Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Javon Harris
CSU swimming and diving announces additions for 2018-19 season
11/20/2017 3:16:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Five swimmers, one diver to join Rams next year
by Quinn L. Baur
Athletics Communications
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State Rams swimming and diving team will take on six freshmen for the 2018-2019 season. Â
Head Coach Christopher Woodard and the rest of the CSU Rams' coaching staff is optimistic about what these five swimmers and one diver will do for the team, both in the pool and in the classroom.
Kristina Friedrichs | Woodstock, Ga. | Sequoyah HS | Chattahoochee Gold
Friedrichs, a Georgia native, swims for the Chattahoochee Gold Club Team and at Sequoyah High School. She primarily swims freestyle and butterfly events, qualifying for Winter Junior Nationals in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 100 butterfly. Captain of her club team, Friedrichs also shines in the classroom. She is a member of National Honor Society and scored in the national top 10% on the National PSAT, making her a Key Scholar.
Â
Woodard on Friedrichs: "We are so excited to have Kristina Friedrichs join the Rams for 2018. She comes from the nationally-recognized Chattahoochee Gold program under the direction of Mark Schilling. The Georgia-native is a great fit, as someone who is not only a consummate teammate, but someone who can help us in a multitude of individual sprint events and relays in the Mountain West. She will most definitely make a name for herself."
Katherine (Katie) Leonard | Boerne, Texas | Boerne-Samuel V. Champion High School | Alamo Area Aquatics DivingÂ
Heavily involved in her Texas hometown's club and school diving teams, Leonard is a three-time Texas 5A State qualifier and finalist. She dives for the Alamo Area Aquatics Diving team and Boerne-Samuel V. Champion High School, where has been captain all four years. She has qualified nationally every year for Amateur Athletic Union Diving since 2014. Leonard is also a member of National Honor Society and expects to graduate in the top 15 percent of her high school class.
Â
Diving coach Chelsea Popplewell on Leonard: "Texas native, Katie Leonard, will certainly help to add some depth to our young group of divers. Coming from a very reputable club team, her national experience will be a big asset as well when it comes to competing in the Mountain West Conference and beyond. Katie is a great, well-rounded, student-athlete that will have an immediate impact both in and out of the pool. I'm so excited she chose to be a Ram and can't wait to start working with her."
Elsa Litteken | Castle Rock, Colo. | Douglas County HS | Highlands Ranch Aquatics
Litteken is an in-state pickup for the Rams. She swims for Highlands Ranch Aquatics and Douglas County High School, specializing in backstroke. She placed first in the 200 backstroke and second in the 100 backstroke at the Mount Hood Aquatics Futures Championship in Oregon in 2015. At Colorado high school girls' State in 2017, Litteken took third place in the 100 backstroke.
Â
Woodard on Litteken: "Elsa Litteken caught our attention several years ago prior to her arrival in Denver, and we know that her perseverance and her spirit will pay dividends for our program. Coach Eric Fehr of Highlands Ranch Aquatics has aided in her development as a national level swimmer and someone who can boost our Backstroke corps depth and top-end talent. She can score immediately at the Mountain West Championships and we are so happy to welcome her to the team."
Kate Meunier | Plainfield, Ill. | Plainfield North | Delta Aquatics
From Plainfield, Illinois, Meunier swims for her club team Delta Aquatics and her high school Plainfield North. She primarily swims breaststroke and individual medley events. She qualified for the Illinois High School Association 2015 state finals in the 200 medley relay, 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke, and 400 freestyle. She is a high achiever out of the water as well, claiming membership in both National Honor Society and French Honor Society.
Â
Woodard on Meunier: "Kate Meunier was an immediate fit with our coaching staff and athletes. Kate has developed into a great Breast and IM athlete with plenty of potential, coming from Delta Aquatics and Coach Deryl Leubner. She has the right attitude and determination to immediately help our lineup in both dual meets and at the Mountain West Championship level."
