KIRKSVILLE – – Truman State University Head Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach Ed Pretre has announced the signing of 11 total student-athletes –five women and six men – to join the Bulldog program beginning in the 2016-2017 season.
The fifth-year head coach has added Kaylee Sisson (Springfield, Mo.), Maggie Hickey (Riverside, Mo), Mikayla Kempf (Webster Groves, Mo), Lauren Massot (St. Louis, Mo.), Caitlyn Palmer (Cape Girardeau, Mo. ) Brenden Harris (Wildwood, Mo.), Justin King (Wildwood, Mo. ), Austin Mayer (St. Louis, Mo.), Matt Jackson (Marion , Iowa), Lliot Gieseke (Hannibal, Mo.) and Riley Olson(Papillion, Neb.) for the upcoming season, which will be the fourth full season under the Great Lakes Valley Conference banner for both programs.
“This is an outstanding incoming recruiting class that has a strong work ethic, high academic standards and will continue to help Truman Swimming reach their team goals,” said Coach Pretre. “On the men’s side, our primary focus was sprint free and fly events, while on the women’s side; we reloaded with sprinting and versatile depth in the fly/IMs and Backstroke events.”
Kaylee Sisson – Springfield, Mo. (Glendale HS) – Freestyle, Backstroke
Top Times: (50 free 23.99) 100 Free (52.89), 200 Free (1:54.42),
Pretre about Sisson: “Kaylee will bring much-needed versatility to our sprint and mid-distance events at Truman. She is an outstanding relay swimmer and a very hard worker both in and out of the pool, and we are looking forward to her helping us reach our team goals.”
Mikayla Kempf – St. Louis, Mo. (Webster Groves High School) – Freestyle, Backstroke
Top Times: 50 free ( 24.81)100 Free (52.4), 200 Free (1:54.43), 500 Free (5:08.24), 100 bk ( 58.7), 200 bk 207.01)
Pretre about Kempf: “Mikayla is one of the most versatile swimmers we have had in a long time. She will help us in all of the freestyle and backstroke events. There is a lot more than there than her times indicate and she will be a big point scorer for us at our GLVC Championships for years to come.”
Lauren Massot – Ballwin, Mo. (Westminster Christian Academy High School) – Backstroke, Butterfly, IM
Top Times: 100 Back (58.50), 200 Back (2:08.6), 100 Fly (1:00:07), 200 IM (2:10.10)
Pretre about Massot: “We are very excited about Lauren becoming a Bulldog! She has the potential to be really great in the backstroke and IM events. Once we speed up her tempo, she is going to take off.”
Maggie Hickey – Kansas City, Mo. (Parkhill South HS) – Butterfly, Sprint Freestyle
Top Times: 50 free (25.5), 100 Fly (57.50), 200 Fly (2:11.9)
Pretre about Hickey: “Maggie gives us depth in the butterfly and sprint events. The coaching staff feels once she adapts to our training at Truman, she will take off to another level of success.”
Caitlyn Palmer – Cape Girardeau, Mo. (Jackson High School HS) – Butterfly, Freestyle and IM
Top Times: 50 Free (24.09), 100 Free (53.01), 100 fly ( 56.8), 200 Fly (2:08.9) 200 IM 211.2
Pretre about Baker: “Caitlyn joins our team as a solid sprinter, IM and Butterfly. It will be great for Caitlyn to be in an environment where she is pushed every day from her teammates. Once she adds a base to her training, we can really see her taking her swimming to another level.”
Brenden Harris – Wildwood, Mo. (Eureka HS) – Backstroke, Individual Medley
Top Times: 100 bk (54.1), 200 bk (1:56.3), 200 IM (1:58.70), 400 IM (4:14.48)
Pretre about Harris: “Brenden has continued to improve in the past few years culminating with a very successful senior high school season. He will definitely help with our backstroke depth. We have seen many smaller improvements in his backstroke and IM and look forward to seeing his growth within his collegiate career.
Justin King – Wildwood, Mo, (Eureka HS) – Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly
Top Times: 200 Free (144.343), 500 Free (443.06), 1000 free ( 9:42.58 )100 fly (51.88), 200 Fly (151.48)
Pretre about King: “Justin had an incredible senior year, and we’re excited for him to bring that momentum into his freshman year at Truman. He already has a list of events to pick from, but I think you’ll see that list grow next year. It will be fun to see where he really excels as the season unfolds. He will definitely help the team as conference rolls around with his versatility of events.”
Austin Mayer – St. Louis, Mo. (Lindbergh HS) – IM, Butterfly, Freestyle
Top Times: 100 Fly (51.57), 200 Fly (152.0.), 200 bk, ( 1:55,25) 200 Free (1:41.69), 500 free (4:37.33), 1000 free (9:45:66.), 200 IM (1:53.55), 400 Im (4:02.81)
Pretre about Mayer: “Austin is probably our most versatile freshman, as he can help us in anything. Having him train with Will Shanel and Andrew Smith should push him under four minutes in the 400 IM. He has a good understanding of what he needs to do to improve, and his drive and determination are going to be a huge part of his success.”
Lliot Gieseke – Hannibal, Mo. (Hannibal HS) – Freestyle
Top Times: 50 Free (21.4), 100 Free (46.5), 200 Free (1:46.38)
Pretre about Gieseke: “Lliot will add depth to our sprint group and will compete for sprint relay spots right away. He is another one that clicked with the team right away, and we are looking forward to watching him grow in and out of the pool.”
Matt Jackson– Marion, Iowa (George Washington HS) – Breast, Butterfly, IM
Top Times: 100 Fly 52.7(47.63), 200 br LC (2:27.75), 200 IM (157.3)
Pretre about Jackson: “Matt gives us a much needed breaststroker for our depth, his versatility we had an outstanding senior year and hasn’t even touched his potential yet. He gives us much needed depth in all of the freestyle events and with his great positive attitude; he will help the men’s team reach another level.”
Riley Olson- Papillion, Neb. (Papillion Lavista HS) Freestyle
Top Times 50 free (22.2), 100 free (48.1) 200 free (144.95), 500 free (4:48.90)
Pretre about Olson: “Riley brings us more depth in the freestyle events and will contribute on relays. We are really looking towards his development in and out of the pool”
The 2016-17 incoming class of Bulldogs will help to replace a strong senior class from a year ago, which included Ashley Shanel, Melanie Wilkes, Shannon Rempe, Kristi Van Oost, Meghan Senne, Alex Morgan, George Dowdy, Patrick Fountain, Connor John, Ben DeVilbliss and Tim Senholtz.
Swimming news courtesy of Truman State Swimming & Diving.