Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Sign Five Swimmers for 2020-21 Season
11/20/2019 9:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – With the start of the signing period, Colorado State women's swimming and diving coach Christopher Woodard has added five swimmers to the roster for the 2020-21 campaign.
The class ranges from the south (Georgia), through the Midwest (Minnesota, Illinois) and back out west (Nevada and Oregon), bringing with them success at the high school and club levels.
"They bring a lot of regional and national experience, that's the big thing," Woodard said. "They all come -- for the most part -- from really big programs, and one, probably on the come-up, so they have excellent coaching. They've done a good amount of work in their backgrounds to build that aerobic base, so they have good, solid fundamentals in their stroke and they all race really well. They have a tendency across the board to perform at the high-level meets."
Woodard stated he and his staff hit the recruiting trail with certain events in mind to replenish or build, but sometimes performers stand out and force them to pursue an athlete.
In this case, the Rams were able to cover all their bases, with a mix of the four strokes, as well as attacking the individual medley races, all while finding highly competitive athletes who attack events.
"When we went out there, we always have a game plan in terms of events we really want to attack, and sometimes that game plan shifts as you start to see kids who have that 'X' factor you're looking for," Woodard said. "These five girls are incredibly talented, but they fit our coaching philosophy, our personality and our team makeup better than anybody else out there.
"They bring a lot of regional and national experience, that's the big thing. They all come, for the most part, from really big programs, and one, probably on the come-up, so they have excellent coaching. They've done a good amount of work in their backgrounds to build that aerobic base, so they have good, solid fundamentals in their stroke and they all race really well. They have a tendency across the board to perform at the high-level meets."
Emma Breslin | Las Vegas, Nev. | Bishop Gorman HS
She has multiple state placings in high school as she was named her squad's most valuable performer after the 2017 and 2018 seasons, her best finish being third in the 100 breaststroke, with a personal-best time of 1:04.69. She also holds PRs of 2:20.19 in the 200 breast and 23.99 in the 50 free. She is an NCSA qualifier for the Sandpipers of Nevada. She is rated as the fourth-best recruit out of her state by CollegeSwimming.com
Why she chose CSU – "The combination of an amazing coaching staff and team, as well as great academics, lead me to choosing CSU. Also, the wide variety of majors and beautiful campus influenced my decision heavily."
Coach Woodard – "Emma comes to us from the Sandpipers of Nevada and the capable coaching of Michael Kinross. Emma impressed us immediately with her strength, competitive nature and affable personality. We enjoy having kids who bring something different to the table, and Emma is no exception—she is a speedster who can sprint freestyle and breaststroke, but just as easily swim 200 breast and IM. She will definitely be an asset for the Rams."
Megan Hager | Sweet Home, Ore. | Sweet Home HS
She joins the Rams as the 100 free state champion from 2017 through 2019, posting a personal record of 51.8 while serving as a team captain for two seasons. She has also won state championships with the Sweet Home Swim Club, qualified for the Oregon Zones team and won regional championships. A multi-sport athlete, Hager is a district champion in the shot put and discus. She has personal-bests of 1:51.4 in the 200 free and 24.00 in the 50 free. CollegeSwimming.com ranked her the eight-best recruit out of her state.
Why she chose CSU – "The coaching staff was super friendly, and the team was awesome."
Coach Woodard – "Megan attracted our attention immediately as she possessed strength in the middle-distance freestyle events. She is the quintessential athlete who loves to compete and stay active. The accolades she has acquired under coach Bruce Davis of Sweet Home Swim Club are no doubt impressive, but her demeanor on her campus visit had our team and staff sold this is someone we want behind the blocks in the clutch."
Anika Johnson | Minneapolis, Minn. | Minneapolis Washburn HS
Johnson comes to the Rams as the Piranhas Swim Club record holder in the 100-, 200-, 500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyles, qualifying for the Futures meet. She is a multi-year state placer for her high school with personal-best of 1:51.25 in the 200 free, 5:02.51 in the 500 and 53.32 in the 100.
Why she chose CSU – "The team and coaching staff were so kind from the moment I stepped on campus. I can't wait to be part of such a wonderful group, and I'm incredibly happy to call this my home for the next four years!"
