Courtesy: Westmount Sports
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) The Westmont women’s swimming team has been making a splash in its first year as a program. The Warriors have now made a splash in the 2020 recruiting class, as head coach Jill Jones Lin announced the signing of three high school swimmers for next school year.
The three signings are: Bridget Hoth of Kansas City, Missouri; Emma Washam of Pleasanton; and Morgan Shattuck of Mesa, Arizona.
Hoth, who swims for the Tsunami Swim Team of Kansas City, holds the individual Staley High School records in the 50 free and 100 free, while her 200 free and 200 medley relay teams also set school records. Her 200 free relay team placed eight at state during her sophomore year.
As a junior, she finished seventh at state in the 50 free and 13th in the 100 free as an individual. She is her team’s captain as a senior, with her season having just started.
Jones Lin is especially excited about Hoth’s sprinting and backstroke abilities.
“Bridget is a strong and determined young woman who knows what she wants and that is going to help her tremendously as she focuses full time on her swimming career,” said Jones Lin. “A soccer player and swimmer through high school, Bridget has a strong athletic background. Not to mention her strong commitment to her faith and family were very apparent and I’m really looking forward to partnering with her in her spiritual and athletic growth and development.”
Hoth’s best times are 24.60 in the 50 free, 53.96 in the 100 free, and 1:00.96 in the 100 back. She said there are many reasons why she is looking forward to swimming at Westmont.
“The team and coach are amazing,” said Hoth as to why she chose Westmont. “When I went there for my official visit, the team was so welcoming. They wanted to get to know me and answered any questions that I had.
“The team is more than just a swim team. It is a group of women that want to grow in their relationship with God. I will always remember when we did a devotion as a team and prayed together before practice. It shows that it isn’t all about swim, but more about growing as a person.”
Washam is the team captain of her Ruby Hills Swim Team and holds 23 team records. She was also a CIF-NCS finalist with her Amador Valley High School team and was honored with the team’s Most Inspirational Award for the 2019 season.
Jones Lin expects strong contributions from Washam in the distance events.
“I’ll never forget what Emma’s coach, Todd Tucker, told me about Emma,” said Jones Lin. “When Todd started the Ruby Hills Swim Team, he prayed that Emma would come with him because she would be a crucial piece in establishing the positive team culture that he hoped to build. And she has done just that at Ruby Hills. Emma is fun-loving and just a joy to be around and I’m really looking forward to building upon the strong foundation she has gotten from Coach Todd.”
Washam’s best times are 2:01.32 in the 200 free short course yards (SCY), 5:15.37 in the 500 free SCY, 11:02.00 in the 1000 free SCY, and 18:34.88 in the 1650 free SCY.
“I am most looking forward to being on a team with similar core values, so I can connect with my fellow swimmers and the coaching staff on a deeper level,” said Washam. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to get a faith-integrated education in one of the best locations in California while surrounded by a diverse group of people.
“Being able to swim on a smaller team is a great opportunity to connect with your fellow swimmers and coaches in a way that bigger teams often cannot. I am also very excited to be a part of a newer team and being able to set the foundation for years to come.”
Shattuck, of Mesa Aquatics Club, has competed at the state meet in Arizona multiple times throughout her Red Mountain High School career, including as a junior when her medley relay team placed fourth out of all Division I schools to qualify for the Arizona Super State meet. She also individually qualified for the state meet in the 100 free.
Jones Lin said Shattuck will be a crucial piece in the team’s mid-distance sprints and relays.
“Morgan’s experience as a gymnast turned swimmer is going to help her tremendously in her collegiate swimming career,” said Jones Lin. “Her dedication and determination is very apparent and I’m really looking forward to helping her develop as a swimmer. Her enthusiasm for Westmont and being a part of the team was very apparent and I know she is going to be a great asset to the team.”
Shattuck’s best times are 25.60 in the 50 free, 55.90 in the 100 free, and 2:04.07 in the 200 free.
“One of the biggest things I am looking forward to is just being a part of such an amazing team,” said Shattuck. “From practice alone, I could tell how supportive of one another the women on this team are, and in my opinion that is one of the best things any team could offer. I can’t wait to get to know each of my teammates and be able to cheer each other on not only in our races, but in every aspect of life.
“What’s not to love about Westmont? From the second I stepped foot onto campus everything just felt right.”
While Hoth, Washam, and Shattuck will not compete for Westmont until the 2020-21 season, the current women’s swimming team races next at the Chris Knorr Invite hosted by Cal Lutheran on Jan. 3 and 4.