellence Award. The daughter of Susan and Josue Escalante, she plans to major in nursing at USF.
 
Ashley Hartung, 5-7, Midle Distance Free, Sylvania, Ohio/Southview HS

A standout in backstroke and middle distance free events, Hartung starred at Sylvania HS where she also competed in track and field (throws). Hartung swam for the Sylvania Tsunami club team. The daughter of Tony and Lynn Hartung, she has two sisters Courtney and Kennedy. Hartung will major in education at USF.

 

Jaidyn Nelson, 5-6, Individual Medley/Backstroke, Fort Collins, Colo./Fosseil Ridge HS
An individual medley specialist, Nelson is strong in all strokes. Hailing from Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colo, Nelson comes from a swimming family. She earned three varsity letters and was named to the Colorado High School Activities Association Academic All-State Team. Nelson, who earned the Swimming and Diving Sabercat Award in 2018., has PRs as follows 50 free: 26.56; 100 free: 57.77; 100 back: 1:02.26; 200 back: 2:15.97; 100 fly: 1:03.88; 100-breast: 1:11.01; and 200 IM: 2:15.01. A member of the Fort Collins Area Swim Team, she was named to the National English Honor Society and worked on the Etched in Stone school newspaper. The daughter of William (Jay) Nelson and Jennifer Kovac, she has four siblings including Bailey, CJ, Danny and Hadley. She plans to major in criminal justice at USF.

 
Domenica Solano Ocampo, 5-4, Backstroke/Fly/Individual Medley, Malacatos, Loja, Ecuador
A standout swimmer, Ocampo excels in the backstroke, fly and individual medley. She attended Colegio De Bachillerao Particular Antonio Pena Cele High School. A member of the Federacion Deportiva De Loja club team, she owns 16 national records and was member of Select Team of Ecuador (national team). Ocampo was the top student in her high school class. The daughter of Marcela Ocampo and Victor Hugo Solano, she has a brother, Pablo Solano Ocampo. At USF she will major in exercise science.

 

Paulina Ruelas, 5-4, Individual Medley/Breast/Fly, Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani HS
A three-sport standout from Honolulu, Hawaii, Ruelas excelled in the in the individual medley, breast and free events at Kalani HS. She also competed in water polo (wing), and track and field (shot put and discus). Ruelas earned first team Oahu Interscholastic all-conference honors in the 200 IM as a freshman and junior. She was second team Oahu Interscholastic all-conference in the 200 free as a sophomore. She earned the Falcon Trifecta for competing in three sports in one year as both a sophomore and junior. She was named to the Principal's Honor Roll (4.0 student), National Honor Society and served as president for C.O.R.E. "Christ Our Real Example" Club.  She has swum for the Kamehameha Swim Club team. The daughter of Victoria C. Ruelas and Manuel Ruelas, she has two brothers Samuel and Pablo. 

Emily Solarski, 5-6, Fly, Tipton, Mich./Tecumseh HS
A standout fly performer, Solarski was named most valuable freshman at Tecumseh HS. She was named SEC All-Conference in the 100 fly for a second place finish in 2016. In 2019, she claimed two titles and earned All-SEC White Division honors in the 200 medley relay (fly) and the 100 fly. She was All-SEC White Division in the 50 free after a second place finish. Solarski owns the Tecumseh HS record in the 200 medley relay and the 100 fly and is the school's pool record holder in the 200 medley relay and 100 fly. In addition, she owns pool records in the 100 fly at Jackson High School and Dexter High School. She won the 2018-2019 Department Award - Medical Terminology and the 2018-19 short course coaches awards. Solarski also swims on the Saline Swim Club Team. The daughter of Ray and Traci Solarski, she has a brother Nick. At USF, Solarski will major in nursing at USF. 

 

Ilinde du Plessis, 5-7, Free/Back, Vereeniging, Gauteng, South Africa
du Plessis is a standout free, back and fly performer from Vereeniging, Gauteng, South Africa.  du Plessis, who attended TuksSports High School and recently attended the University of Pretoria (South Africa), has personal bests in the 50 free of 27.48 (short course meters – SCM) and 27.66 (long course meters – LCM); 100 free of 58.68 (SCM) and 1:022.22 (LCM); 200 Free of 2:05.91 (SCM) and 2:07.80 (LCM); 400 free of 4:28.36 (LCM); 50 back of 29.11 (SCM) and 30:55 (LCM); 100 back of 1:01.67 (SCM) and 1:05.55 (LCM); 200 back of 2:13.72 (SCM) and 2:22.05 (LCM); 50 fly of 29.28 (SCM) of 29.43 (LCM); 100 fly of 1:03.25 (SCM) and 1:05.87 (LCM). A standout at the South African Short Course Championships, she was part of six top-three performances and helped the 4x200 free relay and 4x50 medley relay win titles. She placed second in both the 100 and 200 back and was third in the 50 back while swimming on the third place 4x100 medley relay. Named to top 10 in academics in all four years of high school, she was the class leader of her junior class and deputy head of her senior class at TuksSports High School. The daughter of Jacob du Plessis and Roselle du Plessis, she has a sibling Enrico du Plessis. At USF, she will major in pre-occupational therapy.