LARAMIE, Wyo. (Feb. 10, 2021) — Wyoming head swimming and diving coach Dave Denniston announced the addition of 17 student-athletes to attend the University of Wyoming beginning in the fall of 2021, while one, John Wargin has already enrolled with the program.
 
"I could list off all the accolades our incoming freshmen class has before they step foot in Laramie and it would be extensive," Denniston said." "Assistant coach, Kristin Walker, did a brilliant job recruiting the young women who will be part of our team. The athletes deserve the credit, both future and current, for jumping on zoom meetings and virtually building the relationships necessary to trust in our team, coaches and program. There is no question our signing class is a highlight of 2020 for this team and we can't wait to welcome them to Laramie next fall. 
On the men's side, we were really replacing a small class, but trying to find someone to swim breaststroke like Mitch Hovis is no easy feat. Additionally, Austin Crump has been such a reliable freestyler and relay member, I wanted to make sure we had the swimmers in place to take our team back to a conference championship. Jim Bossert took the reins this year and brought in some big guys with a lot of talent. Quinn Teller, Sam Stuckey and Cooper Willetts are hungry young leaders that are ready to break out at the college level."

Here are the additions:
 
Emily Burchett, Round Rock, Texas (Cedar Ridge HS):  A four-time letterwinner in swimming while attending Cedar Ridge High School. She is a three-time Regional and District qualifier and finalist.  In 2019, she was selected Honorable Mention All-State after a 15^th place finish in the 50 freestyle at the 6A Texas State meet. Burchett is a school record holder in the 100 butterfly, 500 freestyle and the 200 and 400 free relays, while being named the team MVP three times. She swims for the Western Hills Athletic Club and was named a team captain this season. An excellent student, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and an Academic All-State honoree. Burchett is the daughter of Mike and Kim. She has two siblings, Katie and Tyler.
 
Kayla Cunningham,, Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton HS):  A four-time letterwinner in swimming while attending Hamilton High School. This past season, she set the high school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.87, while placing third at the state championship meet. During her junior campaign, Cunningham was selected Honorable Mention All-Region and All-CUSD plus earned the Most Valuable award. Her sophomore year was selected Second Team All-Region and All-CUSD. An excellent student, she was a two-time 4.0 Award honoree. Cunningham is the daughter of Brendan and Kelly. She has two siblings, Kerry and Kennedy. 
 
Samantha Diaz, Birmingham, Mich.  (Mercy HS):  A two-time varsity letterwinner while attending Mercy High School. She was a team-captain and All-State selection in 2019. She was a member of the team that took home two County Championships and won the MHSSA DI title. Diaz was a 2020 NICSA qualifier, while she was the 50 free English Champion and placed in the Top Eight in the 100 butterfly during the 2017 campaign. She was coached by Mike Venas. Diaz is the daughter of Brian and Holly Diaz. Has one sibling.  
 
Hannah Giles, Oswego, Ill. (Oswego HS):  A four-time varsity letterwinnner while attending Oswegeo High School. An All-Conference performer in the 100 butterfly, while recording a Top Ten finish at Sectionals. She was a member of the team that placed second at the state meet in 2017 and third in 2019. She has twice participated at the Speedo Sectionals in two events. She was coached by Derly Leubler. An excellent student, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Math and Science National Honor Society and the Honor Roll. Giles is the daughter of Tony and Kathleen Giles. She has three siblings, Emily, who is currently a member of the Cowgirl squad, Luke and Olivia.
 
Caitlyn Groff, Murphy, Texas (Shelton School):  A two-time State Champion and First Team All-State in the 500 freestyle, while being named Honorable Mention All-State twice in the 100 breaststroke. Groff is a First Team All-Region selection six times (200 free and medley relay, 500 free and 100 breaststroke), along with earning Second Team honors twice. She qualified for Sectionals in seven events. She participated at the Summer and Winter Junior Nationals in a combined four events. An excellent student, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Honor Roll and Academic All-State. She is the daughter of Greg and Cathy Groff. Has two siblings, Joshua and Emily.
 
