University of Minnesota announces Men's Swimming and Diving Adds 12 Newcomers
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota men's swimming and diving program welcomes 12 newcomers for the 2023-24 season, head coach Kelly Kremer announced Monday. The class will feature 10 swimmers and two divers representing five different countries and three states, including four Minnesotans.
Smith Connor
Madison, Wis. - Madison La Follette High School
Madison Aquatic Club
Top Times: 100 back - 49.80 | 200 back - 1:46.32 | 200 free - 1:41.00
Coach Kremer says: "We're thrilled Smith will be joining us in Minneapolis this fall. Smith arrives on campus with a 200 backstroke time that scores at the Men's Big Ten Meet. Whenever someone has scoring times coming in the door, you're excited about the potential he has. Smith will join a deep backstroke crew and we're excited for his many future contributions."
Tyler Hansen
Oconomowoc, Wis. - Arrowhead High School
Lake Country Swim Team
Top Times: 100 free - 44.72 | 200 free - 1:37.35 | 100 breast - 55.43
Coach Kremer says: "Tyler had a great senior year and really developed into a top-tier 100/200 freestyle and breaststroke swimmer. His freestyle drops this past season have made him a candidate for freestyle relays. He comes with extremely high praise from his coaches back in Wisconsin, and we're thankful he'll be competing in the Maroon and Gold."
Davide Harabagiu
Rome, Italy
Canottieri Tevere Remo
Top Times (SCM): 100m back - 52.20 | 100m fly - 51.68 | 50m free - 22.30
Coach Kremer says: "Davide brings relay depth to our team immediately. His underwater kicking ability and speed will give us the flexibility to use him in back, fly, and/or free events. He has competed at major international meets representing Italy and comes with glowing recommendations from his support staff in Rome. We're lucky he's a Gopher."
Braden Lemke
St. Cloud, Minn. - St. Cloud Cathedral High School
Minnesota Diving Academy
Top Score: 1m - 310.00
Coach Wenbo Chen says: "Braden trains with the Minnesota Diving Academy and is the Minnesota High School State runner up at this past season's championship meet. Braden has great form and a great line up for diving. He will help us in the one-meter event immediately."
Joe Rudd
Duluth, Minn. - Duluth East High School/St. Thomas
Lake Superior Swim Club
Top Times: 100 breast - 54.51| 200 Breast - 1:56.26 | 200 IM - 1:50.01
Coach Kremer says: "Joe comes to Minnesota with a great deal of momentum. He was a three-event A finalist at the Summit League Conference Meet this past year. He rises to the level of competition well. That is a tremendous skill to have as he joins our program here within the Big Ten Conference."
Max Scheurer
Blaine, Minn. - Centennial High School
North Suburban Aquatic Club
Top Times: 100 breast - 55.08 | 200 breast - 2:00.87
Coach Kremer says: "Max is a bit of a sleeper in this class. He's relatively new to year-round swimming and, thus, his potential for improvement is huge. Despite being new to this higher level of swimming, he will come in the door as the Minnesota State Champ in the 100 breast and a finalist in both breaststroke events at the December Junior Meet. Keeping the state's best breaststroker home is golden."
Omar Sherif Abdelwahab
Cairo, Egypt - Maadi Club
Lake Erie Silver Dolphins
Top Times: 50 free - 20.29 | 100 free - 45.05
Coach Kremer says: "Omar spent one year swimming club here in the U.S. The transition from meters-swimming to yards-swimming flowed easily for him. So much so he finaled at the US Junior Meet in the 50 freestyle, which was one of his first yards meets. His natural speed will provide great depth to our sprint relays."
Neil Simpson
Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada - Phillips Academy Andover/Penn
Pointe-Claire Swim Club
Top Times: 100 breast - 53.23 | 200 - breast 1:55.36 | 200 IM - 1:46.86
Coach Kremer says: "Neil will bring great leadership to our program. Neil has been one of the best breastrokers in the Ivy League over the years, and we're excited to have his swimming experiences both internationally and collegiately join our program."
Ryan Slonac
Muskego, Wis. - Muskego High School
Waukesha Express Swim Team
Top Times: 200 IM - 1:48.06 | 100 Back - 48.73 | 200 Back - 1:46.42
Coach Kremer says: "We knew Ryan was going to be good based on his progression from sophomore to junior year. Well, he took his swimming to an even higher level during his senior year. Ryan joins our program as an elite individual medley swimmer. He will allow us to utilize him in a variety of ways and we're really excited about the progression he continues to make."
Ian Steffen
Marion, Iowa - Linn-Mar High School
Linn-Mar Swim Team
Top Times: 100 free - 45.18 | 200 free - 1:38.70 | 100 back - 48.89 | 200 back - 1:45.88
Coach Kremer says: "Ian is versatile. His range in the freestyle, backstrokes, and butterfly will allow us to use him in a variety of events. Ian swims well in tight competition. He's proven that as a finalist at the USA Swimming Junior Meets."
Yutong Wang
Beijing, China
Beijing Dive Club
Top Scores: 1m - 397.00 | 3m - 423.00
Coach Chen says: "Yutong trains with the Beijing Diving Club. He has been top-12 at the Chinese National Championships on the three-meter springboard. His one-meter springboard event is equally strong. Yutong will help us on both one-meter and three-meter immediately."
Grant Wodny
Duluth, Minn. - Duluth East High School
Lake Superior Swim Club
Top Times: 200 free - 1:37.72 | 500 free - 4:29.19 | 1000 free - 9:29.44
Coach Kremer says: "Grant has won numerous state titles at the Minnesota Boys High School State Meet. His ability to find the wall first in tight races is something we're excited to see translate over to his college swimming career. Grant is a natural racer, and we're grateful he's staying home to wear the M."
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