USAFA, Colo. – Head women’s swimming coach Colleen Murphy and head diving coach Stan Curnow announced the addition of 13 swimmers and four divers as part of the class of 2023.The 17-member freshman class has already arrived at the Academy to begin inprocessing.
“We are very excited for the arrival of the class of 2023,” Murphy exclaimed. “This class is extremely versatile and gives us depth in every area across the board. They are all committed to serving in the Air Force and helping out team climb in the Mountain West and the NCAA.”
“These young women have a lot of national level experience,” Murphy continued. “We are very excited to watch their continued development at USAFA as they make an immediate impact on our team.”
The class of ’23 hails from 11 different states, including four from Colorado. Get to know each new member of the team below:
Gabby Auerbach | Kennesaw, Ga. | Kennesaw Mountain High School | Stingrays
Events: Distance Free
Auerbach was a decorated swimmer at Kennesaw Mountain High School, as she was named all-state her senior year while also being named the team’s MVP after scoring the second-most points in the 20 year history of the team. She also excelled for her club, the Stingrays, as she won their 2019 Award of Excellence. In 2018, she became the first woman to win the SC Beaufort 5K river swim in the 12 year history of the event. In school, Auerbach was named to the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association of America Academic All-America Team, while also serving on the National Society of High School Scholars. Her brother, Marine Staff Sergeant Isaiah Ramirez, served two tours in Iraq.
Mason Brown | Charlotte, N.C. | Myers Park High School
Events: Breast/Sprint Free
Brown was all-state in North Carolina in the 100 breaststroke, while also achieving a USA Futures Cut in the event. Nationally, she was also a USA Sectional Qualifier. Besides swimming, Brown was a cross country and track runner at Myers Park High School. Academically, she was a member of the National Honor Society, and won the AP Scholar Award. She also placed in Science Olympiad States in Thermodynamics and Optics 2018, and was a Science Olympiad State Finalist in Chemistry and Thermodynamics 2019. Brown is an identical twin, and some of her hobbies include playing guitar and rock climbing.
Shea Burcham | San Antonio, Texas | Ronald Reagan High School | Alamo Area Aquatics
Events: Back/Free
Burcham was a four-time state finalist for Ronald Regan High School in Texas, where she served as a team captain. She was named the team’s most outstanding athlete, and is a school record holder in numerous events. She also succeeded nationally, as she was a USA Junior National Qualifier. Burcham graduated Summa Cum Laude and was in the top five percent of her class. She was in both the National Honor Society, as well as Mu Alpha Theta, a mathematics honor society. Her stepmom is currently a Major in the Army, while her father is a retired member of the Army.
Katharine Carr | Naples, Fla. | Community School of Naples | Fort Lauderdale Diving Team
Events: Diving
Carr was a two time state finalist in the 1-meter dive, placing in the top 15 both times. She captured a Florida Class 1A District 9 Championship in 2016 and 2017 as well. In school, Carr was in the National English Honor Society, National Chinese Honor Society, where she served as a secretary, and the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society. At the Community School of Naples, she was named to both the Honor Roll and High Honor Roll. Before starting diving, she was a gymnast for 11 years.
Ashlyn Foster | Monument, Colo. | Palmer Ridge High School
Events: Diving
Foster is the first of four local products to join the Falcons this upcoming season. She is a three-time CHSAA 5A State finalist, placing ninth as a junior and sixth as a senior at the state championships. This past season, Foster won every dive meet dual for Lewis-Palmer and was named Pikes Peak Area Conference Diver of the Year. Currently, Foster holds the third-highest 6-dive meet score (268.95) and the fourth-highest 11-dive meet score (488.10) in Lewis-Palmer’s 102-year high school history. Foster is an AAU National qualifier on 1M, 3M, and platform, and is a multi-year national place winner in USA trampoline and tumbling. She was also a four-time athletic academic all-state honoree.
Scarlet Friend | Indianapolis, Ind. | Franklin Community High School
Events: Back and Free
Friend was named her team’s MVP after becoming an Indiana State High School Finalist. She was also a member of the Junior National Team. She graduated Franklin Community High School with Summa Cum Laude honors, and was also named a top scholar. Friend was a member of the National Honor Society, and was a National Qualifier in the Business Professionals of America. Finally, Friend is also bilingual in Spanish.
Keely Hemminger | Waterford, Va. | Woodgrove High School
Events: Mid/Distance Free
Hemminger joins the Falcons as a transfer from Rhode Island. Last year as a freshman for the Rams, she had 26 top-five finishes in freestyle events, including five first place. In high school, she was a VA 4A All-State Athlete from 2015-18, and won the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events at the 2015 VA 4A State Championship. Hemminger earned Potomac Valley Scholar Athlete recognition from 2015-18, while also winning the 2015 Gauss Award for Math. She was a member of the National Honor Society, German National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society, while also participating in the German Club and the Medical Explorers Club. Her Grandfather did Air Force ROTC while at Penn State, while her sister did Air Force ROTC at the University of Portland.
