USD Swimming and Diving Announces Addition of 12 Recruits
5/6/2010
Coach Jason Mahowald
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VERMILLION, S.D. -- University of South Dakota swimming and diving coach Jason Mahowald has announced the addition of 12 recruits for the 2010-11 season. The recruits include nine women’s swimmers and three men’s swimmers.
The latest recruits, for the women include Mariah Anderson of Kearney, Neb.; Cali Bolin of Norfolk, Neb.; Megan Chmielewski of Shakopee, Minn.; Stacie Kjelden of Vermillion, S.D.; Alexis Klug of Dickinson, N.D.; Linay McCrady of Savage, Minn.; McKenzie Shroyer of Mitchell, S.D.; Jasmine Steffes of Omaha, Neb.; and Brooke Zhorne of Chanhassen, Minn. For the men, the latest recruits include Alex Dayan of Papillion, Neb.; Stephen Dean of O’Fallon, Ill.; and Michael Phillips of Waukee, Iowa.
The group joins three student-athletes – Emily Alitz of Hastings, Minn., Dakota Wheeler of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Marcus Christianson of Pierre – who signed early in 2010-11.
“This year’s class is probably one of the more talented groups that we have brought in,” Mahowald said. “We have several kids coming in that have been multiple-time state champions, and have some big meet experience. We targeted kids that we thought would be able to come here and make an immediate impact, and I think we have done that. We look forward to working with all of our incoming freshmen and helping them reach their maximum potential.”
Women’s recruits
Mariah Anderson (Kearney, Neb.)
Anderson had a successful prep career at Kearney High School. Anderson holds school records in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and is part of the school’s 200 freestyle team which holds the record. She was a four-time state qualifier, placing third in the 50 freestyle in 2007 and fifth in 2008. She was also part of the 200 medley relay which placed fifth in 2008. She was a four-year letterwinner and a two-time team captain. She was also the winner of the two-time Academic All-State award and a member o the All-Academic team.
Cali Bolin (Norfolk, Neb.)
Bolin is a native of Norfolk, Neb., and comes to USD after qualifying four straight years for the state meet at Norfolk High School. She has a career-best time of 5:29 in the 500 freestyle. She was named the Star of the Week Athlete and also named the Most Valuable Athlete in swimming. Bolin competed in the 200 and 500 freestyle as a senior.
Megan Chmielewski (Shakopee, Minn.)
Chmielewski is a two-time all-conference diver from Shakopee High School. She is a three-year letterwinner and was named the team captain during her senior year. Chmielewski’s highest six-dive score is 201.
Stacie Kjelden (Vermillion, S.D.)
Kjelden comes to USD after enjoying success as part of the Vermillion Area Swim Team. Kjelden was third in 1,650 freestyle, fourth in the 500 freestyle, fourth in the 1,000 freestyle, sixth in the 50 freestyle, seventh in the 200 freestyle, seventh in the 100 backstroke and ninth in the 100 freestyle at the 2010 South Dakota State Swimming Championships in March. She was a member of the National Honor Society.
Alexis Klug (Dickinson, N.D.)
Klug had a solid career competing for the Williston High School team. She was a three-time second team all-state selection and was a twotime Western Dakota Association All-Conference selection. She was team captain in 2009 and was a five-year letterwinner. In 2009 she was fourth in the 100 breaststroke and 15th in the 200 IM at the North Dakota State Meet. She has career-best times of 1:09.72 in the 100 breaststroke, 2:20.64 in the 200 IM and 26.12 in the 50 freestyle.
Linay McCrady (Savage, Minn.)
McCrady enjoyed a stellar career at Prior Lake High School, where she was a six-time all-conference honoree. McCrady won the 200 freestyle state championship in 2007, and is part of two relay teams that hold the Prior Lake High School record. McCrady is a multiple participant at the Minnesota State meet, where she recorded several top 16 finishes. She also swam with the South Metro Storm Swim Club.