Abbey Paige Owenby | Lone Tree, Colo. | Valor Christian HS | Denver Swim Academy
Owenby, from Colorado, swims for Denver Swim Academy and Valor Christian High School in her hometown Lone Tree, Colo. She mostly swims freestyle and individual medley events. She holds the Valor Christian records for the 200 freestyle, the 500 freestyle, and the 400 free relay. Â She and her relay-mates were the 2017 Colorado High School Activities Association State champions for the 400 free relay.
Â
Woodard on Owenby: "Abbey Owenby attracted our attention right away. The Denver transplant has made her mark as a tough endurance Free and IM athlete under the guidance of coaches Nick Frasersmith and Lori Stentrom. This Denver Swim Academy product will have a bright future with the Rams, as she will undoubtedly contribute from day one."
Grace Siebmann | Las Vegas, Nev. | Palo Verde HS | Sandpipers of Nevada
A Las Vegas-born swimmer, Siebmann focuses on breaststroke and individual medley events at her club team Sandpipers of Nevada and her Palo Verde High School team. She is a three-time finalist at the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association State Championship for 100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley, and the 200 free relay. Siebmann and her teammates won the 200 free relay at the 2017 NIAA championship.
Â
Woodard on Siebmann: "We are thrilled that Las Vegas native Grace Siebmann decided to join our program. She has made incredible strides as of late and makes the Rams a tougher team in the IM, Breast and Fly events. Coach Ron Aitken of Sandpiper Swim Club has Grace on track to make an impact at the national level. We are so excited that Grace is bringing her grit, attitude and ability to the Rams."
Â
Athletics Communications
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State Rams swimming and diving team will take on six freshmen for the 2018-2019 season. Â
Head Coach Christopher Woodard and the rest of the CSU Rams' coaching staff is optimistic about what these five swimmers and one diver will do for the team, both in the pool and in the classroom.
Kristina Friedrichs | Woodstock, Ga. | Sequoyah HS | Chattahoochee Gold
Friedrichs, a Georgia native, swims for the Chattahoochee Gold Club Team and at Sequoyah High School. She primarily swims freestyle and butterfly events, qualifying for Winter Junior Nationals in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 100 butterfly. Captain of her club team, Friedrichs also shines in the classroom. She is a member of National Honor Society and scored in the national top 10% on the National PSAT, making her a Key Scholar.
Â
Woodard on Friedrichs: "We are so excited to have Kristina Friedrichs join the Rams for 2018. She comes from the nationally-recognized Chattahoochee Gold program under the direction of Mark Schilling. The Georgia-native is a great fit, as someone who is not only a consummate teammate, but someone who can help us in a multitude of individual sprint events and relays in the Mountain West. She will most definitely make a name for herself."
Super pumped to have Kristina Friedrichs joining the program next fall! ??#CSURams pic.twitter.com/MGiJDL7rq1
— CSU Rams Swim & Dive (@CSUSwimDive) November 10, 2017
Katherine (Katie) Leonard | Boerne, Texas | Boerne-Samuel V. Champion High School | Alamo Area Aquatics DivingÂ
Heavily involved in her Texas hometown's club and school diving teams, Leonard is a three-time Texas 5A State qualifier and finalist. She dives for the Alamo Area Aquatics Diving team and Boerne-Samuel V. Champion High School, where has been captain all four years. She has qualified nationally every year for Amateur Athletic Union Diving since 2014. Leonard is also a member of National Honor Society and expects to graduate in the top 15 percent of her high school class.
Â
Diving coach Chelsea Popplewell on Leonard: "Texas native, Katie Leonard, will certainly help to add some depth to our young group of divers. Coming from a very reputable club team, her national experience will be a big asset as well when it comes to competing in the Mountain West Conference and beyond. Katie is a great, well-rounded, student-athlete that will have an immediate impact both in and out of the pool. I'm so excited she chose to be a Ram and can't wait to start working with her."
Excited to have Katie Leonard on the boards for us, starting next year!#CSURams pic.twitter.com/oFx5NqDDne
— CSU Rams Swim & Dive (@CSUSwimDive) November 9, 2017
Elsa Litteken | Castle Rock, Colo. | Douglas County HS | Highlands Ranch Aquatics
Litteken is an in-state pickup for the Rams. She swims for Highlands Ranch Aquatics and Douglas County High School, specializing in backstroke. She placed first in the 200 backstroke and second in the 100 backstroke at the Mount Hood Aquatics Futures Championship in Oregon in 2015. At Colorado high school girls' State in 2017, Litteken took third place in the 100 backstroke.