Gina Jenkins | Aurora, Ill. | West Aurora High School | Academy Bullets Swim Club
Events: Distance Free/Fly
Jenkins was a four-time team captain, four-time all-conference award winner, and four-time academic all-conference honoree. She was also named her team’s MVP four times. Nationally, she was a USA Sectionals qualifier. She was awarded the Seal of the State of Illinois of Biliteracy in Spanish, while also earning Mayoral Commendation in 2018 for the Phenomenal Woman Achievement Award. At West Aurora, Jenkins earned the School District #129’s Excellence Award of Exceptional Student-Athlete, while also graduating Magna Cum Laude. She was also in the JROTC with an Air Force emphasis. Her Grandfather was a Captain in the Army during WWII, while her Uncle was a MSgt in the Air Force.
Greer Johnson | Little Rock, Ark. | Little Rock Central High | Arkansas Dolphins
Events: Distance Free
Johnson was the Little Rock School District’s Female Swimmer of the Year for 2017-18, while earning all-state honors. Nationally, she was a USA Sectionals Finalist, and a USA Futures Qualifier. She graduated Cum Laude from Little Rock Central, while being named to the Superintendents Honor Roll. Johnson was also an active member of the National Honor Society. She had a Grandfather who was in the Navy, and another Grandfather in the National Guard. She also had her Great Grandfathers serve, one in the Army and one in the Air Force.
Anna Kemper | Monument, Colo. | Classical Academy | Colorado Springers
Events: Diving
Kemper is also a local product from just up the road in Monument, competing for Lewis-Palmer High School. She earned first team all-state honors in 2018 while helping her team to a conference championship. She was named the team’s MVP the year prior after being named first team all-conference and second team all-state. She was also a four year letterwinner in track, competing in high jump, long jump, and triple jump. She also has six years of experience in gymnastics.
Luci Lozano | Sarasota, Fla. | Suncoast Polytechnical High School | Sarasota YMCA Sharks
Events: Fly/IM
Lozano was a four time FHSAA finalist, and earned All-American Consideration in the 400 Free Relay. She was also a four time YMCA Nationals finalist, as well as a USA Futures qualifier. At Suncoast Polytechnical, Lozano was a member of the National Honor Society, earned the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, was in the Practical Nursing Program, and was a four time Scholar Athlete. She also has a highly diverse background, as she is part Chinese, Japanese, Peruvian, and Italian.
Sefilina Maile | Albuquerque, N.M. | Volcano Vista High School | Lobo Aquatic Club
Events: Free/Back
Maile was both a high school state champion, as well as a high school All-American. She parlayed that into national success, as she was a USA Sectionals finalist, a USA Junior National Qualifier, as well as a USA National Qualifier. She graduated in the top five percent of her class and was named a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. When she starts at the Academy, she will be the first person in her family to serve in the military.
Gabby Peltier | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Rampart High School | Colorado Springers
Events: Diving
Peltier is the third local product, attending Rampart High School. She is a three time all-state honoree, and helped her high school team to a State Championship in 2019, the first in program history. At the championship meet, she placed sixth. Prior to State Championships, Peltier earned Colorado Springs Metro League outstanding diver honors after taking second place with a score of 494, breaking the Fountain-Fort Carson pool record.
Alex Schwier | Broomfield, Colo. | Fairview High School | Jeffco Hurricanes
Events: IM/Breast
Schwier is the final Colorado local to join the Falcons. She was a Colorado Swimming All-State Team Member, as well as a Junior National Qualifier. In the classroom, Schwier was an AP Scholar, a National Spanish Exam Honorable Mention, a Colorado State Seal of Biliteracy Recipient, all while maintaining a weighted GPA of 4.7. Because of this, she earned USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors. Swimming is in Schwier’s blood, as she has been doing it since she was six months old. Schwier is active in the community, volunteering at Avista Hospital in the New Life Center. She is also a big traveler, as she has been to more countries than States.
Katarina Svetz | Winter Park, Fla. | Lake Highland Prep | Highlander Aquatic Club
Events- Back and Free
Svetz is the third Floridian in the class of 2023. She served as a team captain for Lake Highland Prep. In the pool, Svetz was a Florida High School State finalist. Nationally, she was a USA Sectional finalist, a USA futures qualifier, and an NCSA Junior national qualifier, all while earning All-American status. In the classroom, she was named to the high honors roll four times, as well as the President’s list. She was also a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society. Some of her family members who have served in the military include her grandfather, her aunt, three uncles, and one cousin.
Maddie Williams | Keller, Texas | Keller High School | Lakeside Aquatic Club
Events: Free/Fly
Williams is the second Texan in the incoming class. She earned all-state honors all four years of high school, and was also a high school All-American. Nationally she was a finalist at USA Sectionals, and was also a USA Futures qualifier. Academically, Williams graduated within the top 10 of her class. She was a National Merit Commended Scholar, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. She was also a member of Spanish Club all four years of high school and was also a volunteer at the Humane Society. Williams’ father and grandfather both served in the Marine Corps, while her other grandfather was a pilot in the Air Force.
Kimmy Woolfenden | Mission Viejo, Calif. | Santa Margarita Catholic High School | SoCal Aquatics
Events: Breast
Woolfenden was both a CIF and California State finalist. She set her school’s record in the 100 breaststroke as well. Nationally, Woolfenden was a NISCA swimming All-American, as well as a Junior National qualifier. She also earned Academic All-American honors from the NISCA after maintaining above a 3.8 GPA throughout high school. This led to USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors. Outside of academics and athletics, Woolfenden participated in Civil Air Patrol while also volunteering at the OC Ronald McDonald House.