Wisconsin Inks 10 for 2007-08

MADISON, Wisconsin, November 15. THE University of Wisconsin men's and women's swimming and diving teams have signed six men and four women to National Letters of Intent for the 2007-08 season, head coach Eric Hansen announced.

The signees, made up of eight swimmers and two divers, hail from five states, including three from Wisconsin. The class boasts seven state champions and six All-Americans.

"We've signed to our men's team some of the best sprint talent our state has ever seen. They will make an immediate impact," Hansen said. "On the women's side, we're adding more depth in freestyle and backstroke, and I think the class we have will be a great addition. The recruits have already proven that they're ready to take the next step."

The signees include: Kelsey Gergen (Hastings, Minn./Hastings), Karlyn Hougan (Olympia, Wash./Tumwater), Maggie Meyer (North Oaks, Minn./White Bear Lake Area) and Ciara Rinaudo (Phoenix/Humanities and Sciences Academy of Arizona) for the women, and Conner Andrews (Nashotah, Wis./Arrowhead), Chris Gogel (Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City East), Caleb Percevecz (Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain), Jesse Stipek (University Place, Wash./Covenant), Kyle Thompson (New Berlin, Wis./New Berlin West) and Greg Zupek (Manitowoc, Wis./Lincoln) for the men.

Gergen was a 2005 Minnesota AA state champion in the 50-yard freestyle and runner-up in the 100-yard freestyle. She also is five-time NISCA High School All-American, and a U.S. Open qualifier in the 50-yard freestyle. She placed 13th in 50-yard freestyle at the 2006 USA Swimming Junior National Championships.

Hougan was a 2006 Washington 2A State Champion in 50-yard freestyle and runner-up in 100-yard freestyle. She also is a 2005 Washington 3A State Champion in 200-yard freestyle, a two-time NISCA High School All-American and a U.S. Open qualifier in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles. She placed 10th in 50-yard freestyle at the 2005 USA Swimming Junior National Championships.

Meyer took second in the 100-yard backstroke and third in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2005 Minnesota AA State Championships. She is a 2004 Minnesota AA state champion in the 100-yard backstroke and runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle. She is a four-time NISCA High School All-American, and a U.S. Open qualifier in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke.

Rinaudo was a 2005 Arizona 5A Division 2 state champion in 1-meter diving, and placed second on the 1-meter springboard at 2006 USA diving Senior Zone D Championships. She notched 31st on the 1-meter springboard at 2006 West Junior National Championships. She was a finalist on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards at 2006 AAU National Championships.

Andrews was a 2006 Wisconsin Division 1 State Champion in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, and was twice named NISCA High School All-American and U.S. Open qualifier in the 50-yard freestyle. He placed 18th in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2006 USA Swimming Junior National Championships.

Gogel was a three-time Iowa State qualifier in the 200- and 500-yard freestyles, and 2006 Missouri River Activities Conference Champion in the 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke.

Percevecz was an Arizona 5A Division 2 state champion in 1-meter diving all four years, and a semifinalist on 1-meter springboard at the 2006 National Diving Championships. He finished 11th on the 3-meter springboard at the 2006 Junior National Diving Championships. He captured second on the 1-meter springboard and fourth on the 3-meter Springboard at the 2006 West Junior National Championships.

Stipek was a 2005 and 2006 Washington 4A State Champion in 100-yard backstroke, and a three-time NISCA High School All-America selection and USA Swimming National Qualifier in 100- and 200-yard backstrokes. He ended up 11th in the 100-yard backstroke at the 2006 USA Swimming Spring Championships.

Thompson posted second in the 100-yard butterfly and third in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2006 Wisconsin Division 1 State Championships. He is a three-time NISCA High School All-American, 2005 NISCA Academic All-American and U.S. Olympic Trial qualifier in 200-yard butterfly and U.S. Open qualifier in 100-yard butterfly. He notched fifth in the 200-yard butterfly and 16th in the 100-yard butterfly at the 2005 USA Swimming Junior National Championships.

Zupek was a finalist in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles at 2006 Wisconsin Division 1 State Championships. He also was a member of second place 200-yard freestyle relay team and third-place 400-yard freestyle relay team at the 2006 USA Swimming Junior National Championships.

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