Gabriella Haigler, Casper, Wyo. (Natrona County HS):  A three-time All-State and four-time All-Conference selection while attending Natrona County High School. She won the 1-meter State and Conference Championship three years in a row. In 2020, she set personal and school records in both six dives and 11 dives. During her freshman campaign Haigler placed third in the conference and fifth at state. She was coached by Spencer Mosley. An excellent student, she is a member of the honor roll and earned the Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award. She is the daughter of Fred and Dusty Haigler. Has two siblings, Preston, Ilyanna  
 
Rachael Horne, Marietta, Ga.(Johnson Ferry Christian Academy):  A four-time varsity letterwinner while attending Johnson Ferry Christian Academy. She was selected a team captain and is a two-time Conference Champion. Horne was a three-time MVP and is a school record holder. She recorded a qualifying time for the Winter Junior Nationals. An excellent student, she is a member of the National Honor Society and the Honor Roll, plus was a Scholastic All-American.  Horne is the daughter of Wesley and Caroline. She has three siblings, Joshua, Rebecca and Daniel. Both her mother and brother, Joshua, swam for the University of Georgia.
 
Maisyn Klimczak, Westville, Indiana (Chesterton HS):  A three-time letterwinner in swimming while attending Chesterton High School. She is a three-time All-Conference and Sectional Champion in the 200 and 500 freestyle. Klimzak earned a State Medal plus All-American honors as a freshman in two events. She has been a member of a team that won the Duneland Athletic Conference and Sectional Championship the past three years. She was coached by Mathew Pavlovich. An excellent student, she is a member of the National Honor Society and Honor Roll. Klimczak is the daughter of Stanley and Gretchen and has four siblings, Victoria, Stanely, Cameron and Jaclyn.
 
Matt Lang, Cherry Hill, NJ (Cherry Hill HS):  A three-time varsity letterwinnner while attending Cherry Hill High School. He is a three time All-Olympic Conference selection along with an All-South Jersey. Lang specialized in the 50 and 100 freestyle, while being coached by Christie Robertson. An excellent student, he has been a member of the honor roll. He is the son of Steven and Melissa Lang and has one sister, Elizabeth.
 
Katelyn McPherson, Laramie, Wyo. (Laramie HS):  A four-time letterwinner while swimming under head coach Tom Hudson at Laramie High School. She is an All-Conference and All-State selection in multiple events. Recently, she claimed individual titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle along with being on the 200 free and medley relay teams that took home titles at the Wyoming State Championship Meet. Her time of 23.42 in the 50 free was good enough to meet the standard for All-American Consideration with NISCA. For her effort, she was voted the Athlete of the Meet and the Athlete of the Year by the coaches. With 370.5 total team points, she was a member of the team that clinched its fourth straight 4A Wyoming High School State Title. McPherson has also been a part of four straight conference and city championships. An excellent student, she has been involved in several scholastic activities. McPherson is the daughter of John and Treasure. She has a younger sister, Olivia.
 
Sydney Metzler, Arvada, Colo. (Ralston Valley HS):  A three-time letterwinner while attending Ralston Valley High School. She is a three-time First Team All-Conference selection in the 100 backstroke and twice been named in the 100 butterfly. A team captain selection, she holds the club and school record in the 100 backstroke. Last year, she competed at the TYR Pro Swim Series and competed in three events, placing in the Top 20 respectively. As a sophomore, Metzler qualified for the Futures meet and finished first in the 400 medley relay and took home a seventh place in the 200 backstroke and the eighth spot in the 200 butterfly. Metzler is the daughter of Justin and Krista Metzler. She has one sibling, Austin.
 
Jack O'Neil Colorado Springs, Colo. (The Village High School):  He competed with Pikes Peak Athletics swim club as his high school didn't field a team. O'Neil was a two-time TEAM USA Paralympic emerging team qualifier and was going to compete in the USA Paralympic Swim Trials for the Tokyo Olympics. Last spring, he was a member of the USA Triathlon Junior National Para-Development Team, while qualifying for the Colorado State swim meet. In 2019, he placed second in the 400 freestyle and 100 backstroke at the USA Paralympic swimming nationals and also finished second in the USA Triathlon ParaNationals. An excellent student, he is a member of the National Honor Society, Honor Roll and a District Student Body Executive Board Member and a School Body Ambassador. O'Neil is the son of Jon and Heidi and has two siblings, Max and Mia.   
 
