May 19, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou head swimming and diving coach Brian Hoffer announced today that six more men have signed national letters of intent to swim for the Tigers in 2006-07. The latest round of signings includes two Missouri products, a pair of Kansas natives, an Austrian and an Iowa native.
"Our goals during this signing period were to improve our speed in the sprint free events and to sign some breaststrokers," Hoffer said. "We feel like we accomplished both of our goals with the group of guys we're bringing in. We're excited that they've chosen to come to Mizzou and we can't wait to get them in the water."
The latest additions to Mizzou's 2006 recruiting class:
Kevin Capps
5-10, 165 lb., Breast, Kirkwood, Mo. (Kirkwood) Owns lifetime bests of 57.9 in the 100 breast and 2:06.0 in the 200 breast ... member of the Clayton Shaw Park club team - the same club as current Tigers Bennett Clark and Eric Smith - where he was coached by Dave McCrary, the brother of former Mizzou standout Chris McCrary ... a Junior National qualifier ... 2005 United States Swimming (USS) sectional champion in the 20 breast ... placed second in the 200 breast and finaled in the 200 IM at the '06 Missouri state meet ... an All-Metro first-team selection ... attended the same high school as new teammate Clark.
Hoffer on Capps: "We're aware of the talent level that Kevin possesses and we feel that he'll be able to come in and make an immediate contribution. He's a hard worker who has the drive and focus to succeed in our program."
Matt Burns
6-6, 190 lb., Sprint Free, Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs) Boasts lifetime bests of 21.6 in the 50 free and 46.9 in the 100 free ... swam at Blue Springs High School under coaches Robert Sturman and Bill Shalley and for the Team Dolphins club team ... earned All-America honors in the 2005 and '06 in both the 200 and 400 free relay ... member of the '06 Missouri state champions in the 200 and 400 free relay ... set a new state record in the 400 free relay en route to winning the '06 state title ... also placed second in the 100 free and finaled in the 50 free at the '06 state meet ... a Junior National qualifier in '05 and '06 ... a four-time all-state and 16-time all-conference honoree ... named 2006 Examiner Swimmer of the Year ... served as high school team captain as a senior ... member of National Honor Society.
Hoffer on Burns: "Matt embodies what we're looking for from a member of our program. He's great in the classroom, he's very focused and he has the feel for the water to develop into a productive college swimmer here at Mizzou."
Martin Cernansky
6-1, 165 lb., Breast, Maria, Enzersdorf, Austria (Sport Gymnasium Enzersdorf) Has posted bests of 1:04.84 (LCM) in the 100 breast and 2:19.61 (LCM) in the 200 breast ... coached by Robert Michlmayer on the SVS Schwechat club team ... a 10-time Austrian Junior National champion in combination of breast, fly and IM events ... a two-time Austrian Senior National champion in the 200 breast ... a European Junior Championships finalist in the 200 breast.
Hoffer on Cernansky: "Martin is one of the up and coming breaststrokers overseas. His work ethic and experience will allow him to compete at the Big 12 level in a short period of time. Martin will give our team a legitimate threat in the 200 breast in the Big 12 and beyond."
Joe Wiedemeier
6-0, 190 lb., Sprint Free, Ames, Iowa (Ames) Owns lifetime bests of 20.92 in the 50 free and 46.30 in the 100 free ... swam at Ames High School for coach Dan Flannery - the same school as current Tiger Bobby Sundvold ... 2005 All-American in the 200 medley and 400 free relay ... '06 state champion in the 100 free and claimed the '05 state crown in the 200 medley relay ... also earned runner-up honors in the 50 free at the '06 state meet ... served as high school team captain.
Hoffer on Wiedemeier: "Joe is the best sprinter in Iowa this year. We're very excited to have signed someone with his focus and drive, as well as someone with his power in the water."
