The University of Iowa men’s swimming and diving team has signed six student-athletes — Colter Allen (Zimmerman, Minn.), Chris Dawson (Centennial, Colo.), RJ Hemmingsen (Council Bluffs, Iowa), Matt Mauser (Denver, Colo.), Thomas Rathbun (Sioux Center, Iowa) and Florian Vogel (Bayreuth, Germany) — to National Letters of Intent to join the Hawkeyes in the fall of 2014.
“We are very excited about this talented group both academically and athletically,” said UI head coach Marc Long. “We expect this group to make a significant impact on the team and at the Big Ten and NCAA level.”
Allen is a three-time all-state and all-conference selection from Fridley (Minn.) High School. He earned All-America consideration as both a sophomore and junior and was the Section Swimmer of the Year in 2013. Allen is currently his school record holder in seven events — 200 free, 200 IM 100 fly, 100 back, and as a member of the 200, 400-free relays and 200-medley relay. Nationally, he placed seventh in the 50 fly (LCM) at the Summer NCSA Junior Nationals with a 25.54. His top times include 50.55 (100 fly), 1:42.64 (200 free), 4:39.22 (500 free) and 1:55.54 (200 IM).
Dawson, a freestyler out of Regis (Colo.) Jesuit High School, has earned NISCA All-America honors in three events, while being a three-time all-state selection in the 500-yard free. On the national level, Dawson finished third at the 2012 Senior Western Zones in the 1,500 free and 400-IM and seventh in the 1,000 free. He also competed at the 2012 and 2013 short course Junior Nationals. He has personal-best times of 15:28.92 (1,650 free), 4:27.82 (500 free) and 3:58.74 (400 IM).
Hemmingsen, a multi-event swimmer out of Lewis Central (Iowa) High School, qualified for four events — 50 and 100 free, 100 fly and 100 back — at Junior Nationals. As a prep, he won the state title in the 100-fly as a junior and earned first-team all-state honors in the 50 free. As a sophomore, Hemmingsen was the District Swimmer of the Year after earning first team all-state honors in the 100 fly and second-team honors in the 50 free as a sophomore and freshman. He is the school record holder in three events — 100 fly, 50 free and 100 back. His top times come from the 2013 Minnesota Gran Prix are 20.87 (50 free), 46.57 (100 free), 48.89 (100 fly) and 51.31 (100 back).
Mauser, a diver and prep teammate of Dawson, is a two-time NISCA All-American and a three-time state team member and team most valuable diver at Regis Jesuit (Colo.) High School. He finished as the individual runner-up at the state meet as a sophomore and junior and was conference runner-up all three years. Nationally, Mauser finished second on the 3-meter (432) and fourth on the 1-meter (372.80) at the 2013 AAU Nationals, 12th on the 1-meter (403) and 21st on the 3-meter (408) at the 2013 USA Diving Age Group Nationals, and 14th on the 3-meter at the 2013 Junior West Nationals.
Rathbun, a freestyler out of Holland (Mich.) High School, is an All-America honoree in the 200 and 500 freestyle. He won the 200 (1:39.50) and 500 (4:30.95) freestyle at the state meet, while also swimming on the first-place 200 and 400-freestyle relays. Rathbun earned all-conference honors and was a member of the Michigan “Dream Team.” He also competed at the 2013 SCY Junior National meet going a career-best time in his 200 backstroke in 1:48.95.
Vogel, a freestyler from Bayreuth, Germany, finished first in the 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter freestyle at the Bavarian State Championships, while finishing as the runner-up in the 800-meter free and third in the 400-meter and 1,500-meter free at the conference meet. Vogel’s top short course meters times are: 200 free (1:46.7), 400 free (3:41.9), 800 free (7:41.9), 1,500-free (14:46.3). His times converted to yards are 1:36.30 (200 free), 4:12.74 (500 free), 8:52.57 (1,000 free) and 14:57.82 (1,650 free). With his SCM times from German Nationals he was able to compete at the 2013 European Championships in the 400 and 1,500 SCM events.
The Hawkeyes will return to action Jan. 18, hosting Indiana and Missouri in a three-team dual inside the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Pool beginning at 11 a.m. (CT).
This release was provided to SwimSwam courtesy of Iowa Swimming and Diving.