 Gavin Smith, Cape Town, South Africa (Rondebosch Boys High):  A four-time National Swimming Champion while attending Rondebosch Boys High School. A first team captain, he won the School Distinction Award for Swimming. An excellent student, Smith was a member of the representative council of Learners, head of the Discipline portfolio, second hand shop and supporter's club. He was also the editor of the school newspaper. He is the son of Geoffery and Barbara Smith.
 
Sam Stuckey, Tucson, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic HS):  A four-time letterwinnner while attending Salpointe Catholic High School. During his junior campaign, he was named the Swimmer of the Year and has helped his team to back to back Division II second place finishes at the state meet. Stuckey was a member of the 4x100 men's relay that earned All-American status. He also holds the school record in the 100 backstroke, 200 IM and 200 Medley Relay. He qualified for the 2020 Winter Junior Nationals in the 100 backstroke and finished with a time of 49.7. He has been a member of the Honor Roll. Stuckey is the son of John and Laurie Stuckey.  
 
Lauren Swartz, Chicago, Ill. (St. Charles East HS):  A four-time varsity and two-time All-State letterwinner while attending St. Charles East High School. During her career, she has been selected Dukane All-Conference and was a swimming state qualifier three times. In 2019-20, Swartz was IHSA All-State and an NISCA All-America honoree. Swartz is part of the 200 free relay team that holds the school record. Besides swimming, she also lettered in track and field where she was two-time All-Conference and a state qualifier. An excellent student, she is a member of the National Honor Society, a three-time Academic All-Conference selection in swimming and twice in track and field. Swartz is the daughter of Adam and Stacey. Has one sibling, Brandon.  
 
Quinn Teller, Tucson, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic HS):  A two-time letterwinner while attending Salpointe Catholic High School.  He has helped his team to back to back Division II State Runner-Up finishes. Teller was a member of the 4x100 freestyle relay team that earned All-American honors and holds the school record. During his junior year, he finished in the runner-up spot in the 100 free and a third place spot in the 50 free. The previous year, he was the state champion in the 50 free and was third in the 100 free. He also won the Golden Goggles Award. He was coached by Matt Hough. Teller is the son of Matthew and Stefanie. He has one sibling, Benjamin.
 
Cooper Willetts, Kingwood, Texas (Homeschooled):  A two-time letterwinner while competing with the Homeschool Christian Youth Swimming Association. During his junior campaign, he was a First Team All-State selection in the 100 breaststroke, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams, while he was Second Team in the 200 IM and the 500 freestyle. The team would take home the Houston Area Private/Parochial Schools City Championship. In 2018-19, Willetts was Second Team All-State in the 100 breaststroke and Honorable Mention in the 200 IM. He is a two-time Texas Sectionals Finalist and Winter Junior Qualifier. In 2019, Willetts was a Summer Junior National and USA Winter National Qualifier. He had been a member of the USA Deaf Swimming National Team and was a Championship A Finalist in four events. Willetts is the son of Jeremy and Shelley. He has one sibling, Harper Camille.  
 
John Wargin, Chanhassen, Minn. (Minnetonka HS/LaSalle):   A four-time letterwinner in swimming while attending Minnetonka High School. He was a two-time individual champion in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM at the MSHSL Boys 2AA Sectional Championship along with placing as a finalist twice. At the MSHSCA Boys A True Team State Championship in 2019, he was an individual champion in the 100 breaststroke and finished sixth in the 500 free. Wargin was a four-time finalist at the MSHSL Boys Class AA Championship in two events. In 2019, he posted a top five finish in the 400 IM at the Minnesota Swimming Senior Long Course, while finishing in the top eight in the 100 breaststroke, 100 IM and 200 breaststroke at the Minnesota Swimming Senior Championships in 2018.