Hite signs 15 for 2012-13 campaign
December 20, 2011 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Dec. 20, 2011
MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin swimming and diving head coach Whitney Hite has announced the signing of 12 swimmers and three divers to National Letters of Intent. Of the 15, six will be joining the women’s squad and the other nine will be joining the men’s team for the 2012-13 season.
The signing class is highlighted by four swimmers from the state of Wisconsin, including the top men’s recruit in the state, John Bushman.
“One of the things that we wanted to do was to get in-state talent, which I’ve think we’ve done,” Hite said. “We wanted to make Wisconsin a viable option for kids in state. I think our men’s recruiting class is one of the best in the nation.”
-- Swimmers --
Josh Anderson
A native of Austin, Texas, Anderson is a USA Swimming Scholastic All American. He posted the 11th-best time at the 2011 USA Junior Nationals in the 1650 free, clocking in at 15:31.95. Anderson has also claimed personal bests of 4:29.67 in the 500 free and 3:55.42 in the 400 IM.
“Josh is someone that can help us in the distance events. Physically, he’s someone that can come in and explode in our program. He’s a great addition to our program, and he has the potential to be one of our top distance guys.”
John Bushman
Out of Green Bay, Bushman was the highest ranked recruit from Wisconsin and is also the 2011 YMCA National Cahmpion in the 400 IM. He was an Olympic Trial Qualifier in the 200-meter breast with a time of 2:19.37. He also claimed a fourth-place finish at the 2011 YMCA Nationals in the 200 breast. He boasts personal bests of 56.59 in the 100 Breast and 1:51.10 in the 200 IM.
“John is another swimmer that I think can come in and have a huge impact on our team. He’s well rounded and can swim a lot of events. He’s one of the top recruits in Wisconsin and for him to stay in-state is huge for us.”
Austin Byrd
A long time Wisconsin swim camp attendee, Byrd comes to Madison from Chippewa Falls. Byrd is a USA Swimming Scholastic All American and he was the 2011 Wisconsin High School State champion in the 100 back with a time of 50.7. Byrd has also recorded times of 1:49.72 in the 200 back and 1:54.33 in the 200 IM.
“Austin is another local guy, and he’s a very talented backstroker. He’s very intelligent and I think he’ll be able to step in immediately and help us.”
Austin Criss
Hailing from Salem, Va., Criss is an Olympic Trial Qualifier in the 200-meter fly with a time of 2:02.97. He was also a member of the 2011 National Club Swimming Association All-American team that competed in Japan. Criss has claimed top times of 50.84 in the 100 fly, 1:48.80 in the 200 fly and 1:50.14 in the 200 back.
“We’re excited to get someone from the east coast, and Austin is very talented at the fly. His abilities will also help our team get better as a whole.”
Max Grodecki
A Winnetka, Ill., native, Grodecki is an Olympic Trial Qualifier in the 50-meter free (23.41). He claimed seventh place at the 2011 USA Junior Nationals in the 100-meter free with a time of 50.90. Grodecki was also a member of the 2011 NCSA All-American team that competed in Japan. He won the 2011 Illinois High School State championship in the 100 free (45.17).
“Max is our main guy for sprinters in this year’s recruiting class. We’re really looking forward to having him on our relays and the impact that he’ll have on our program.”
Tyler Hicks
Hicks enters UW from Fort Collins, Colo. Swimming with the Fort Collins Area Swim Team, he has posted personal bests of 21.76 in the 50 free, 46.68 in the 100 free and 1:41.58 in the 200 free.
“Tyler is a tall kid at 6’7. He’s going to be really great, and we’re expecting big things from him. I think he’s going to surprise some people with his improvements.”
Ryan O’Donnell
The younger brother of current men’s swimmer Brandon O’Donnell, Ryan is a two-sport athlete from McFarland. A USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, he was the 2010 and 2011 Wisconsin High School State champion in both the 100 fly and 200 IM. His best times in the 100 fly (49.52) and 200 IM (1:49.01) are the current state Div. II records.
“Ryan is well rounded and will have an impact at the IM, back and fly. He’s another local kid, and we’re excited that he gets to join his older brother, Brandon, here at Wisconsin.”
