SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State swimming & diving team received four commitments during the NCAA’s April signing period, head coach Dave Collinsannounced Thursday.
Joining the Bears in the fall are divers Brody Arveson, Melissa Maynard and Hannah Swyers and swimmer Emma Metz.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Brody, Melissa, and Hannah,” said Missouri State diving coach Jim Huelskamp. “The level of talent in this class is incredible, and I feel that each of them have a lot of room for further growth in the sport.
“With our new dry-land training facility, we will have the ability to provide new and exciting resources that will have a direct effect on the success of our entire program, but especially the incoming freshman,” said Huelskamp. “Talking to each of them, I can feel the anticipation and excitement in their voices, and as a coach that is a great feeling.”
Brody Arveson • 5-10 • Diving • Westwood, Kan. • Shawnee Mission East High • Jayhawk Diving Club
Arveson dove for coaches Betsy Anderson and Wiley Wright at Shawnee Mission East High School for four years and for Eric Elliott at the Jayhawk Diving Club, the same club that produced Missouri State standout Garrett Nevels. Arveson helped Shawnee Mission East to three Sunflower League championships while being an All-American qualifier in 2012 and 2013.
Arveson achieved his highest finish at the state and conference meets as a junior, placing fifth and third overall, respectively. He comes to MSU as the second-ranked junior in Kansas.
Melissa Maynard • 5-2 • Diving • Republic, Mo. • Republic High
Maynard arrives at MSU after three years of gymnastics and two of diving. She also started for two seasons on the Republic High School soccer team as a defender. A tremendous athlete, Maynard won the state all-around title in gymnastics.
Hannah Swyers • 5-6 • Diving • Chesterfield, Mo. • Parkway Central High • Clayton Diving Alliance
Swyers dove for four years between Saint Joseph Academy as a freshman and sophomore and Parkway Central High School as a junior and senior. Swyers set the Parkway Central school record in an 11-dive meet during her final season, while winning the state championships for coach Jeff Spector’s Colts.
Emma Metz • 5-8 • Free • Springfield, Mo. • Logan-Rogersville High • Springfield Aquatics
Metz comes to Missouri State from Logan-Rogersville High School where she holds all the Wildcats’ school records except for the 50 freestyle. A five-time all-statehonoree, Metz, set the 200- (1:54.31) and 500-yard (5:07.51) free Central Ozark Conference records as a senior. A two-year team captain, Metz also established conference records in the same two events as a freshman and again as a sophomore for coach Wendy Shepard.
“Adding Emma this spring to our incoming freshman class provides us with much needed depth in the middle distance freestyle events, said Collins. “Getting to know Emma and her family has been a pleasure and her future goals are right in line with what I want for the future of our program. I feel Emma’s improvement will take place rapidly once she gets into our environment.”
Arvson, Maynard, Swyers and Metz will combine with Will Brand, Ethan Bresette, Canaan Campbell, Christopher Heye, Hanna Flanagan, Emma Wall, Lauren Williams and Sydney Zupan, who signed National Letters of Intent to compete for the Bears in November.
The addition of Maynard and Metz gives Missouri State its largest contingent of signees from southwest Missouri in Collins’ three-year tenure with four. The tandem of Maynard and Metz join Brand (Springfield) and Wall (Bolivar).
The above is a press release submitted by Missouri Sate. It was changed as follows: we’ve added best times for Metz in her swimming events.