Swimming & Diving Adds Signees For 2019-20
Nov 27, 2018 | Women's Swimming & Diving
OMAHA, Neb. – Head swimming and diving coach Todd Samland announced that nine student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to join the Maverick program in 2019-20.Â
"This is an outstanding recruiting class for us," said Samland. "It is important for us to find swimmers and divers who want to do well in the pool and in the classroom. We wanted to find athletes who want to be challenged. Being part of our positive team dynamic is something the coaching staff looks for in the recruiting process like relationship building, academic focus and connectedness to the team and coaches. The recruiting process for us has evolved into finding a great four-year fit. I feel these athletes fit with what we are about and will contribute to our culture."
Reece Cooper (San Antonio, Texas)
Cooper is a four-year letterwinner at Johnson High School. She has qualified for Texas Regionals in her first three seasons for the 1-meter dive and placed third in the state when she lived in Alabama as a freshman.
"Reece comes from a strong program in Texas," said diving coach Eric Sprague. "We look for her to be an impact diver at the conference level with the potential of doing good things after post conference."
Mallory Dickey (Madison, Miss.)
Dickey a four-year letterwinner at Madison Central High School where she recently set the state records in the MHSAA 200 Medley Relay, the 400 relay, 50 breaststroke and 100 backstroke. She also recently earned her fifth consecutive state championship. In her career, she was also named to the Best of Mississippi Preps team.
"Mallory will add a lot to our team and she is a competitive, Mississippi high school state champion," said Samland. "She will have an impact in our IM and contribute well in the breaststroke and backstroke events."
Kady Eller (Phoenix, Ariz.)
A four-year letterwinner at Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Phoenix, Ariz., Eller is a diver coming off a Northwest Region Invitational title and has qualified for state every season. She's also won All-District Team O'Connor MVP of the Year honors twice and broke her school record with a score of 439.65.
"She comes from a very strong club program in Arizona and was able to final at AAU Nationals on 3-meter last year," said Sprague. "We look for her to make an immediate impact at the conference level and strive for positive outcomes at the zone championship level."
Caroline Gardner (Plymouth, Minn.)
Gardner comes to the Mavericks as a four-year letterwinner at Orono High School where she broke several individual records in the breaststroke. In her career, she qualified for state three times and earned a spot on the 2017-18 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American team.
"Caroline comes from a powerhouse club program in Minnesota, the AquaJets," said Samland. "She will make an immediate impact on our program. Her stroke specialty is breaststroke and is a force in the IM and freestyle."
Megan Latta (Des Moines, Iowa)
Latta hails from Des Moines, Iowa, at Dowling Catholic High School where she enters her fourth letter-winning season. She has qualified for state twice and recently earned First Team All-Conference twice and runner-up at state.
"Megan has incredible versatility," said Samland. "She has three strong strokes in the backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. She will be capable of scoring in any of those races."
Annie Leinart (Downers Grove, Ill.)
Leinart comes from Downers Grove South High School in Downers Grove, Ill., where she finished her most recent dual meet season with a 9-0 record and earned the West Suburban Gold Conference Championship. She also earned all-conference honors all four years and qualified for state twice.
"Annie has ties to UNO, with her Dad being an alum," said Samland. "She comes from a very competitive high school swimming environment in Illinois. Her times will be very strong in the freestyle and breaststroke events."
Maddie Mather (St. Louis, Mo.)
Mather is a four-year letterwinner at Cor Jesu Academy and CSP Tideriders Club team. Throughout her career, she's qualified for the NCSA Spring and Summer Sectionals a combined six times, and earned a spot on the CSP National Team earlier this year.Â
"She comes from a very strong St. Louis program at Clayton Shaw Park," said Samland. "Maddie has great versatility and is competitive in the distance free style events, as well as IM and breaststroke."
Abigail Mitchell (Lincoln, Neb.)
Mitchell hails from Pius X High School in Lincoln, Neb., where she enters her senior season as a three-time state finalist and has qualified for state in the in the 200 IM, 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay, 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 400 freestyle relay throughout her career.
"She comes from a strong club program, Lincoln Select, and a progressing high school program," said Samland. "Abigail brings in a strong breaststroke times but also has a very good backstroke and IM. We knew she would be an amazing fit to our program ever since her visit to Omaha."Â
Natalie Wright (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Wright hails from Palmer Ridge High School in Monument, Colo., where she is a multiple-time conference and state qualifier. In club competition, she qualified for AAU nationals and placed eighth in the tower competition for the 3-meter dive.
