TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A total of 11 swimmers signed National Letters of Intent to join The University of Alabama swimming and diving teams head coach Dennis Pursley announced this week.
Laurent Bams, Wyatt Harrison, Daniel Kober, Kyle Maas, Christopher Staka and Zane Waddell signed with the men’s team while Cameron Brown, Line Bruun, Kacey Oberlander, Alexis Preski and Lexi Souther signed with the women.
“We’re excited to have this group join the Alabama swimming and diving family,” UA head coach Dennis Pursley said. “This is a talented group of swimmers who not only have the potential to become great athletes but are also outstanding students who will contribute significantly to the culture of excellence we are building Alabama swimming and diving.”
A finalist at the European Junior Championships in the 100 backstroke, Laurent Bams swims for Jean and Winand Willigers at Eijsden Swim Club. A five-year member of the Netherlands Junior National Team, Bams also finaled in the backstroke events at the 2014 Youth Olympic Festival.
“Alabama has the spirit I am looking for in athletics, academics as well as in life,” Bams said. “I can’t wait to be a part of the dedicated team with its great coaching staff.”
The Eijsden, Netherlands, native also competed at the 2013 European Junior Championships as well as the 2011 European Youth Olympic Festival. A senior at Sint-Maartenscollege High School, he is the son of Lou Bams and Helene Bams-Willigers.
An Illinois native, Wyatt Harrison moved to Alabama prior to his junior year of high school and is currently training with former Crimson Tide All-American Mike Davidson with the Birmingham Swim League and Rebecca Shields at Homewood High School. He previously swam for John Almeida at Redbird Swim Club and Michelle Myer and Ryan Burroughs at University High School in Normal, Ill. An Illinois All-State competitor as a sophomore, he won the Illinois 1,650 freestyle state title in 2014 and the Southeastern Championships 1,650 freestyle in 2015.
“Alabama has a fantastic academic program and Honors College, a top-tier swim team, an incredible coaching staff, a great focus on combining success in the classroom and in the pool, and a fantastic group of teammates,” Harrison said.
An AP Scholar with Distinction, a National Merit Semifinalist and a two-time U.S. Swimming Scholastic All-American, he is a senior at Homewood and is the son of Wade and Melinda Harrison.
The European Junior Champion in the 3-kilometer open water swim in 2014 and 2015, Daniel Kober swims for Hannes Vitense at SSG Saar Max Ritter Swim Club. The 2015 German age group champion in the 800-meter freestyle, he took silver in the 800m freestyle and 400 IM at the 2014 German Championships.
“Alabama is a great place to combine education with swimming,” Kober said. “There are incredible athletic and academic facilities and I have the chance to combine business with engineering through Alabama’s STEM program.”
A native of Elmshorn, Germany, Kober is a senior at Rotenbühl High School and is the son of Johann and Ludmila Kober.
A United States Olympic Trials qualifier, Kyle Maas swims for Dan Kimble at West Ottawa Swim Club and Steve Bowyer and Sam Hoekstra at West Ottawa High School. A four-time high school All-American, Maas earned a bronze medal at the 2015 Michigan State High School Championships in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley.
“I chose Alabama because of the great coaches, swimmers and culture of excellence that will help me achieve my full potential in the pool, the classroom and in life,” Maas said.
A USA Junior National finalist in the 100 backstroke, Maas is a senior at West Ottawa where he also played tennis and baseball. The Holland, Mich., native is the son of Ed and Paula Maas.
A California State Championships finalist in the 100 butterfly as a junior, Christopher Staka swims for Jim Triplett at Cabrillo Threshers and Aptos High School. The 2015 CIF CCS champion in the 100 backstroke, Staka also posted a top-20 finish in the 100 butterfly at the 2015 USA Junior National Championships.
“The swimmers, the coaches and the school itself had me sold almost immediately,” Staka said. “I could not have felt more welcome than I did with the team and the coaches’ philosophies on training and their personalities made me feel confident in their ability to make me into the best swimmer I can possibly be.”
A native of Aptos, Calif., Staka is a senior at Aptos High School and is the son of Charlie and Sandra Staka.
