I've been quite a bit behind on this, and I sincerely apologize. It's been a busy past two weeks, but I wanted to provide some quick updates on recruiting. Apologies in advance also, it's pretty long as well.
High school champs are underway in Texas, with the regional meets wrapped up yesterday, and state the weekend of Feb. 16th.
Attached are the links to see which of our recruits qualified for the 6A meet (big schools). I'm still waiting on the links to the 5A meet.
6A Automatic Qualifiers6A CallupsThe way that HS State is seeded: there are 8 regions in Texas. The top two swimmers in each event in the A-final are automatic qualifiers for State. From there, the next 8 fastest swimmers from all 8 regions are essentially "called up" to the meet.
As I was "officiating" (more like working the computers), I was able to mentally note some useful information beneficial to all of us here: (I included club team names, and separated by class. Times are in the links above)
2019:
1.
Ella Collins (Austin Swim Club): She swam a 1:46.83 in the 200 free. Leads everyone going into state. I would say that I have her on my list, in addition to the in-staters that we have been frequently talking about.
2.
Sydney Stanford/Beth McNeese (Cy-Fair Swimming/Katy Aquatics): I'm going to talk about them both at the same time, given that they're from the same region.
-Sydney's last name is a non-starter, according to UAC, but she has lots of upside potential. Won the 100 free as well in addition to her 200 victory.
-Beth took second in both the 200 and 500, the 200 is her second fastest recorded time ever, I think.
-Both aren't very high profiled, nor do they rank very high in both Texas and Nationally, but I think with development they could be key players to any team in the future.
3.
Emma Stephenson (Dad's Club): She's one of the members of the "Emma-cubed" trio (
Emma Carlton and
Emma Sticklen being the others). She swam a solid 50 free/100 fly, the latter having her seeded as #2 behind Sticklen. Also seeded #2 I think in the 50.
4.
Emma Wheal (Western Hills): Seeded #3 in the 50 free, but managed to make the 100 free callups list. Solid times overall, was a medalist in both these events last year at state.
2020:
1.
Emma Sticklen (Katy Aquatics): I'm putting her as another must-get for 2020 behind Alex Walsh. She broke her pool AND region record TWICE this weekend (prelims/finals), once in a practice suit. She's seeded #1 in the 100 fly, and a respectable #3 in the 100 back.
2.
Hannah Bellina (Pearland): Her sister,
Jaden, swims for Auburn. However, brings in a very intriguing set order of the 200/500 free. Solid times as well, she is a repeat state qualifier.
3.
Valerie Ann Staffeldt (The Woodlands): Her primary events are the 50/100 free. Seeded #1 in the 50, and #5 in the 100. Was part of the state medalist 200 medley/free relays last year as well.
A bit ways off, but a 2021 recruit I want to introduce is
Ana Herceg, from the Austin area (Nitro). She swims in the 5A meet (I think), so I don't have any of her times readily available. However, reports are that she did blast a 1:49 point 200 yard freestyle, and she's only 14! Her development is similar to that of 2018 Louisville commit
Diana Dunn, who went a 1:50 high when she was 13.
Sorry you guys have to keep reading, but here are some other 2019 recruits of interest (minus #10
Kaitlyn Dobler), albeit not from Texas that I've discussed with some of you (looking at you,
bearz012 and
UAC):
1.
Cora Dupre: Bearz012 and I have discussed her a bit ever since someone shared the Texas unofficial visit pic in the thread. Swims club for Mason Manta Rays (
Fosters + Ashley Volpenhein). We understand that Texas is on her radar, and probs the Furd (
Ashley), Tennessee (
Hannah Foster), and maybe some other sprint-inclined school that will cater to her needs, which is primarily sprint (22.51/49.53) and back/fly (54.83/55.92).
2.
Katie Mack: She swims for NCAP (
Cass, K. Ledecky). Apparently super close with 2018 Kentucky commit
Isabella Gati as well. If she were to go to the Farm, I believe that her talents would be overshadowed; there's too many swimmers like her there; they have too many swimmers like her, an all-arounder-ish type (
Ella Eastin, Brooke Forde). Primarily focuses on free/back, though (22.60/49.06/1:47.93 free, 53.96/1:56.94 back)
3.
Olwyn Bartis: SwimMAC (
Thleen). Incredible range of freestyle (think Drew Kibler, Trey Freeman on the men's side). In the event that we do get her, I think it eliminates the immediate need for
Ella Ristic in 2020 as Olwyn herself would be a decent replacement for
Chenoa with the exception of the non-CS reported 1650/1000 (holds times of 22.78/49.44/1:46.39/4:46.31 50-500).
4.
Ashley Turak: From Michigan, I would like to be inclined to say that she's on Mike Bottom's radar. I don't know much about her, but if we can pull her in, with a bit of further development heck she may as well be the next
Maddie Murphy sans fly skills. Solid sprinter (22.38/49.79 free), which is pretty much all she can do, but brings in lots of value.
5.
Christiana Renegauer: Same with Ashley, this is my first time hearing about her. I checked the location provided on CS, seems to be about an hour away from NYC, where
Kate D. is from. Much less sure about their connections, as well. However, she and Ashley with development could actually turn into a younger version of MM, but Christiana with those fly skills. Another sprinter (22.76/49.36/1:49.12) with a decent 100 fly (54.60)
6.
Ashley McCauley: Ashley hails from Marlins of Raleigh in NC. She's primarily attributed to as a breaststroker, with IM talent attached to her. 200 breast champ in Knoxville (2:09.54), and her club teammate/bff is
Maddie Homovich, UGA commit (2018). I think she was either a National Junior Team member at some point, or on the 2015 Jr. Worlds squad, but I could be wrong.
7.
Gabrielle Dang (no, not related to 2020 recruit
Ethan): Gabby is a sprinter of sorts. She hails from Bellevue Club Swim Team, in Bothell, WA. Primarily a sprint freestyler through the 200 (22.90/49.85/1:49.46). Also excels at the 100 fly (52.77). She attended National Select Camp this past fall as well. Hailing from WA state, I think she's friends with
Emma Carlton, TAMU commit, and the duo of
Jon Cook and Daniel Roy, Furd commits on the men's side.
8.
Madelyn Flickinger (not related to UGA pro
Hali): She hails from SwimMAC Carolina, home club of
Thleen, if that's any encouragement at all. Strongest event looks to be her 100 free, 49.81 leading off the 400FRR in Knoxville. Solid backstrokes (54.27/1:56.98), and Winter Jrs cuts in the 200 breast and both IMs.
9.
Mackenzie Degn: She comes from NOVA, home club of
Courtney Mykkanen. Her high school team, Santa Margarita, had
Katie McL and Furd star Grant Shoults, not to mention
Ella Ristic (2020),
Isabelle Odgers (2018 $C commit), and
Samantha Shelton (2018 Harvard commit). Her best times in her best events, 50/100/200 free, were all achieved at the CIF State meet back in May of last year (22.95/49.91/1:49.13).
10.
Kaitlyn Dobler (2020):
bearz012 pointed her out to me.Kaitlyn looks like a great 2020 recruit: #1 OR, #9 Nat. Primarily a breaststroker (1:00.5/2:11.4), has a more than decent 50 free (22.8).
Keeks is partially from Oregon, so that's the only connection I know of. We may not be in need of more breaststrokers by then, but she also has a high improvement curve (all best times done quite recently).
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