South Dakota Swimming and Diving Program Announces 2007-08 Recruiting Class

VERMILLION, South Dakota, June 15. THE University of South Dakota swimming and diving head coach Jason Mahowald has announced that 15 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to join the Coyotes swimming and diving program and enroll this fall at USD.

The signings include 11 women who will join a USD squad that finished ninth in the nation in 2006 which was the school's second straight top-10 finish. The recruits include: Meghan Brown, West Hills, Calif.; Rita Buschbacher, Brighton, Mich.; Sallie Collins, Hastings, Minn.; Caitlin Dudley, Huntsville, Ala.; Kayla Fiscus, Sioux City, Iowa; Amanda Gere, Bismarck, N.D.; Lauren Ketcham, Papillion, Neb.; Megan McMahon, Ladysmith, Wisc.; Kacie Miller, Denver, Colo.; Hannah Roetzel, Newcastle, Wyo.; and Amelia Payne, Des Moines, Iowa.

Signing to participate on the USD men's squad included: Jared Bronson, St. Louis, Mo.; Andrew Cahalan, Winterset, Iowa; Bridger Miller, Upton, Wyo.; and Ray Wieser III, Vacaville, Calif.

Brown of West Hills, Calif., was a standout at El Camino Real High School and she also participated for the Class Aquatics Swim Club. Brown's high school swimming coach was Steve Kalan and club coach was Steve Reardon. She has recorded a 1:08.92 in the 100 breaststroke; 2:32.42 in the 200 breaststroke; and 2:16.05 in the 200 IM. Brown also competed in cross country in high school. The daughter of William and Amy Brown, she will major in criminal justice at USD.

Buschbacher, a standout at Brighton (Mich.) High, was a four-year state qualifier, who received All-American consideration in 2003. She was selected academic all-conference and named to the honor roll for four years. While swimming for coach Von Acker, she recorded a 25.71 in the 50 freestyle and a 56.80 in the 100 freestyle. She also competed for coach Kelton Graham in club swimming. She was part of the record-breaking 200 free relay for Brighton High. The daughter of John and Mary Alice Buschbacher, she will major in business (accounting) at USD.

Collins was an IM, breaststroke and butterfly standout at Hastings (Minn.) High and coach Karie Roosen. A two-time all-conference and all-state selection, she earned All American honors on the school's 400 freestyle relay. She has clocked a 1:08.16 in the 100 breaststroke as well as 1:00.68 in the 100 butterfly and 2:14.25 in the 200 butterfly. Collins' club coach was Kim Olson. She was a member of the school's record-setting 200 free relay squad and she owns her club team's record in the 200 butterfly. She also participated in track and field in high school. The daughter of Greg and Jane Collins, she plans to major in history.

Dudley of Huntsville, Ala., was a standout freestyle performer at Virgil I. Grissom High School. A five-year state qualifier, she was an all-state selection in 2007. She recorded a 17:46.52 in the 1,650 freestyle, 10:34.63 in the 1000 freestyle, and 5:12.22 in the 500 freestyle for coach Brooke Pate. The daughter of Tommy and Ruby Dudley, she will major in education.

Fiscus was a standout at Sioux City East High School for coach Stacy Hingse. Fiscus owns the diving records at East High for both six dives (279 points) and 11 dives (423.75). An all-conference selection, she was also named all-conference. She also competed in track and field at Sioux City East. She is the daughter of Donna Fiscus.

Gere of Bismarck, N.D., specializes in the IM and breaststroke. Coached by Loic Joseph and Sue Glock, Gere was a YMCA national qualifier. She won the top eight Central Zone Championship in the 400 IM. The daughter of Greg and Jane Gere, she plans to major in speech pathology at USD.

Ketcham, who specializes in the freestyle, was a four-time state qualifier at Papillion-LaVista (Neb.) High School. Ketcham has recorded a 2:00.32 in the 200 freestyle; 5:17.32 in the 500 freestyle; and 18:36.44 in the 1,650 freestyle. The daughter of Marsha and Jeff Ketcham, she has club records in the 1,650 and 500 freestyle. She was a member of the National Honor Society and also an academic all-conference selection. Ketcham will major in pre-medicine at USD.

McMahon was a standout at Ladysmith (Wis.) High, earning team MVP honors for both 2005 and 2006. A three-time all-conference performance (2004-06), she was a state qualifier in Wisconsin in the 100 butterfly, 500 freestyle, 200 and 400 freestyle. She has clocked a 2:21.77 in the 200 butterfly; 1:02.01 in the 100 butterfly; 5:30.95 in the 500 freestyle and is the conference and school-record holder in the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle. Coached by Jerry Lusk and Bob McMahon, she was an NISCA Academic All-American and a member of the National Honor Society. The daughter of Peggy and Bob McMahon, she plans to major in pre-physical therapy at USD.

Miller was a standout at George Washington High School in Denver, Colo. A three-time state qualifier, she finished fourth as a senior and fifth as a junior in diving for coach Eric Cook. She was also a member of the University Denver Hilltoppers. Miller also participated in varsity softball in which she was the team captain, as well as two years as a member of the school's soccer squad. She is the daughter of Dennis and Cathy Miller.

Payne of Des Moines, Iowa, competed at Dowling Catholic High School. She earned all-state honors in the 100 breaststroke and had a top time of 1:10.23 in the event.

Roetzel was a standout diving performer for Newcastle (Wyo.) High. Roetzel was a three-year all-conference selection and earned all-state honors for four years. Roetzel was the Wyoming 3A 1-meter diving champion and she owns the school's 1-meter record with a six-dive rotation score of 219.05 for coach Doug Scribner. A member of the National Honor Society, she also participated in basketball and soccer at Newcastle High. The daughter of Ron and Larry Roetzel, she plans to major in fine arts.

Bronson starred at Oakville High where he set the school record in the 500 freestyle. He was a scholastic All-American nominee, National Honor Society member and a National Merit Scholarship commended student. The son of Vance and Shawna Bronson, he will major in biology at USD.

Cahalan was a standout for Winterset (Iowa) High School. A three-time academic all-conference selection, Cahalan was a four-time state qualifier and three-year captain for coach Kurt Lickiss at Winterset High. He is the son of Steve and Liza Cahalan.

Miller of Upton, Wyo., starred at Campbell Country High, where he was a two-time all-conference and two-time all-state selection. Miller recorded a 1:01.00 in the 100 breaststroke; 2:18.0 in the 200 breaststroke; and 22:20 in the 50 freestyle for coach Phil Rehard. Miller, who also participated in football and baseball in high school, was named to the honor roll all four years and was selected to the National Honor Society. The son of LuAnn and Mike Miller, he will major in health, physical education and recreation.

Wieser III is a breaststroke and IM specialist from Jesuit High in Vacaville, Calif., Wieser swam for coach Mike Solander. He is the son of Raymond and Catherine Wieser.

Special thanks to South Dakota for contributing this report.

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