Oct. 2, 2008
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State swimming and diving team has many new faces this season as it welcomes 13 newcomers to The Mesa for the 2008-09 campaign. With only 10 returnees, the highly touted incoming class of 10 freshmen and four transfers will be expected to make an immediate impact in their first year at SDSU.
"All of the newcomers are first-class young ladies," said second-year Aztec head coach Mike Shrader. "They are outstanding students and have unlimited potential in the pool. We are excited and blessed to have them all."
Alexandra Barstad (Eden Prairie, Minn.) is a junior transfer diver from the University of Minnesota. Barstad scored in all three diving events (1-meter, 3-meter and platform) at the Big 10 championships last year as the Gophers went on to claim the conference title.
"Alex is an extremely dedicated and hard-working diver who will contribute greatly to our squad," said San Diego State diving coach Jim Wynne. "She is a pleasure to coach and we are very happy she is an Aztec."
Shannon Bray (Reno, Nev.) comes to SDSU from Reno High School where she was an all-Northern Nevada 4A Region first-team selection in the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Bray led the Huskies to the Nevada state championship as a senior.
"Shannon is a junior national qualifier in the butterfly and is also very good in the freestyle events," said Shrader. "She is a versatile swimmer who will help us out a lot this year."
Dominique Campora is a sophomore transfer who competed at Sierra College in 2008. The Auburn, Calif., native led the Wolverines to a second place finish at the 2008 California Community College Athletic Asscoiation championships as she claimed the 3-meter diving title. Campora was named the co-state diver of the year and also earned community college All-America honors.
"Although she won't be competing this year, Dominique has taken every training opportunity to the fullest," said Wynne. "She is putting in the work to be the best she can be."
Melissa Church is a sophomore transfer from Saddleback College. The Aliso Viejo, Calif., native led the Gauchos to the 2008 Orange Empire Conference championship with a first-place finish in the 50 butterfly, while also swimming on the 200 medley relay squad that claimed the top spot. Church was a finalist in the 50 and 100 fly, as well as the 100 IM, at the California Community College State Championships.
"Melissa is a very good sprint fly and freestyle swimmer," Shrader said. "She will be in the mix in most of our relays because she has a lot of speed."
Kelsy Diener was a four-year letterwinner at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Ariz. She was a two-time Arizona 5A Division I state champion and was also tabbed an NISCA All-American. Diener was a member of the 200 medley relay squad that holds the Lions' school record.
"In addition to having a senior national qualifying time in the 200 backstroke, Kelsy will help us out in the 200 IM and the 500 free," said Shrader. "She will also be involved in a lot of our relays."
Bojana Duric, who hails from Toronto, competed for the Etobicoke Swimming Club. Duric claimed the gold medal in the 1500 freestyle at the 2007 Speedo East Nationals and also took top honors in the same event at the Age Group Nationals (16-18).
"Bojana is a distance freestyle swimmer and is very good at everything from the 200 on up," Shrader said. "She will be an important swimmer for us at the conference level and we also expect her to do well in dual meets."
Jeanette Engzell (Falun, Sweden) competed for the Falu Frigymnasium club and holds the team's records in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke. Engzell was the Swedish junior national champion in the 100 breast in 2004 and also claimed the title in the same event as a senior in 2005.
"Jeanette is a very good breaststroker and individual medley swimmer," said Shrader. "She is very powerful in the water."
Ashley Flynn was a four-year letterwinner at St. Francis High School where she earned NISCA All-America honors. The Sacramento native was also a member of the highly regarded Arden Hills club team and had a second-place finish in the 1500 freestyle at the 2007 Texas Senior Circuit Championships.
"Ashley comes to us from one of the best club programs in the United States," Shrader said. "She is a junior national level distance swimmer and I love the way she races."
Allison Hall is a sophomore transfer from Boise State where she was a finalist in the 200 butterfly at the 2008 Western Athletic Conference championships. She also had a top 16 finish in the 100 fly and 200 individual medley at the same meet.
"Allison finished in the top eight at the sectional meet and was also a finalist at the Western Athletic Conference meet, so we are very excited to have her on the team this year," said Shrader.
Elisabeth Krueger is a butterfly, freestyle and individual medley swimmer, who hails from Erlangen, Germany. Krueger competed in the 200 IM at the European Junior Championships.
"Elli is an extremely versatile swimmer," Shrader said. "Her best events are the 200 and 400 IM and she is one of our top newcomers."
Alexis McCoy comes to SDSU from an American international school in Japan. McCoy will look to compete in the sprint freestyle and backstroke events as a freshman.
"Alexis is a raw talent with great speed," said Shrader. "She has a solid work ethic and has the potential to develop into a very good swimmer."
Shaida Solimani (Blue Springs, Mo.) helped lead Blue Springs High School to three state championships while earning All-America and all-state recognition. Solimani placed among the top five swimmers in every event she competed in at the state championships all four years.
"Shaida is a very strong backstroker and freestyler," said Shrader. "She is a Missouri state champion and an outstanding prospect."
Rounding out the newcomers is Lisa Tompkins (Camas, Wash.), who was a four-year varsity letterwinner at Camas High School. Tompkins led the Papermakers to a third-place finish at the Class 4A state swim meet her senior year and qualified for All-America recognition with a second-place performance in the 100 breaststroke.
"Lisa has one of the best 50 breaststroke splits in the country," Shrader said. "She has a lot of talent and we expect her to be very good this year."
The San Diego State swimming and diving team will kick off the regular season against Mountain West Conference foe Utah on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Aztec Aquaplex. The meet is scheduled for a 3 p.m. PT start.