Jan. 14, 2014
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Head swimming and diving coach, Mike Shrader, has announced the signing of six student-athletes on the swimming side of his team during the fall 2013 signing period.
"We feel as though this is one of the best signing classes in school history, and we have added both speed and depth to our team with the signing of these six young ladies, commented Shrader. "We are thrilled to have them join the Aztec swimming and diving family."
Summer Harrison (Honolulu, Hawai'i) will join the Aztecs from Kamehameha Swim Club. Harrison is a butterfly and sprint specialist, and was rated by collegeswimming.com as the number-two recruit out of the state of Hawaii. Harrison has personal bests of 54.82 (100 fly), 50.83 (100 free), and 23.49 (50 free). she qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the 100m butterfly.
Brie Balsbough (West Linn, Ore.) will continue the Aztecs' trend of recruiting in the Pacific Northwest as she will come to San Diego State from The Dolphins Swim Team. As an athlete at West Linn High School she was ranked the No. 2 swimmer in the state by collegeswimming.com. Balsbough will give the Aztecs a boost in the breaststroke and sprint events, with best times of 1:02.97 (100 breast), 2:18.69 (200 breast), and 23.31 (50 free). Last season she earned NISCA/Speedo Swimming & Diving All-America honors in the 50 free and 100 breast.
"When I visited San Diego State I felt welcomed by the team and coaches", Balsbough told collegeswimming.com. "I loved the culture and atmosphere on deck. I know that Coach Shrader and Coach Biefnes will help me to achieve my goals and dreams. I can't wait to be a part of this team.
Cori Casper (Chino Hills, Calif.) won't be traveling far from home for her college career as she will join the Aztecs from Brea Aquatics. Casper will have an immediate impact in the freestyle and IM events as she boasts best times of 1:50.94 (200 free), 4:56.59 (500 free), and 4:24.96 (400 IM).
"From the first minute I stepped on campus, met the coaches, met the team, and they also offered my major, I knew. Everything connected easily...this was the perfect fit for me. San Diego State has everything I was looking for in a college. Surrounded by talented athletes and phenomenal coaching staff, connections and friendships have already been made, making the wait that much more difficult!" said Casper via collegeswimming.com.
Alex Wolf (Riverside, Calif.) joins Casper as the other California native in this year's recruiting class. Wolf is a very versatile swimmer from the Riverside Aquatics Association. Wolf has best times of 1:52.56 (200 free), 4:59.18 (500 free), and 2:20.52 (200 breast).
Marina Preiss (East Hampton, N.Y.) will make the cross-country journey next year to add to the SDSU freestyle events. Preiss has best times of 51.92 (100 free), 1:55.34 (200 free), and 24.14 (50 free).
Laura Day (Peyton, Colo.) joined the Aztecs at the semester break as a transfer student from Liberty University. Day will have an immediate impact on the Aztecs' breaststroke squad, as she currently holds personal best times of 1:01.26 (100 breast) and 2:17.17 (200 breast). While at Liberty she won the 100 breast and finished second in the 200 breast at the 2013 Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) Championships.
These six student-athletes will be joined by four divers previously announced by diving coach, Roland McDonald (Alexandra Caplan, Makena Chamoures, Nicole Dutton, and Payton Gabris), to round out the fall signing class.