Swimming & Diving Signs 15 to NLIs
November 29, 2017 | Swimming & Diving
LOS ANGELES – UCLA wrapped up the Fall Signing Period with the additions of 15 student-athletes, head swimming and diving coach Cyndi Gallagher officially announced. Fourteen swimmers and one diver are set to join the Bruins in fall 2018.
The list of signees consists of: Gabrielle Anderson (Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos HS), Jackie Basham (Monrovia, Calif./Glendora HS), Sophia Cavalli (Moraga, Calif./Campolindo HS), Sophie Clarkowski (Edina, Minn./Edina HS), Jessica Epps (Mission Viejo, Calif./Tesoro HS), Claire Grover (Scottsdale, Ariz./Boulder Creek HS), Abriana Howard (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista HS), Ella Kirschke (Lone Tree, Colo./Valor Christian HS), Emily Lo (Oakland, Calif./Acalanes HS), Mara Newman (Portland, Ore./Lakeridge HS), Emma Schaetz (Brookfield, Wisc./Brookfield East HS), Emma Smethurst (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate HS), Delaney Smith (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe HS), Katie Sulkevich (Covina, Calif./Glendora HS) and Veronica Thompson (Castaic, Calif./Santa Clarita Valley International Charter).
It is a decorated group of signees, with a plethora of NISCA/Speedo All-America honors spread around. Cavalli, Epps and Howard have each been selected three times, while Basham, Smith and Sulkevich have garnered two honors apiece. Anderson, Clarkowski, Kirschke, Lo, Newman and Smethurst have also earned one.
"Absolutely thrilled with this class we're bringing in next year," Gallagher said. "It's without a doubt a talented group, but I think I'm most excited about their desire to get better. Whether it's in the classroom or in the pool, these young women love to learn and want to be the best they can be."
A trio of swimmers from the new crop participated in June's Phillips 66 U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis. Anderson qualified in the 100 Free and 100 Fly and eventually reached the C Final of the 50 Free. Newman qualified in three backstroke events, posting top times in the 200 Back, 50 Back and 100 Back. Epps, meanwhile, earned her way in as an elite finisher in the 200 Fly, 400 IM and 200 IM.
Epps and Howard bring extensive experience from the 2017 Speedo Junior Nationals, where the swimmers competed in five (200 Fly, 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Free, 200 IM) and six (200 Back, 400 Free Relay, 100 Back, 200 Free Relay, 200 IM, 400 Medley Relay) events, respectively. Grover (100 Breast), Lo (100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 Breast), Smith (400 IM, 100 Back, 200 IM) and Sulkevich (800 Free, 400 Free and 1500 Free) also competed at the Nassau County Aquatic Center (East Meadow, NY) in August.
Out of the pool, Anderson is one of four future Bruins on the list of 2017 USA Swimming Scholastic All America honorees, released in September. She did it twice. In order to be eligible, swimmers must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 for the current academic year and post a qualifying time for the previous year's Winter Junior Championships. Joining Anderson on the list of two-time members are Epps and Howard. Smethurst joined the club for the first time this year.
"We have All-Americans, as well as National and Junior National qualifiers, but most of all, we have Bruins who embrace our culture of competitive greatness," Gallagher added. "I'm really looking forward to getting going with them next fall."
The list of Californians in the class is a lengthy one, with nine natives of the Golden State (Anderson, Basham, Cavalli, Epps, Howard, Lo, Smethurst, Sulkevich and Thompson) signing on. A pair of high-school teammates and relay mates in Basham and Sulkevich are among them. The two currently compete for Glendora HS.
"It's always exciting to keep California swimmers in California," Gallagher said. "There's a lot of elite talent in the state and we feel that we got a great group."
Two Coloradoans, Kirschke and Smith, will also join the fold. Kirschke, daughter of former UCLA football player Travis, is part of the defending Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) 4A state-champion 400 Free Relay team at Valor Christian HS. Smith, meanwhile, claimed the CHSAA 5A title in the 200 IM as a sophomore at Arapahoe HS.
In March, Grover and Newman both shined as multiple-time finalists at the Speedo Western Zone Sectionals in Federal Way, Wash. Grover won the 200 Breast (2:12.09) and tallied three other final-round appearances. Newman reached two finals. Clarkowski took part in the Speedo Champions Series in Iowa City, Iowa, where she earned a final-round spot in the 200 Fly (2:05.60). The 2016 Wisconsin 13 & Over Short Course State Championship was a proving ground of sorts for Schaetz, who posted A Final times of 56.67 in the 100 Fly and 2:24.94 in the 200 Fly.
The lone diver of the group is Thompson, who competed at the USA Diving Zone F Championships over the summer. She reached the final round of the 16-18 Platform competition, posting a score of 304.35. Thompson also competed in the preliminary round of the Senior 1-Meter contest. A member of the LA Dive Club, she posted Top-10 finishes in the 3-Meter and Platform at the club's Winter Meet in December 2016.
"Veronica is a great athlete who is new to the sport," head diving coach Tom Stebbins explained. "Her presence will shore up our platform group immediately. I very much look forward to working with her next fall."