Coach Woodard – "Anika came to our swim camps in 2018, and we definitely saw someone with the potential to grow and compete at the Division I level. One year later, with new times in hand from her training at the Piranhas Swim Club with coach Lucas Baarlaer, she has capitalized on that potential. Anika will not only be a great addition in the middle-distance freestyle, but she will be a great teammate."
Kendra Preski | Springfield, Ill. | Glenwood HS
Preski has won multiple state titles while competing for Springfield YMCA, as well as placing multiple times in the NCSA Junior Nationals in the longer distance freestyle events. She holds personal records of 10:06.45 in the 1,000 free, 1:51.27 in the 200 free and 2:03.33 in the 200 butterfly.
Why she chose CSU – "I chose CSU because it had the perfect mix of academics and athletics for me. When I visited campus, the coaches and team felt like family!"
Coach Woodard – "Kendra is the youngest of three swimming sisters and she only continues to show improvement in her recent career with SPY Swimming and coach Rob Busby. Kendra is such an easy-going kid, but she is a fierce competitor. We are excited she choose to join the Rams next year, and her versatility in the freestyle, backstroke and butterfly events will be extremely valuable."
Rachel Saxon | Roswell, Ga. | Blessed Trinity Catholic HS
Saxon is a state champion and All-American, placing three times already in the 100 backstroke, winning the title in 2018 after placing third the year prior. She has also placed in the 200 IM twice. Competing for Swim Atlanta, she has posted Junior Nationals and Futures cuts in the 100 back, where she has a personal-record of 55.98. Her best in the 200 back is 2:01.96, and in the 200 IM, 2:07.10.
Why she chose CSU – "Right as I stepped foot on campus, it felt like home. I had never felt so comfortable around girls I had never met or a place I had never been, and I knew I was meant to be in the Rockies. Coach Woody and Coach Lisa Ginder are so kind and genuine people, and they are people who I want to be trained under for the next four years. I am so grateful that this opportunity was given to me, and I cannot wait to officially be a Ram!"
Coach Woodard – "Rachel is a sparkplug who utilizes every inch of her 5-foot-4 frame to get where she wants to go very quickly. She is a well-rounded athlete studying under the tutelage of coach Landon Harris of Swim Atlanta. Rachel will assist our team in continuing a great tradition of backstroke and IM athletes."
The class ranges from the south (Georgia), through the Midwest (Minnesota, Illinois) and back out west (Nevada and Oregon), bringing with them success at the high school and club levels.
"They bring a lot of regional and national experience, that's the big thing," Woodard said. "They all come -- for the most part -- from really big programs, and one, probably on the come-up, so they have excellent coaching. They've done a good amount of work in their backgrounds to build that aerobic base, so they have good, solid fundamentals in their stroke and they all race really well. They have a tendency across the board to perform at the high-level meets."
Woodard stated he and his staff hit the recruiting trail with certain events in mind to replenish or build, but sometimes performers stand out and force them to pursue an athlete.
In this case, the Rams were able to cover all their bases, with a mix of the four strokes, as well as attacking the individual medley races, all while finding highly competitive athletes who attack events.
"When we went out there, we always have a game plan in terms of events we really want to attack, and sometimes that game plan shifts as you start to see kids who have that 'X' factor you're looking for," Woodard said. "These five girls are incredibly talented, but they fit our coaching philosophy, our personality and our team makeup better than anybody else out there.
"They bring a lot of regional and national experience, that's the big thing. They all come, for the most part, from really big programs, and one, probably on the come-up, so they have excellent coaching. They've done a good amount of work in their backgrounds to build that aerobic base, so they have good, solid fundamentals in their stroke and they all race really well. They have a tendency across the board to perform at the high-level meets."
Emma Breslin | Las Vegas, Nev. | Bishop Gorman HS
She has multiple state placings in high school as she was named her squad's most valuable performer after the 2017 and 2018 seasons, her best finish being third in the 100 breaststroke, with a personal-best time of 1:04.69. She also holds PRs of 2:20.19 in the 200 breast and 23.99 in the 50 free. She is an NCSA qualifier for the Sandpipers of Nevada. She is rated as the fourth-best recruit out of her state by CollegeSwimming.com
Why she chose CSU – "The combination of an amazing coaching staff and team, as well as great academics, lead me to choosing CSU. Also, the wide variety of majors and beautiful campus influenced my decision heavily."