McKenzie Shroyer (Mitchell, S.D.)
Shroyer swam for Mitchell High School and was a four-year letterwinner. She was a two-time all-star selection and a zone qualifier.
Jasmine Steffes (Omaha, Neb.)
Steffes swam for Omaha Burke High School, where she was a two-time state qualifier in diving. Steffes was a four-year letterwinner overall, lettering twice in diving and twice in swimming. She placed 18th in the 1-meter diving in 2010. She also qualified for the metro meet as a freshman and junior.
Brooke Zhorne (Chanhassen, Minn.)
Zhorne was a solid contributor in the Chaska High School program, where she was a six-year letterwinner. She was a three-time all-conference honorable mention selection and also swam the butterfly on two state-qualifying relay teams. She was also a team captain.
Men’s Recruits
Alex Dayan (Papillion, Neb.)
Dayan is coming off of a decorated career at Papillion-LaVista High School, where he was a two-time state champion and four-time state qualifier. Dayan won the Nebraska State 100 breaststroke title in 2009 and 2010. Dayan set a new school record in the 100 breaststroke with a 57.64 in the preliminaries at state. In 2010, he was also fourth in the state in the 200 freestyle and part of the school’s 200 medley relay that took fourth. In 2009, Dayan was second in the 500 freestyle, and in 2008, he was second in the 500 freestyle and sixth in the 200 freestyle. In 2007, he was seventh in the 500 freestyle as a freshman.
Stephen Dean (O’Fallon, Ill.)
Dean comes to USD from O’Fallon Township High School in O’Fallon, Ill. Dean qualified for the Illinois State Meet during his senior year in the 500 freestyle. Dean was named the team MVP during that season as well. He is the school record holder in the 100 freestyle and three relays. He was voted the O’Fallon Athlete of the Week on Jan. 2010. Dean is also a two-time YMCA national qualifier and was a multiple-time YMCA state qualifier from 1999 to 2009.
Michael Phillips (Waukee, Iowa)
Phillips had a solid career swimming for the Johnston-Waukee program. Phillips took part in the 2010 Iowa High School State Swim Meet and was part of the team’s 200-yard relay which finished ninth. He was fourth on the team in total team points scored. Phillips was also part of the 400-yard freestyle relay which was 22nd. Phillips also was a three-year letterwinner and was a four-year honor roll student. He also qualified for his team’s Honor Team in the 50 freestyle. His best time are as follows: 50 freestyle (23.17); 100 freestyle (49.66); IM (2:08.42).
Early signees:
Emily Alitz (Hastings, Minn.)
Alitz finished 19th at the Minnesota Class AA state meet in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:09.08. She was also part of the 400 freestyle relay team that finished 20th. In 2008 as a junior, Alitz qualified for state in both the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke.
Marcus (Mac) Christianson (Pierre, S.D.)
Christianson is a senior at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, S.D. He had an outstanding all-around meet at the 2010 South Dakota State Championships. He was third in the 100 butterfly, third in the 200 butterfly, third in the 100 freestyle, fourth in the 200 IM, fourth in the 50 freestyle, fifth in the 200 freestyle and seventh in the 100 breaststroke. Christianson was the winner of the coaches choice award and also was a member of the South Dakota All-Star team. He also is a multi-time swimming letterwinner.
Dakota Wheeler (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Wheeler won two 2010 state championships for Oklahoma City Westmoore High School. Wheeler was the 100 butterfly state champion with a time of 51.04 and the 100 breaststroke state champion with a time of 59.50. He is the conference record holder in the 100 butterfly (51.56) and holds school records in the 100 butterfly (50.79) and 100 breaststroke (58.33). He also was an ‘A’ finalist in the 100 breaststroke at the Chesapeake Elite Pro-Am meet. As a sophomore, Wheeler was a conference champion in the 100 breaststroke. He was seventh in the Oklahoma State Championships in the 100 breaststroke and also 10th in the 100 butterfly in 2009.
