Courtesy: San Jose State Athletics
SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State women’s swimming and diving welcomes nine newcomers to the program as part of their 2020 signing class, as announced by head coach Sage Hopkins on Tuesday. Freshmen Emma Myburgh, Ally Chislett, Alice Ciobanu, Regan Mathieson, Virginia Russell, Selly Diallo and Kayla Craft-Williams join junior college transfers Ida Due and Izzie Fraire have signed their letters of intent and will join the Spartans this year.
“I am thrilled to announce our nine incoming student-athletes,” Hopkins said. “This is one of our best classes in program history and shows the direction the program is moving in now that we are recruiting out of our fabulous new facility. Coach Whitney (Jurgenson) and I can’t wait to begin working with them this fall!”
Myburgh was the 2019 Gold Medalist at the Canadian Junior National Championship. The product of Victoria, British Columbia, swam for Claremont Secondary School and specializes in the breaststroke and individual medley.
“I can’t wait to swim with San Jose State this year and am so excited to be a part of such an amazing team. Spartan Up!” Myburgh said.
Chislett joins the Spartans from Durban, South Africa, where she swam middle-distance freestyle at Danville Park Girls High School. She was a member of the SA swim squad in 2018 and the KZN swim squad from 2015-19.
“I am beyond excited to further my education and swim division I at San Jose State University!” Chislett said.
Ciobanu swam the distance freestyle at Lincoln High School in Stockton, California. In 2019, she was a Summer Futures finalist in the mile, won bronze in the mile at the USA Swimming Sectional Championships and the silver medal in the 500 free at the CIF San Joaquin Sections. She also excelled in the classroom as a four-year honor roll student and was a member of Commitment to Community all four years of high school.
“I’m so excited I signed with SJSU because of the amazing facilities, coaches and teammates,” Ciobanu said. “I can’t wait to start training and competing with them this year and better my swimming!”
Mathieson was an all-state and all-league performer as well as team captain at Rock Canyon High School in Lone Tree, Colorado. She is middle-distance freestyle specialist and was a three-time academic letter winner and a member of the CHSAA Academic All-State Team.
“I am really excited to be a part of the Spartan culture!” Mathieson said. “There is no place I would rather be next year!”
Russell will be traveling across the country to join the squad all the way from Tallahassee, Florida, where she was a sprint freestyle specialist at Lawton Chiles High School. She was named the team MVP of her high school as a sophomore, junior and senior. She was also a four-year honor roll student.
“I can’t wait to be able to spend the next four years competing for SJSU and to be able to spend the time with such an amazing group of people,” Russell said.
Diallo specialized in the butterfly and sprint freestyle at Pacific Grove High School in Pacific Grove, California, and was a two-time all-state qualifier. She also excelled in the classroom, maintaining a 3.71 GPA.
“I’m so proud and excited to represent SJSU in the pool for the next four years!” Diallo said.
Craft-Williams swam backstroke and sprint freestyle at Castro Valley High School. The Oakland product qualified for the state championship as both a sophomore and junior as well as a junior national qualifier. She broke numerous records at her school and was the winner of the Herculean Award at Castro Valley High for participating in seven different sports in her four years.
“I’m so excited to swim for Sage and the rest of the team,” Craft-Williams said. “Everyone made me feel so welcomed and comfortable, these next four years will be a fun. Spartan Up!”
Originally from Nakskov, Denmark, Due calls Palos Verdes, California, home and joins the Spartans from El Camino Community College. In 2019, she was named the ECC Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year and MVP of the women’s swimming and diving program. She set the school record in the 400 IM, 1,000 free and 1,650 as a distance freestyle/IM specialist. Prior to her time at El Camino, Due swam for Palos Verdes Peninsula High School.
“I am stoked I received the opportunity to sign with San Jose State University to swim and compete!” Due said.
Fraire joins SJSU from Allan Hancock Junior College where she specialized in the breaststroke and individual medley. The Santa Maria, California product was a three-time All-American performer, was twice named the Female Athlete of the Year and won the 200 breaststroke state championship last season. She also placed second in the 200 IM and was fourth in the 100 breaststroke. She was named Co-Swimmer of the Meet at the conference championships.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the San Jose Spartans swim team and can’t wait for the season to start!” Fraire said.