A three-time gold medalist at the 2014 Commonwealth Youth Games as a member of the South African national team, Zane Waddell swims for Simon Gray at SuperSport Seals Bloemfontein. Waddell has set 10 South African age group records during his career and competed in the Region V Youth African Games.
“Alabama has everything I am looking for – great academics, top tier swimming and a great culture,” Waddell said. “I believe it has what it takes to be the best swimming school in the NCAA.”
The Bloemfontein, South Africa, native is a senior at Grey College where he has been named Sportsman of the Year and the school’s top swimmer each of the last four years. He is the son of Albert and Nadine Waddell.
A member of the NCSA Junior National champion 400 freestyle relay, Cameron Brown swims for Mike Deboor as part of the Lakeside Swim Team and Amy Albiero at Christian Academy of Louisville. A Kentucky state record setter as part of the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays, Brown has earned All-Region and All-State honors during her career.
“I am super excited and ready to contribute to a swim program that is on the rise,” Brown said. “I know Alabama will help me to develop as a swimmer, student, and person in order to achieve my goals.”
A U.S. Swimming Scholastic All-American and AP Scholar, the Louisville, Ky., native is a senior at Christian Academy of Louisville where she has earned the Magna Cum Laude Silver Medal. She is the daughter of Ken and Kelly Brown.
A European Championships competitor, Line Bruun swims for Eyleifur Jóhannesson at Aalborg Swim Club. She has also competed for Denmark in the European Junior Championships as well as the Northern Championships.
“I was really impressed with the coaches’ accomplishments and how fast the team had climbed the rankings in a short amount of time,” Bruun said. “I feel Coach Pursley is a really great coach with a lot of experience who could help me move my swimming to the next level. In addition, they have a great university with a lot of great facilities.”
The Aalborg, Denmark, native is a senior at Aalborghus High School where she carries a 3.9 grade point average in her senior year. She is the daughter of Per Bruun and Tove Jørgensen.
A 2012 USA Olympic Trials competitor, Kacey Oberlander swims for Michael Brooks and John Nelson at York YMCA and Richard Howley at Dallastown Area High School. A top-20 finisher in the 200 backstroke at the 2015 USA National Championships, Oberlander has also finaled at YMCA Nationals in the backstroke events.
“As soon as I arrived on campus the coaches and team made me feel like a part of their family,” Oberlander said. “I can’t wait to be part of this determined and growing team.”
The York, Pa., native is a senior at Dallastown Area where she is a member of the honor roll. She is the daughter Scott and Beth Oberlander.
A USA Swimming Olympic Trials qualifier who took part in the 2013 USA Swimming National Select Camp, Alexis Preski swims for Jeff Skeels at Academy Bullets and Christy Helm and Nick Merill at Glenwood High school. A multiple USA Junior National and NCSA Junior National finalist, Preski set the school record in the 200 and 500 freestyles as well as the 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley.
“I was looking for a school with great academics, great swimming and a great campus,” Preski said. “I found all of that and more at The University of Alabama. I did not realize how overwhelming the sense of school spirit could be, but it is incredible both in athletics and in the school as a whole. I truly clicked with all the coaches from the first time we spoke and really believe in their vision of the program.”
The Springfield, Ill., native is a senior at Glenwood, where she is a member of the National Honor Society and a two-year USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. She is the daughter of George and Debbie Preski.
A USA Swimming Championships competitor, Lexi Souther swims for Peter Verhoef at SwimMAC Carolina as well as Mark Chadwick at Parkwood High School. The 2015 North Carolina state 100 backstroke champion, Souther set the Speedo Championship Series and state high school record in the 100 backstroke as a junior.
“As soon as I met the team, I felt a part of the Bama family and I know I will be able to reach my potential under the great coaching staff,” Souther said. “Also, this school will help me to grow as a student and better prepare me for the career I plan to pursue.”
The Waxshaw, N.C., native is a two-time U.S. Swimming Scholastic All-American. A senior at Parkwood, she is the daughter of Randy and Carolyn Souther.
Swimming news courtesy of Alabama Swimming & Diving.