Kourtney Fosse
Fosse comes to Wisconsin out of Boulder, Colo. Swimming with Rallysport Aquatic Club, she has recorded personal-best times of 1:03.72 in the 100 breast and 2:18.42 in the 200 breast.
“Kourtney adds some great depth for us at the breaststroke. I believe she is also someone that can come in and make an impact right away.”
Jenny Holtzen
Ranked as the top recruit out of Arkansas, Holtzen will be joining the Badgers from Fayetteville, Ark. Also considered one of the top distance freestylers in the class of 2012, she is the 2011 Arkansas High School state champion and state record holder in both the 500 free and 200 IM. Her times of 9:47.89 in the 100 free and 16:25.77 in the 1650 free were good for ninth and 10th-place finishes at the 2011 NCSA Junior Nationals, respectively.
“With one senior distance swimmer graduating, Jenny will step right in and compete. She’ll be relied on to step in and be one of our top distance swimmers. She comes from a great program, and we’re really excited to have someone with her abilities.”
Colleen Konetzke
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Konetzke is another USA Swimming Scholastic All American. At the 2011 USA Junior Nationals, she came in ninth in the 500 free with a time of 4:48.14 and claimed a fifth-place finish in the 1650 free with a time of 16:36.92.
“Colleen will be able to come in and make an impact right away for us in distance events. Along with Holtzen, she will help us make the distance to mid-distance events strengths of our team. She’s improving all the time and we’re excited to bring her on board.”
Anna Meinholz
The Meinholz name is becoming synonymous with Wisconsin swimming as Anna Meinholz is the fourth of her family to swim for the Badgers. Younger sister of current women’s swimmer Elle Meinholz, both her parents also swam for UW. Anna is the 2011 Wisconsin High School state champion in the 100 breast and her personal best of 1:02.94 in the event is also the state high school record. An Olympic Trial Qualifier, she also claimed seventh at the USA Junior Nationals in the 100-meter breast (1:11.22) and eighth in the 200-meter breast (2:34.97).
“Anna has an older sister on the team and both her parents swam here, so it’s nice to have her stay in the family so to speak. I think she has a ton of potential as far as breaststroke and IM. She definitely fills a need area for us.”
Whitney Weisz
A two-sport athlete in basketball and swimming, Weisz hails from Little Falls, Minn. She is the 2011 Minnesota High School state champion in the 100 free after posting a time of 50.57. She also claims a personal-best 23.23 in the 50 free.
“Whitney has really made a giant improvement just from last year. She has a tremendous amount of potential, and she’ll be able to do some great things for us. Without a doubt, she’s going to be a great swimmer.”
-- Divers --
Logan Knauss
From Audubon, Pa., Knauss was a finalist in every appearance at the Pennsylvania State Championships. At the AAU National championships, he placed second on the three-meter board and third on the one-meter. He also qualified as an AAU All American Athlete in 2010. Knauss attended the junior age group national championships for USA Diving and finished 13th on the one meter and 15th on the three-meter.
“We have been watching Logan develop as a diver for many years and are excited to have him on our team next fall,” diving coach Anton Slobounov commented. “We are confident he will take his diving to the next level at Wisconsin. ”
Hunter Atha
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Atha is a current member of the Ohio State National Dive Team and was a USA Junior National three-meter synchronized diving finalist as well as a conference diving champion in 2010 and 2011. He earned Ohio All-State Diver honorable mention honors. Atha currently holds six high school diving records and has received scholar-athlete recognition.
“Hunter brings a great personality and talent to Madison. We are looking forward to having his enthusiasm and work ethic on our swimming and diving team.”
Kari Campbell
Campbell comes to Wisconsin from Laramie, Wyo., and has achieved all-state and all-conference the past four years.. Campbell also won the Wyoming state high school championship here sophomore and junior year and was runner-up her freshman and senior year. She was a high school diving team captain her junior and senior year
“Kari Campbell is a great addition to our diving team. She has the skills and natural ability to make a big impact in the Big Ten Conference. We are excited to see her progression as a diver in the upcoming seasons.”
2011 YMCA National Champion in the 400 IM
