May 24, 1999
COLUMBIA, Mo.- University of Missouri women's swimming and diving coach Brian Hoffer has announced his 1999-00 recruiting class. Seven talented swimmers representing seven different states have signed letters-of-intent to swim at Missouri. Hoffer believes that this class may be his best effort to date.
Missouri finished 8-3 last year in dual competition and scored 410 points at the Big 12 Championships, the most it has ever scored in Hoffer's tenure. This class fills out many of the voids that the Tigers lacked last year. Missouri should have one of the top middle-distance teams in the conference and have added three top-notch breaststroke swimmers to compliment school record holder Tawney Larm.
Hoffer believes that this recruiting class gives the Tigers the best mix per class that he has had at Missouri.
"We have a lot of balance between the freshmen through the senior class," Hoffer said. "We can now put up four to five swimmers in each event which makes Missouri a difficult team to prepare for because we have so many options."
The other thing Hoffer has done with this class is added height, something that is very important in the sport of swimming. Missouri has added four athletes that are over 6-0 tall giving them six swimmers that are over 6-0.
From an academic standpoint, the Missouri women have been one of the top academic teams in the country over the past years. Five of Hoffer's signees enter Missouri with a high school grade point average of 4.0 or better.
1999-2000 RECRUITING CLASS
TIFFANY BOHON, Columbia, Mo. (Hickman) The prize of this year's recruiting class is from Hickman High School in Columbia. The 5-8 breaststroke specialist is the four-time Missouri High School state champion in the 100 breaststroke. Bohon has also qualified for Junior Nationals in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke.
"Tiffany is the best swimmer to ever come out of Columbia," said Hoffer. "Her desire to win and compete is very intense. We are excited to have one of the best swimmers in the state of Missouri to stay and compete for Mizzou."
ELLEN CROSS, Freeport, Ill.
Ellen Cross is a three-time first team all-state swimmer. The 6-0 freestyle swimmer helped Freeport win three conference and two sectional championships. Cross qualified for the state finals in 16 events and achieved all-American status five times. She placed sixth in the 100 freestyle this past season. Cross completed her high school career with 16 individual and relay records including four conference, four sectional, five school and three Freeport pool records.
KATY CHANDLER, Anchorage, Alaska
Katy Chandler is one of the top rated swimmers out coming out of the state of Alaska. She holds the Alaska high school state records in the 200 and 500 freestyle as well as the 400 freestyle relay. The 6-0 middle distance specialist was an honorable mention all-American as a sophomore and was a Junior National finalist in 1997. Chandler holds over 25 Alaska state swimming records.
SARAH STOWE, Englewood, Colo.
Sarah Stowe comes to Missouri after helping her team win the Colorado state title. The versatile swimmer placed fifth in the 500 freestyle at the Colorado state meet. Stowe is a Junior National qualifier in the 1650 and 1000 freestyle as well as the 200 backstroke.
CHRISSY FRIEH, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Chrissy Frieh is another 6-0 swimmer who competes in the backstroke and sprint free events. Frieh was the co-captain of her high swim team that ranked No. 4 among private schools in the country. She is a Junior National qualifier.
LESLIE HOH, Charlotte, N.C.
Leslie Hoh signed with Missouri in the early signing period and is regarded as won of the premier high school swimmers in the country. Hoh was a member of the United States Junior National Team and represented her country in Sweden during the summer of 1997. She placed 13th and 23rd in the 100 meter breaststroke and 200 meter individual medley respectively at the 1999 U.S. Nationals. The 6-0 breaststroke and individual medley swimmer also qualified for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials meet in the 200 I.M.
KENDRA JACOBS, Conyers, Ga.
Kendra Jacobs signed with Missouri in the early signing period. Jacobs is a breaststroke and sprint free swimmer who placed fifth at the 1997 Junior Nationals Southeast in the 100 breaststroke. She has qualified for Junior Nationals in four events.