Coach Woodard – "Emma comes to us from the Sandpipers of Nevada and the capable coaching of Michael Kinross. Emma impressed us immediately with her strength, competitive nature and affable personality. We enjoy having kids who bring something different to the table, and Emma is no exception—she is a speedster who can sprint freestyle and breaststroke, but just as easily swim 200 breast and IM. She will definitely be an asset for the Rams."
Megan Hager | Sweet Home, Ore. | Sweet Home HS
She joins the Rams as the 100 free state champion from 2017 through 2019, posting a personal record of 51.8 while serving as a team captain for two seasons. She has also won state championships with the Sweet Home Swim Club, qualified for the Oregon Zones team and won regional championships. A multi-sport athlete, Hager is a district champion in the shot put and discus. She has personal-bests of 1:51.4 in the 200 free and 24.00 in the 50 free. CollegeSwimming.com ranked her the eight-best recruit out of her state.
Why she chose CSU – "The coaching staff was super friendly, and the team was awesome."
Coach Woodard – "Megan attracted our attention immediately as she possessed strength in the middle-distance freestyle events. She is the quintessential athlete who loves to compete and stay active. The accolades she has acquired under coach Bruce Davis of Sweet Home Swim Club are no doubt impressive, but her demeanor on her campus visit had our team and staff sold this is someone we want behind the blocks in the clutch."
Anika Johnson | Minneapolis, Minn. | Minneapolis Washburn HS
Johnson comes to the Rams as the Piranhas Swim Club record holder in the 100-, 200-, 500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyles, qualifying for the Futures meet. She is a multi-year state placer for her high school with personal-best of 1:51.25 in the 200 free, 5:02.51 in the 500 and 53.32 in the 100.
Why she chose CSU – "The team and coaching staff were so kind from the moment I stepped on campus. I can't wait to be part of such a wonderful group, and I'm incredibly happy to call this my home for the next four years!"
Coach Woodard – "Anika came to our swim camps in 2018, and we definitely saw someone with the potential to grow and compete at the Division I level. One year later, with new times in hand from her training at the Piranhas Swim Club with coach Lucas Baarlaer, she has capitalized on that potential. Anika will not only be a great addition in the middle-distance freestyle, but she will be a great teammate."
Kendra Preski | Springfield, Ill. | Glenwood HS
Preski has won multiple state titles while competing for Springfield YMCA, as well as placing multiple times in the NCSA Junior Nationals in the longer distance freestyle events. She holds personal records of 10:06.45 in the 1,000 free, 1:51.27 in the 200 free and 2:03.33 in the 200 butterfly.
Why she chose CSU – "I chose CSU because it had the perfect mix of academics and athletics for me. When I visited campus, the coaches and team felt like family!"
Coach Woodard – "Kendra is the youngest of three swimming sisters and she only continues to show improvement in her recent career with SPY Swimming and coach Rob Busby. Kendra is such an easy-going kid, but she is a fierce competitor. We are excited she choose to join the Rams next year, and her versatility in the freestyle, backstroke and butterfly events will be extremely valuable."
Rachel Saxon | Roswell, Ga. | Blessed Trinity Catholic HS
Saxon is a state champion and All-American, placing three times already in the 100 backstroke, winning the title in 2018 after placing third the year prior. She has also placed in the 200 IM twice. Competing for Swim Atlanta, she has posted Junior Nationals and Futures cuts in the 100 back, where she has a personal-record of 55.98. Her best in the 200 back is 2:01.96, and in the 200 IM, 2:07.10.
Why she chose CSU – "Right as I stepped foot on campus, it felt like home. I had never felt so comfortable around girls I had never met or a place I had never been, and I knew I was meant to be in the Rockies. Coach Woody and Coach Lisa Ginder are so kind and genuine people, and they are people who I want to be trained under for the next four years. I am so grateful that this opportunity was given to me, and I cannot wait to officially be a Ram!"
Coach Woodard – "Rachel is a sparkplug who utilizes every inch of her 5-foot-4 frame to get where she wants to go very quickly. She is a well-rounded athlete studying under the tutelage of coach Landon Harris of Swim Atlanta. Rachel will assist our team in continuing a great tradition of backstroke and IM athletes."
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