Courtesy: Washington State Athletics
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State swimming completed its 2019 signing class with eight additional signees, head coach Matt Leach announced Tuesday. The 12-member class will arrive at WSU this fall and compete in the 2019-20 season.
Riley Fidler swims the butterfly and freestyle at Glacier Peak High School and Stingray Swim Team out of Snohomish, Wash. As a junior, Fidler was part of a 200 medley relay team that placed fourth at the State Championships and recently placed second in the 100 fly and 200 fly at the PN IST Spring Open Meet in May.
“Riley is a shining light from Washington who will be a great help in our fly group,” Leach said. “We look forward to her continued improvement in the pool, weight room but most importantly her help with our growing culture and family. It is going to be a fun process! Go Cougs!”
Erin Harnum is out of Columbine High School in Denver, Colo. and swims for the Foothills Swim Team. Harnum holds the Columbine High School record in the 100 back and two relays. As a member of the Foothills Swim Team, the Denver, Colo. native set the club record in the 100 and 200 back. Harnum earned All-State Qualifier and First-Team All-America all four years of high school. At the 2017 Colorado Swimming Senior Championships, Harnum placed fourth in the 200 IM. Academically, Harnum is a member of the National Honor Society and earned Academic All-America honors.
“Erin Harnum is a great addition to the growing Cougar family,” said Leach. “Erin will strengthen our backstroke group, as she is a strong performer in the 100 and 200 back. She will help add depth to the 200 and 400 IM as well. Erin comes from a great club team and an amazing family. She is a Cougar through-and-through. As soon as she stepped on campus, our program, swimmers, and coaches wanted her to be a part of our family. I am confident Erin knew she would be a Cougar. Welcome to the family Erin, and go Cougs!”
Erin Harvey is out of Bellevue, Wash. where she swam for the Bellevue Club Swim Team and Interlake High School. Last year, Harvey swam at Oregon State as a freshman and posted season-best times in the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free at the Pac-12 Championships. Harvey transferred after OSU ended its swimming program this past spring and she will be a true sophomore next season. For Interlake HS, Harvey was two-year captain and finished second at the 2017 State Championships in the 100 free.
“We are very excited to add Erin to the Cougar family, she is another great in-state swimmer from the Seattle area,” Leach said. “Erin comes to our family from Oregon State University and we are looking forward to adding her to our growing family and using her talent to add to our culture. In the water, Erin adds to our freestyle depth, as she will join our middle distance group. Welcome home Erin! Go Cougs!
Mikaela Kirton is out of Cherry Creek High School and Aquawolves Swim Team in Centennial, Colo. Kirton was a part of two High School All-America times in the 200 free and 400 free relay and was a four-time state qualifier including a three-time State finalist. Kirton was named the CCHS Team MVP as a junior and senior, was a two-time sectionals-finalist and was a four-year honor roll student after posting a 4.0 GPA.
“Mikaela was someone that wanted to be at WSU before the recruiting process started. She was someone that continued to improve thought her senior year which is what we look for,” Leah said. “Mikaela will be someone that we look to continue to develop and she will be adding to our fly group and middle distance group. Go Cougs!”
Kate Laderoute is a backstroker from Oregon City Swim Club in West Linn, Ore. Laderoute placed first in the 100 back at the 2017 Futures competition. As a senior, the West Linn, Ore. native swam a sub-two minute 200 back at the 2018 Speedo Senior Sectionals and also competed in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Winter Junior Nationals. Laderoute placed first in the 200 IM and second in the 100 back at the 2017 OSAA 6A State Championships. Academically, Laderoute is a member of the Spanish Honors Society and earned Academic All-America honors.
“I have been lucky to not only recruit Kate, but her older sister Laura so I knew the family well before we started recruiting Kate,” said Leach. “Kate is an amazing person and teammate; and she will add to our family culture right away. Kate is not only a backstroker, but can compete in the IMs and a lot of different freestyle events. She comes in just off of our 200 backstroke record; so she will be able to add to our top end speed and depth in multiple events. Let’s welcome Kate and the Laderoute family to the Cougars! Go Cougs!”
Sierra Ortiz is a backstroker out of Las Cruces High School in Las Cruces, N.M. who earned five varsity letters after competing in high school events as an eighth-grader. Ortiz was named a team captain her final three seasons at LCHS, set a district record in the 400 free as a sophomore and was part of the state-champion 200 free relay team as a junior. As a senior, Ortiz won the 100 fly at districts, was part of the 200 medley and 200 free relay teams who finished second at state and also placed third at the state championships in the 100 back. In the classroom, Ortiz maintained a 4.0 GPA all four years, was a member of the National Honor Society and was selected as the Las Cruces Mayor’s Top Teen for academic and leadership achievements.
“Sierra is a great person and will add to our distance group along with our backstroke core,” Leach said. “Sierra was great throughout the recruiting process and we look forward to developing her off events as a way to strengthen her primary events. Go Cougs!”