Â
Woodard on Litteken: "Elsa Litteken caught our attention several years ago prior to her arrival in Denver, and we know that her perseverance and her spirit will pay dividends for our program. Coach Eric Fehr of Highlands Ranch Aquatics has aided in her development as a national level swimmer and someone who can boost our Backstroke corps depth and top-end talent. She can score immediately at the Mountain West Championships and we are so happy to welcome her to the team."
Elsa Litteken - officially a Ram! ??#CSURams pic.twitter.com/mrnHGzAh9L
— CSU Rams Swim & Dive (@CSUSwimDive) November 16, 2017
Kate Meunier | Plainfield, Ill. | Plainfield North | Delta Aquatics
From Plainfield, Illinois, Meunier swims for her club team Delta Aquatics and her high school Plainfield North. She primarily swims breaststroke and individual medley events. She qualified for the Illinois High School Association 2015 state finals in the 200 medley relay, 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke, and 400 freestyle. She is a high achiever out of the water as well, claiming membership in both National Honor Society and French Honor Society.
Â
Woodard on Meunier: "Kate Meunier was an immediate fit with our coaching staff and athletes. Kate has developed into a great Breast and IM athlete with plenty of potential, coming from Delta Aquatics and Coach Deryl Leubner. She has the right attitude and determination to immediately help our lineup in both dual meets and at the Mountain West Championship level."
So pumped to have Kate Meunier joining us here in beautiful Fort Collins next fall!!#CSURams pic.twitter.com/b1ZkJ4z5YB
— CSU Rams Swim & Dive (@CSUSwimDive) November 14, 2017
Abbey Paige Owenby | Lone Tree, Colo. | Valor Christian HS | Denver Swim Academy
Owenby, from Colorado, swims for Denver Swim Academy and Valor Christian High School in her hometown Lone Tree, Colo. She mostly swims freestyle and individual medley events. She holds the Valor Christian records for the 200 freestyle, the 500 freestyle, and the 400 free relay. Â She and her relay-mates were the 2017 Colorado High School Activities Association State champions for the 400 free relay.
Â
Woodard on Owenby: "Abbey Owenby attracted our attention right away. The Denver transplant has made her mark as a tough endurance Free and IM athlete under the guidance of coaches Nick Frasersmith and Lori Stentrom. This Denver Swim Academy product will have a bright future with the Rams, as she will undoubtedly contribute from day one."
Excited to have Abbey Owenby on deck for next year! #CSURams pic.twitter.com/l1AsWQl6Pk
— CSU Rams Swim & Dive (@CSUSwimDive) November 8, 2017
Grace Siebmann | Las Vegas, Nev. | Palo Verde HS | Sandpipers of Nevada
A Las Vegas-born swimmer, Siebmann focuses on breaststroke and individual medley events at her club team Sandpipers of Nevada and her Palo Verde High School team. She is a three-time finalist at the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association State Championship for 100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley, and the 200 free relay. Siebmann and her teammates won the 200 free relay at the 2017 NIAA championship.
Â
Woodard on Siebmann: "We are thrilled that Las Vegas native Grace Siebmann decided to join our program. She has made incredible strides as of late and makes the Rams a tougher team in the IM, Breast and Fly events. Coach Ron Aitken of Sandpiper Swim Club has Grace on track to make an impact at the national level. We are so excited that Grace is bringing her grit, attitude and ability to the Rams."
ANOTHER ONE! Thrilled to add Grace Siebmann to our lineup next season!#CSURams pic.twitter.com/GhybQ2f3NA
— CSU Rams Swim & Dive (@CSUSwimDive) November 14, 2017
Â
CSU Swim & Dive: 2025-26 Preseason Press Conference
Monday, September 29
21-22 Swimming Schedule Video
Monday, August 16
Colorado State Swim & Dive: Erin Popovich Speaks To Team About Confidence
Monday, November 18
Colorado State Swimming: Erin Popovich Visit
Monday, November 18