The Gophers women’s swimming team announced 13 new signings for next season on Wednesday. Coach Jean Freeman called the new class the best she has ever recruited.
The new swimmers come from a broad background, representing two countries and six different states.
Andrea Simakova from the Czech Republic headlines the group, as she is the only one who has international and collegiate experience. Simakova competed with Gophers junior Olga Splichalova on the Czech Republic national team and has recently transferred to Minnesota from a college in the Czech Republic.
Emily Deppe of Valdez, Alaska; Jennifer Delong, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C.; Andrea Flaa from Caladonia, Ill.; Elizabeth Pierce of Bismarck, N.D.; Amy Mickschl from Brown Deer, Wis.; and Ann Cahoy who is from Hudson, Wis., accent the diversity of Minnesota’s new recruiting class.
After taking 13th at the NCAA championships two months ago and extending their streak of consecutive top-25 finishes at the national meet, the Gophers appear to be reloading for another strong team and replacing last year’s group of 15 seniors.
Minnesota also signed six in-state swimmers: Meghan Sonstegaard, Lisa Kramer and Kim Harrod are all from Apple Valley. The rest of the Gophers’ signees consisted of Nicole Nelson of Alexandria, Minn., Jaina McClure from Minneapolis and Traci La Voi, a St. Cloud native.
Women’s golf signings
The Gophers women’s golf team announced the signings of high school athletes Marilee Dahlman of Marshalltown, Iowa; Laura Krumenauer from Onalaska, Wis.; Arminda Yutuc of La Crosse, Wis.; and Kristin Dooley of Albany, Minn. on Tuesday.
Coach Kathy Williams hopes the recruits can fill the void left by Carolyn Klecker, Cathy Lindblad and Jenny Trenda, whose eligibility expired after the spring season.