Ryan Meeker
5-7, 150 lb., Diving, Shawnee Mission, Kan. (Shawnee Mission North) From the same hometown as fellow incoming freshman diver Laura Quenette ... dove for the Kansas City Dive Club under coach Gabe Downey - also the same club as Quenette ... attended Shawnee Mission North High School, where he was coached by Tammy Crystal ... 2006 Kansas state champion ... placed third on the 3-meter board at the '06 Winter Junior Olympic Regionals ... a Junior West Nationals qualifier on the 3-meter board.
Sweeney on Meeker: "I can't wait to coach Ryan - he's our diamond in the rough. Once Ryan gets into our strength program and training cycle, he's going to be competitive no matter who he's up against.
Cameron Johnson
6-1, 180 lb., Sprint Free, Olathe, Kan. (Olathe East) Has lifetime bests of 21.6 in the 50 free and 47.4 in the 100 free ... coached at Olathe East High School by Dave Youker and on the Tsunami Swim Club by Mary Jo Klier ... a Kansas first-team all-state performer ... holds the school record and earned All-America consideration in the 400 free relay ... a two-time Junior National qualifier ... member of the first-place 400 free relay team at '06 sectionals ... from the same hometown and high school as current Tiger Brandon Lee.
Hoffer on Johnson: "Cameron has the potential to compete at an elite level. We're excited to have him on board and we look forward to helping him turn that potential into reality."
The following is a recap of the Tigers' signings during this year's early signing period:
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."
Greg DeStephen, Diving, Dublin, Ohio (Scioto) Finished sixth on the 3-meter and ninth on the 1-meter at the 2005 Spring East Nationals ... also turned in 10th place showing on the 3-meter board at the '05 Summer West Nationals ... 2004 and '05 Speedo Junior Nationals qualifier ... dove for US Elite under coach Drew Johansen.
Sweeney on DeStephen: "Greg is going to come in and make an instant impact for our team. He is already an accomplished diver on the Junior National level and has put himself in a position to contribute from the start of his college career."
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."
Brice Grunert, Fly/Breast/IM, Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls) Personal best of 1:51.65 in the 200 fly is close to top-five all-time at Mizzou ... has recorded swims in the 58.0 and 2:07 ranges in the 100 and 200 breast, respectively ... boasts a lifetime best of 4:06.71 in the 400 IM ... US Open and Junior National qualifier ... earned multiple high school All-America nods ... two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American ... high school team MVP the last two seasons ... member of National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society ... co-president of ganGreen, a school environmental club ... High Honor Roll qualifier and is set to graduate in the top five percent of his class ... swims for North Shore Swim Club under coach Jeanne Drewiecki ... joins current junior Nate Zabel as the only two Wisconsin natives on the roster.
Hoffer on Grunert: "Brice will be able to compete in a variety of different events right off the bat next fall. He provides the perfect blend of athletics and academics that we covet here at Mizzou."
Dylan Lynn, Free/IM, Tulsa, Okla. (Union) Owns lifetime bests of 21.79 in the 50 free and 46.05 in the 100 free and has swam the 200 free in the 1:41.79... capable of swimming the 200 IM at the 1:55.76 mark and the 400 IM in 4:06.28 ... Junior National qualifier in the 100 free ... earned All-America status in the 100 and 200 free ... has also won state championships in the 100 and 200 free ... swims for Swim Tulsa under head coach David Lynn ... from same hometown as current Mizzou freshman Lori Halvorson.
Hoffer on Lynn: "Dylan has the size and feel for the water to do great things in our program, as well as on the national scene."
Cameron Sellers, Back/Free/IM, Wichita, Kan. (Valley Center) Has turned in times of 53.08 in the 100 back and 1:55.22 in the 200 back ... also owns a personal best of 1:44.30 in the 200 free ... Junior National qualifier and both a Sectional and Region Eight finalist ... 2005 Central Zone champion in the 200 free and 200 back ... named to the Missouri Valley All-Academic team ... swims for the Wichita Swim Club under coach Eric Nelson ... joins brother Justin, a current sophomore, on the Mizzou roster.
Hoffer on Sellers: "Cameron is a racer. Whether it be in individual events or relays, he loves to get next to people and race. We can't wait to have him on board next fall."
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."
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."