Ku’ulei Patterson is a freestyler out of Kealakena High School and Kona Dolphin Swim Club in Captain Cook, Hawaii. As a senior, Patterson won the Hawaii State Championship in the 100 free and was the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Champion in the 100 breast and 100 free. The three-time team captain was also a two-time Triple Crown 1.2-mile rough water champion and has won numerous ocean races. Patterson was also a two-year member of the National Honor Society and has participated in KHS leadership events.
“Ku’ulei is someone that we look forward to continuing to develop not only in the pool but in the weight room,” said Leach. “She is someone that will add to our culture, as she is able to connect well with people. As a middle distance freestyler, we want to continue to develop her freestyle events but also her secondary events along with her tertiary events. We can see her helping in multiple events down the road and we are very excited to welcome to the family! Go Cougs!
Corinne Pelzer is out of Sioux Falls, S.D. where she swam for the Sioux Falls Swim Team. At the 2019 Speed Sectionals, Pelzer finished second in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free and later won in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 fly, 200 fly and 200 medley at the South Dakota Championships. Pelzer was also named a scholastic All-American.
“Corinne had a very strange road to becoming a Cougar but we are very excited that she is now a Coug. She will bring depth and speed to our sprint group,” Leach said. “Corrine is someone who believes in family, community and doing things the right way and we look forward to adding her talents to our growing culture and look forward to working together. Go Cougs!”
Hilary Petersen has swam the freestyle and butterfly while competing for the Tri-City Channel Cats and Southridge High School in Kennewick, Wash. Petersen is a four-time All-Mid-Columbia Athletic Conference selection including a two-time first-team honoree and two-time Mid-Columbia Conference Swimmer of the Year. Petersen was a four-year member of the KHS honor roll and three-year member of the National Honor Society and has been a huge part of the community, helping with the Buddy Club which promotes friendships and inclusion of students with and without disabilities, and has been a Special Education Life Skills Classroom Assistant and Special Olympics Swim Team Assistant Coach.
“Another local commit! Hilary will be someone that comes in and continues to add value to our family with her commitment to community and academics,” Leach said. “Hilary currently gives back helping the Special Olympic swim team in her community and we are very excited to welcome her to the family, Go Cougs!
Jewel Springer is a backstroker out of King Aquatic Club and Decatur High School in Federal Way, Wash. This past November, Springer was a finalist in the 200 medley at the State Championships and produced a 3.7 GPA at DHS.
“It is great to add local talent from the Seattle area to our family. Jewel is a leader on her club team and we can’t wait to have her continue to develop her leadership skills here as we grow,” Leach said. “Jewel will add depth right away in our 200s of stroke and in the IM events. Go Cougs!”
Michee van Rooyen is a freestyler out of South Africa. In 2014, van Rooyen placed second in the 1500 free at the Dutch Nationals and third in the 800 free at the FINA World Cup. Van Rooyen placed first in the 800 free at the Dutch Nationals in 2015 and 2016. As a freshman, the South Africa native placed first in the 800 free Scottsdale Invite. In 2016, van Rooyen won the 800 free at the KZN short course. As a junior, van Rooyen placed fourth in the 800 free and the 400 free at the Sectionals Portland and SA Short Course, respectively. As a senior, van Rooyen placed first in the 200, 400, and 800 free at the SVB Meisrerscchaft, and sixth in the 400 free at the 2018 SA Short Course. Van Rooyen competed in the 2018 South Africa National Junior Age Group Championships; placing first in the 200 free, second in the 400 free, and seventh in the 100 free. Academically, van Rooyen earned two distinctions in preliminary examinations.
“Michee van Rooyen was our first commitment to our program and staff,” said Leach. “Michee is from a great club team and coach back in South Africa. We couldn’t be happier to welcome her and her family to the Cougar family. She will be an instant contribution in the mid and long-distance freestyles, and has the capability to go down to the 100 free. Michee will be a great addition and teammate as we continue to develop our Cougar family culture. Welcome to the Cougar family Michee! Go Cougs!
Mia Zahab is out of Nepean Kanata in Ottawa, Canada. As a Barracuda, Zahab was a finalist at the Senior Nationals and Junior Championships. The Ottawa, Canada native qualified for the Canadian Swim Time Trials and medaled at the Ontario Provincials in the 200 fly, 400 free, 800 free, 100 fly and 200 IM. Zahab was an Ontario Junior Finalist and IMX Champion. In the 2018 Swim Canada Junior Championships, Zahab placed fourth in the 200 fly and seventh in the 800 free. Academically, Zahab was earned honor roll honors.
“Mia Zahab is one of the most outgoing and happy people you will ever meet, and she will add to our family dynamic,” said Leach. “Mia is a very versatile swimmer that can add depth to our fly group, strengthen our IM group, and can swim a variety of events – including breaststroke and distance freestyles. Her primary events are the 100 and 200 fly and 400 IM. Mia and her family have been great to get to know throughout the recruiting process, and we cannot wait to get her on campus. Welcome to the Cougar family Mia and the Zahab family. Go Cougs!”