Dec. 15, 2005

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri head swimming and diving coach Brian Hoffer announced today that three swimmers and one diver have signed national letters of intent to join the Missouri women's swimming and diving in 2006-07.

"These four young women are outstanding student-athletes," Mizzou head coach Brian Hoffer said. "They're great competitors who will help push our program to the level we're looking to attain."

The 2006 Missouri women's swimming and diving recruiting class

Colleen Gordon, Free/IM, Missouri City, Texas (Elkins) Lifetime best of 4:51.03 in the 500 free would put her in the hunt for the school record as a freshman, as would her 9:54.49 in the 1000 free, 16:47.22 in the 1650 free, 2:02.87 in the 200 IM, 55.60 in the 100 fly and 4:18.39 in the 400 IM ... personal best times in the 100 free (51.48) and 200 free in the 1:49 range rank close to the Mizzou all-time top-five ... Senior National qualifier in the 400 IM ... Scholastic All-American in 2004 and '05 ... placed second in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 free at the state championships in '05 ... swam to runner-up finishes in both the 200 IM and 100 fly at the '04 state meet ... finished third in both the 200 and 500 free at the state championships as a freshman ... sectional high point winner ... named regional Female Swimmer of the Year in 2003 and '05 ... selected district Female Swimmer of the Year in '03, '04 and '05 ... captain of both the Elkins High School and Sienna Plantation Aquatic teams ... selected for Academic Excellence Award in '03, '04 and '05 ... member of National Honor Society ... joins a Mizzou roster that already features six Texas natives.

Hoffer on Gordon: "Colleen is the most versatile athlete we've ever signed here at Mizzou. There's no question that she'll play a vital role in our development into a nationally-prominent program."

Molly Bollen, Fly/Free, Carrolton, Texas (Newman Smith) Lifetime best of 55.11 in the 100 fly is just .09 away from the Mizzou school record ... also owns personal bests of 2:05.58 in the 200 fly, 24.06 in the 50 free and 53.01 in the 100 free ... two-time US Open qualifier ... earned a spot at both the Spring and Summer Nationals as a junior ... part of a medley relay squad that took eighth at the summer meet ... achieved All-America status in the 100 fly as a junior, after receiving consideration as a sophomore ... Academic All-American as a junior ... named to the Dallas Morning News All-Area team following her junior season ... North Texas representative to Texas Chapter of USA Swimming as a high school junior ... three-time district Swimmer of the Year ... holds district records in the 50 free, 100 free and 50 fly, as well as pool records for the natatorium that hosts the meet ... TISCA champion in the 100 fly as a junior and senior, as well as the 50 free in her final prep campaign ... named captain of her high school team as a senior ... volunteered in PAL program, in which she mentored a third-grade student from her school district ... member of Mu Alpha Theta Math National Honor Society as a senior ... swims for the Dallas Mustangs - the same club team as current Mizzou freshman Byron Carlisle - under coach Mook Rhodenbaugh ... joins a Mizzou roster that already features six Texas natives.

Hoffer on Bollen: "We're extremely excited about Molly deciding to become a Tiger. She's exactly what we're looking for in a competitor - a fierce competitor and a great teammate."

Kristin Viger, Sprint Free, Fort Collins, Colo. (Fort Collins) Holds a lifetime best of 23.96 in the 50 free, placing her close to the all-time Mizzou top-five ... has also turned in swims of 52.78 in the 100 free and 1:54.62 in the 200 free ... three-time Junior National qualifier in the 50 free ... has earned All-America status three times in the 400 free relay and twice in the 200 free relay ... has garnered All-America consideration three times in the 50 free and once in the 100 back ... a seven-time all-state first team selection, as well as a five-time second-team honoree ... an 11-time all-conference selection ... won state titles in the 400 free relay as a freshman and junior and the 200 free relay as a freshman ... helped her 400 free relay squad set a state record as a freshman, and was part of the team that broke that record as a junior ... named to the 2004-05 academic all-state honorable mention team ... two-time member of the Colorado High School Activities Association Academic Champion team ... has won three letters in swimming at Fort Collins High School ... swims for the Loveland Swim Club under coach Jim Nickell.

Hoffer on Viger: "Kristin is an explosive athlete who will help us immediately in the sprint free events, as well as in the relays."

Laura Quenette, Diving, Shawnee Mission, Kan. (Shawnee Mission West) Winner of a Kansas state championship ... dives for Kansas City Dive Club under coach Gabe Downey ... joins a Mizzou program that features three Kansas natives on the men's side.

Sweeney on Quenette: "I couldn't be more excited about coaching Laura for the next four years. She has an amazing amount of talent and untapped potential. I have confidence that she'll be another success story for the Mizzou diving program."