TCU Announces Early Signing Class of Eight

FORT WORTH, Texas, November 21. TCU swimming and diving coach Richard Sybesma announced Monday the addition of eight women to the TCU roster during the fall signing period.

Included in the class are sevenswimmers and one diver, continuing a recent TCU trend of strong recruiting classes. Collegeswimming.com recognized TCU's recruiting class a year ago.

The fall class features women from seven different states and just two from the Lone Star State. Sybesma continued his tradition of bringing siblings to join the Horned Frogs with the signing of Carley Stevens from Phoenix. Stevens is the younger sister of Lindsey Stevens, a senior at TCU. Currently, the Frogs have three sets of siblings on the roster.

The 2011 fall signing class adds depth across numerous events for TCU with Sara Brzozowski, Stevens and Mikayla Winkler swimming the distance events. The Frogs got versatile swimmers in Maggie Burkhardt, Alyssa Davis, Ali Polhill and Catherine Rash. Each of them can swim up to three events. Kristen Connolly is the lone diver in the fall class.

TCU Fall 2011 Signing Class

Sara Brzozowski, Distance Free; Brookfield, Wis. (Brookfield East)
Will boost the Frogs in the middle distance and distance events … Personal bests are 4:57.86 in the 500-free, 10:12.37 in the 1000-free and 16:53.75 in the 1650-free … Named the Greater Metro Conference Athlete of the Year three times … Was the runner up in the 500-free at her state high school meet … Three times earned her team's MVP award … Attends Brookfield East High School and competes for coach Mike Rose … Swims at the club level for Fred Russell and Elmbrook Swim Club … Named a Scholastic All-American, a WISCA All-State Academic and NISCA Academic All-American … Commended for her National Merit … Born May 25, 1994 … Parents are Jane and Jeff Brzozowski … Hobbies include baking and reading

Maggie Burkhardt, Fly/IM; Denver, Colo. (East)
Should contribute in a multitude of areas, including fly, back, free and individual medley … Has personal bests of 1:52.00 and 4:58.38 in the 200-free and 500-free, 57.55 and 2:04.36 in the 100-fly and 200-fly and 2:06.66 and 4:26.04 in the 200-IM and 400-IM … Named the Denver East Swimmer of the Year in 2009-10 and 2010-11 … Attends East High School and competes for coach Dave Quintana … A member of the University of Denver Hilltoppers under the direction of Shawn Smith … Born Oct. 4, 1994 to Janet and Randy Burkhardt … Brother, Max, is on the rifle team at Memphis … Lists reading, writing and cooking as her hobbies

Kristen Connolly, Diving; San Antonio, Texas (Ronal Reagan)
Has a personal best of 425.25 on the 11-meter springboard … Named an All-American in 2011 … Placed 11th in the state in 2011 … A four-year varsity letter winner and three-time national qualifier … Coach is Mike Sansavera at Ronald Reagan High School … Dives at the club level for the San Antonio Divers and coach Allison Huntress … Member of the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society … Birthdate is Sept. 7, 1994 … Parents are Lynne and Chris Connolly … Sister, Kathryn, is a diver at Indiana

Alyssa Davis, IM/Free; Redmond, Wash. (Redmond Senior)
Holds personal bests of 2:05.25 in the 200-individual medley and 4:25.63 in the 400-individual medley … Also has a PR of 4:59.89 in the 500-free … Named a PNW All-Star on four occasions … Qualified for the Short Course Nationals and was a Western Region Senior Sectionals Finalist … Holds four of her high school's team records … A district 4A champion and state finalist despite swimming in high school four only one year … Attends Redmond Senior High School, where she competed for Julie Barashkoff … Member of KING Aquatic Club … Named a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American three times and is a National Honors Society member … Born June 8, 1994 … Daughter of Steve and Jocelyn Davis … Has a sister, Katie … Intends on majoring in biology and becoming a veterinarian … Hobbies include photography, spending time with her friends and family and playing with her dog, Zoe

Ali Polhill, Back/Fly; Brewster, N.Y. (Brewster/Clemson)
Will boost the Frogs in the relays as well as in the back and fly … A transfer from the University of Clemson … Has personal bests of 55.72 in the 100-back, 54.80 in the 100-fly and 2:00.15 in the 200-fly … A three-time New York State Champion in high school … A senior national qualifier and eight-time high school All-American … Attended Brewster High School … Member of Ridgefield Aquatic Club … Member of Lambda Alpha Delta honor society … Earned Dean's Honor Roll list in each semester of college … Born Sept. 21, 1992 … Parents are Bradley and Laura Brewster … Brother swam at the University of Buffalo

Catherine Rash, Fly/Free/IM; The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands)
Adds depth in the areas of fly,free and individual medley … Short-course personal bests are 57.13 in the 100-fly and 2:03.18 in the 200-fly as well as 4:30.15 in the 400-IM and 4:56.73 in the 500-free … Was a junior national qualifier in each of the fiveaforementioned events … Was a member of the national medalist team in the 800-free relay during her junior year … A national qualifier in the 200-fly as a senior … Earned TISCA All-State honors in 2009, 2010 and 2011 … Was the SPC State Champion in the 500-free in 2010 and 2011, as well as runner up in the 200-free in 2011, 100-fly in 2010 and 500-free in 2009 … Holds school records at John Cooper School in the 200-free relay, 400-free relay, 200-free, 200-IM, 500-free and 100-breast … Attends The Woodlands High School and also attended John Cooper School … Member of The Woodlands Swim Team … Member of the National Charity League … Born Nov. 17, 1993 … Daughter of Susan and Steve Rash … Enjoys watching sports and spending time with her friends and family

Carley Stevens, Free/IM; Phoenix, Ariz. (Arcadia)
Swims primarily the middle distance and distance freestyle events … Personal bests are 1:52.55 (200-free), 4:58.48 (500-free) and 17:20.13 (1650-free) … Also clocked a personal-best 4:30.89 in the 400-individual medley … Was a state champion or runner up each of her four years in high school … Her sister, Lindsey, is currently a senior on the TCU swimming and diving team … Competes for Erica McClurg at Arcadia High School … Member of the Arizona Marlins swim club under the direction of Mike Maczuga … Is a member of the National Honor Society … Born July 29, 1994 … Parents are Scott and Nancy Stevens … Brother, Brian, swims at the University of Arizona … Enjoys napping, going to the movies and spending time with her friends and family

Mikayla Winkler, Free; Folsom, Calif. (Vista Del Lago)
A strong swimmer in the middle distance and distance events … PRs are 1:49.37 in the 200-free and 4:52.11 in the 500-free … Earned high school All-American honors in the 200- and 500-free … Was the high school section champion in the 200- and 500-free … Notched junior national qualifying times in the 200- 400- and 800-meter freestyle … Attends Vista Del Lago High School where her coach is Joel Garceau … Member of the Sierra Marlins Swim Team … Born May 24, 1994 in Folsom, Calif. … Daughter of Tony and Rhonda Winkler … Has three brothers, including a twin, Matt … Lists shopping, watching movies and reading as her hobbies

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