Huskers Sign Seven in Early-Signing Period

Head Coach Pablo Morales has announced the signing of seven recruits that will join the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska swimming and diving team next season.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The class is the largest Morales has signed in the early recruiting season since he arrived at Nebraska in 2001, and includes athletes from six different states.

 

“We are very happy with the early-season recruiting success, which gives us great momentum for the spring recruiting season,” Morales said. “This class continues our trend of signing quality student-athletes who have high improvement potential.”

 

Morales, along with Head Assistant Coach Doug Humphrey, managed to cover every stroke in this class that includes multiple-time state champions, four high school All-Americans and one Olympic trial qualifier.

 

Kaitlin Arntz of Omaha, Neb. (Millard West) has seen much success at the Nebraska state meet. Arntz, a Junior National Qualifier, claimed her first of three golds at the state meet as a freshman on the 200-yard medley relay team that included current Husker Bailey Ingles and earned Millard West a runner-up team finish. Arntz went on to win individual golds as a sophomore in the 100-yard butterfly and last season as a junior in the 100-yard breaststroke to earn high school All-America honors.

 

Colleen Criss of Omaha, Neb. (Marian) is the second Nebraska native in the class and is the younger sister of current Husker swimmer Michelle Criss. The 2004 high school All-American has collected three gold medals at the Nebraska state meet, most notably anchoring the 200-yard medley team at the 2005 state meet that earned her high school All-America status. She has qualified for the state meet every year and placed as high as third individually each in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard IM to contribute to Marian’s amazing run that has seen the Crusaders rattle off six straight state titles and counting.

 

Hailey Dean of San Diego, Calif. (Christian) will be the eighth California native on the Husker swimming and diving roster since Morales began his career at Nebraska. Dean was a 2003 high school All-American in the 100-yard breaststroke after winning the San Diego region at the high school championship. She followed up the first-place performance with a third-place showing in the same event last year.

 

Mariah Hutchinson of Topeka, Kan. (Topeka) is also a U.S. Junior National Qualifer. Hutchinson guided Topeka High to a historic win over ManhattanHigh School last year in which she won three golds to win the 1-70 league title and stop Manhattan’s 18-year streak.

 

Kelsey Ida of Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Mountain Vista) will be the second Colorado native in Morales’ tenure following current Husker, senior Mackenzie Clark (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Ida was fourth at the state meet last season in the 100-yard backstroke and sixth in the 100-yard butterfly. She earned high school All-America honors both in the pool and scholastically. Ida has also accepted a New Nebraskan Scholarship.

 

Brittany Legal of Bainbridge, Ohio (Hawken) nearly reached the pinnacle of swimming when she qualified for the 2004 Canadian Olympic trials in the 400- and 800-meter freestyle, reaching the finals of the 800. Legal was the runner-up in the 500-yard freestyle at the Florida state meet as a sophomore before moving to Ohio where she placed third in the 500-free while helping Hawken to the state title. She is also a Junior National and U.S. Open Qualifier. Much of her success has come from her trainers that include Bud McAllister, Peter Banks and Jerry Holtrey. Under their instruction, she has swam with Olympic gold medalists Janet Evans, Brooke Bennett and Diana Munz.

 

Sarah Ziegelmann of Fargo, N.D. (Fargo North) is a former North Dakota high school state champion in the 50-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle relay. She has also excelled in the classroom by ranking No. 1 academically in her class which helped her earn a prestigious New Nebraska Scholarship. Last season, she was runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle at the state meet.