"Natalie comes from a great diving program in Colorado," said Sprague. "She has made some strong strides in the past couple of years and look for her to fit well into our culture and contribute to our continued diving success at conference."
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"This is an outstanding recruiting class for us," said Samland. "It is important for us to find swimmers and divers who want to do well in the pool and in the classroom. We wanted to find athletes who want to be challenged. Being part of our positive team dynamic is something the coaching staff looks for in the recruiting process like relationship building, academic focus and connectedness to the team and coaches. The recruiting process for us has evolved into finding a great four-year fit. I feel these athletes fit with what we are about and will contribute to our culture."
Reece Cooper (San Antonio, Texas)
Cooper is a four-year letterwinner at Johnson High School. She has qualified for Texas Regionals in her first three seasons for the 1-meter dive and placed third in the state when she lived in Alabama as a freshman.
"Reece comes from a strong program in Texas," said diving coach Eric Sprague. "We look for her to be an impact diver at the conference level with the potential of doing good things after post conference."
Mallory Dickey (Madison, Miss.)
Dickey a four-year letterwinner at Madison Central High School where she recently set the state records in the MHSAA 200 Medley Relay, the 400 relay, 50 breaststroke and 100 backstroke. She also recently earned her fifth consecutive state championship. In her career, she was also named to the Best of Mississippi Preps team.
"Mallory will add a lot to our team and she is a competitive, Mississippi high school state champion," said Samland. "She will have an impact in our IM and contribute well in the breaststroke and backstroke events."
Kady Eller (Phoenix, Ariz.)
A four-year letterwinner at Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Phoenix, Ariz., Eller is a diver coming off a Northwest Region Invitational title and has qualified for state every season. She's also won All-District Team O'Connor MVP of the Year honors twice and broke her school record with a score of 439.65.
"She comes from a very strong club program in Arizona and was able to final at AAU Nationals on 3-meter last year," said Sprague. "We look for her to make an immediate impact at the conference level and strive for positive outcomes at the zone championship level."
Caroline Gardner (Plymouth, Minn.)
Gardner comes to the Mavericks as a four-year letterwinner at Orono High School where she broke several individual records in the breaststroke. In her career, she qualified for state three times and earned a spot on the 2017-18 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American team.
"Caroline comes from a powerhouse club program in Minnesota, the AquaJets," said Samland. "She will make an immediate impact on our program. Her stroke specialty is breaststroke and is a force in the IM and freestyle."
Megan Latta (Des Moines, Iowa)
Latta hails from Des Moines, Iowa, at Dowling Catholic High School where she enters her fourth letter-winning season. She has qualified for state twice and recently earned First Team All-Conference twice and runner-up at state.
"Megan has incredible versatility," said Samland. "She has three strong strokes in the backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. She will be capable of scoring in any of those races."
Annie Leinart (Downers Grove, Ill.)
Leinart comes from Downers Grove South High School in Downers Grove, Ill., where she finished her most recent dual meet season with a 9-0 record and earned the West Suburban Gold Conference Championship. She also earned all-conference honors all four years and qualified for state twice.
"Annie has ties to UNO, with her Dad being an alum," said Samland. "She comes from a very competitive high school swimming environment in Illinois. Her times will be very strong in the freestyle and breaststroke events."
Maddie Mather (St. Louis, Mo.)
Mather is a four-year letterwinner at Cor Jesu Academy and CSP Tideriders Club team. Throughout her career, she's qualified for the NCSA Spring and Summer Sectionals a combined six times, and earned a spot on the CSP National Team earlier this year.Â
"She comes from a very strong St. Louis program at Clayton Shaw Park," said Samland. "Maddie has great versatility and is competitive in the distance free style events, as well as IM and breaststroke."
Abigail Mitchell (Lincoln, Neb.)
Mitchell hails from Pius X High School in Lincoln, Neb., where she enters her senior season as a three-time state finalist and has qualified for state in the in the 200 IM, 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay, 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 400 freestyle relay throughout her career.
"She comes from a strong club program, Lincoln Select, and a progressing high school program," said Samland. "Abigail brings in a strong breaststroke times but also has a very good backstroke and IM. We knew she would be an amazing fit to our program ever since her visit to Omaha."Â
Natalie Wright (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Wright hails from Palmer Ridge High School in Monument, Colo., where she is a multiple-time conference and state qualifier. In club competition, she qualified for AAU nationals and placed eighth in the tower competition for the 3-meter dive.
"Natalie comes from a great diving program in Colorado," said Sprague. "She has made some strong strides in the past couple of years and look for her to fit well into our culture and contribute to our continued diving success at conference."
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