KU swimming and diving team adds six to signing class

By Adam Samson

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Coach Clark Campbell and assistant coach Jen Fox announced a fall signing class of six new swimmers for the 2009-10 swimming and diving team.

The new additions to the KU swimming and diving team are Brooke Brull, Cora Powers, Brittany Rospierski, Alyssa Rudman, Rebecca Swank and Madison Wagner. Out of the six, four are from Kansas and two swim for the local Lawrence Aquahawks club team.

“We lose nine seniors this year, who will be greatly missed, and the countless hours Jen has put into this year’s recruiting effort has really paid off,” Campbell said in a statement last week about this year’s recruiting.

Brull, a senior at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, is being recruited as a freestyle specialist and is a Junior Nationals qualifier.

Campbell said that Brull would come in right away to help the team in sprint and middle-distance freestyle events. As well as helping out individually, Brull will also be an asset in the relays.

Powers, who attends Olathe South High School, swims for the Lawrence Aquahawk club team and will become a breaststroke specialist for the Jayhawks.

In Campbell’s statement, he said Powers had tremendous upside and that she was one of the most athletic swimmers in the midwest. Campbell also sees Powers making significant time drops in college with her athleticism in the pool.

The Jayhawks will be getting a competitor in Rospierski, an Ohio native who attends The Hawken School. Rospierski participated in the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb., last summer and is also an Ohio state champion and record holder in the 100 yard-breaststroke.

Campbell and the staff are excited to bring an Olympic Trials qualifier to the program. Campbell also said in his statement that Rospierski’s competitiveness was going to help her compete for Big 12 and NCAA championships, and that she could be a player at the 2012 Olympic Trials.

Rudman, who is from Baldwin City and home-schooled, is a club teammate of recruit Cora Powers through the Lawrence Aquahawks program. Rudman is being recruited for the backstroke.

The staff is thrilled that Rudman chose to stay close to home and swim for the Jayhawks. Campbell also said that her experience on the Junior National Team would help her in college swimming.

Swank, a senior at Wichita Trinity Academy, swims for the Wichita Swim Club. Also a Junior National Qualifier, Swank is being recruited for her skills in the distance free events.

The Jayhawks will get a fierce competitor in Swank. In his statement, Campbell said that her strong work ethic and desire to be the best was going to make her a fun one to coach and watch succeed in the KU program.

Wagner, a senior at South Fort Myers High School in Florida, is being recruited as a sprint freestyle specialist and is also a NISCA High School All-American.

One of the reasons Campbell likes Wagner is her athletic abilities. Wagner not only swims, but also plays varsity basketball. Campbell said in his statement that Wagner reminded him of former Jayhawk swimmer, Jenny Short.

The team also plans to sign a few more athletes during the spring signing period.

— — Edited by Kelsey Hayes

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