Houston Announces Signing Class

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Swimming & Diving program and Head Coach Ryan Wochomurka will welcome 14 student-athletes to its roster at the beginning of the 2020-21 season.

The Cougars will welcome 12 swimmers and two divers, with signees from Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Virginia, Texas, Sweden, France, Spain and the United Kingdom.

ABBY JACKSON | FELBRIDGE, U.K. | LINGFIELD COLLEGE | CRAWLEY SWIM CLUB

Jackson will come to Houston from Felbridge, U.K. where she swims for Lingfield College and the Crawley Swim Club. The U.K. native represented England at the World High School Games and Flanders World Speedo Cup. Jackson is both a county and regional recordholder in the 50, 100 and 200 Butterfly. The swimmer will come to Houston as a British Championships, Commonwealth Championships and Olympic Trials finalist.

GRACE BUTCHER | COLUMBUS, OHIO | OLENTANGY BERLIN HS

A State Champion in the 100 Breaststroke, Butcher will come to Houston holding both school and district record in the event. The two-time State Championships finalist is a runner-up in the 200 Breaststroke as well as a school recordholder in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Butterfly. Butcher has earned numerous accolades throughout her career such as USA Scholastic All-America and NISCA All-America honors to go along with membership in the National Honors Society.

HANNAH FARMER | ALEDO, TEXAS | ALEDO HS

Farmer comes to Houston from Aledo, Texas where she is a two-time Texas 5A State Championships medalist in the 100 breaststroke and three-time state championships finalist in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Breaststroke. The Texas native holds school records in the 50 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke and 100 Breaststroke. Farmer has competed nationally and is a YMCA Nationals Finalist, USA Swimming Futures finalist and USA Swimming Junior Nationals finalist.

HEDDA GRELZ | MALMÕ, SWEDEN | PROCIVITAS MALMÕ

Grelz is the second European to join the Cougar roster, joining the squad as a member of the Houston diving personnel. The Swedish Junior National Champion in the Platform, a five-time medalist at the Swedish Junior Nationals and two-time medalist at the Swedish Senior Nationals.

MARGOT LITTLE | ROCKWALL, TEXAS | ROCKWALL HS

Little will stay in Texas and join the Cougars after a decorated career at Rockwall High School. The two-time All-State Honorable Mention is also a two-time District Champion and Regional Champion, holding the school record in the 100 Breaststroke. Little earned the team's Newcomer of the Year Award her freshman season and is a two-time Spirit Award winner.

SAIGE KEMENY | TALLAHASSEE, FL. | LINCOLN HS

Kemeny will come to Houston a six-time Florida 3A State Championships medalist and State Champion in the 100 Breaststroke. The Florida native is the school recordholder in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Breaststroke. Kemeny has competed on the national stage as a U.S. Open and Summer Junior National's qualifier, along with multiple podium finishes at the Swimming Futures.

SOPHIE ANDERSON | APEX, N.C. | APEX HS

Anderson will come to the Cougars after a stellar career at Apex High School. As a member of the Apex High Swim team, Anderson helped her team win a conference title during her freshman season. Anderson is a Winter Nationals and Junior Nationals qualifier and winner of the teams Most Improved and Titan Award.

COURTNEY HARRIS | O'FALLON, MO. | FORT ZUMWALT WEST HS

Harris will join the Cougars after a decorated career at Fort Zumwalt West High School. A Missouri State Champion in the 100 Freestyle and runner-up in the 50 Freestyle, Harris is a two-time Gateway Athletic Conference Champion with titles in the 50 and 100 Freestyle. A four-time First Team All-Conference selection, Harris holds school records in the 50 and 10 Freestyle along with 18 individual records on the Rec-Plex Sharks USA Swimming Team. Harris is a Winter Speedo Nationals qualifier and USA Scholastic All-America honoree, earning Fort Zumwalt West High School Most Valuable player honors.

MADDIE WALLIN | CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA. | MONACAN HS

Wallin will join the Cougars following a four-year career at Monacan High School. A recordholder in the 500 Freestyle and 200 Individual Medley, Wallin is a three-time finalist at the Virginia State Championships. Wallin is a two-time All-Metro selection, earning First Team honors in 2019 and a two-time All-State selection.

CASSIE STEGNER | MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS. | MENOMONEE FALLS HS

A two-time team captain at Menomonee Falls High School, Stegner will joins the Cougars after a decorated career in Wisconsin. Stegner is a three-time Wisconsin State Champion and high school recordholder in the 50, 100 and 200 Freestyle, as well as a member of the state champion 400 Freestyle Relay and 200 Freestyle Relay. A two-time finalist for the Wisconsin Division I Swimmer of the Year, Stegner is a two-time Greater Metro Conference Swimmer of the Year and three-time All-State Honorable Mention.

EMILIA WATERS | COPPELL, TEXAS | COPPELL HS

Waters will join the Houston diving personnel after a stellar career at Coppell HS. The Texas native is a two-time medalist at the Texas State Championships, including a first-place finish in the 1-meter in 2017. A two-time AAU National Champion with titles in the 1-meter and 3-meter, Waters was a mainstay on the podium during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

MARINA ORTEGA BONILLA | MADRID, SPAIN

Marina will join the Cougars following a decorated career in her home country of Spain. Bonilla competed at the Spain Championships, earning five podium finishes, including a trio of first-place finishes in the 200 Individual Medley, 100 Breaststroke and 200 Breaststroke. She swam for Gredos San Diego along with fellow signee, Laura Garcia Marin.

THAIS BIDEAU | LYCEE BREQUIGNEY | RENNES, FRANCE

Bideau will join the Cougars after a decorated high school career in France. Bideau was a B and C Finalist at the French National during both the 2018-19 seasons, as well as a vice champion in the 100 Butterfly in 2017. Both of her parents swam for the French National team.

LAURA GARCIA MARIN | MADRID, SPAIN

Laura will come to Houston from Madrid, Spain where she swam alongside fellow signee Marina Ortega Bonilla. Marin has had valuable swimming experience, competing in the Freestyle at the European Championships (2019), the World Junior Championships (2019), the European Youth Olympic Games (2017) and the Spanish Championships.

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--UHCougars.com--

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