FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – There are senior classes, and then there is the Northern Arizona swimming & diving senior class. A group of six Lumberjacks, so decorated and accomplished not only for their talents in the pool but their dedication in the classroom, that has been absolutely vital to three WAC Championships in their first three years.
 
On Saturday, Claire Hammond, Roni Houck, Allison Mann, Audrey Mann, Kimmy Richter and Alina Staffeldt will be honored during NAU's Senior Meet against Idaho. While it will not be NAU's last home meet of the season – that would be Jan. 27 versus Boise State – Saturday will provide the Lumberjacks an opportunity to honor their seniors against a conference rival that will add a layer of emotion.
 
"Arguably, this could be the most decorated class to graduate," said head coach Andy Johns. "From day one when they came in, they gelled and set the standard. They're all great students who are going to graduate and get great jobs and do great things. I can't say enough about them and they're a great group of girls who will be sorely missed, even though it's way too early to start talking about missing them because they have a lot of swimming to do between now and hopefully middle of March."
 
The NAU swimming & diving team – coming off a 167.5-132.5 victory over New Mexico last Saturday at home – will host Air Force on Friday at 4 p.m. and Idaho on Saturday at 11 a.m. Admission for both meets is free for all fans, with the Lumberjacks looking to build on their momentum.
 
"We'll be challenged in different ways than we were last week by both teams," Johns said. "This is quality training and it's tough, but it does get us ready for New Mexico State in two weeks. Our girls love competing in our facility and we're excited to see a new opponent in Air Force who hasn't been here in a really long time. Idaho is always tough and as a conference opponent, our girls are going to have to raise their level."
 
While the Lumberjacks will have two exciting dual meets on deck this weekend, the story will be focused on NAU's senior class of six and rightfully so when taking a deeper look at the numbers.
 
Over their first three conference championships in 2015, 2016 and 2017, this year's seniors have combined for 703.5 points – more than a third of NAU's three-year point total. They have combined to win 32 WAC medals in individual and relay events and have notched 45 all-conference finishes.
 
In the record book as it stands to date, they have six top five individual performances including three school records (Staffeldt in the 100 and 200 butterfly; Staffeldt and Houck in the 200 freestyle relay).
 
They have also been leaders and role models in the classroom with 17 Golden Eagle Scholar Athlete Awards and 15 WAC All-Academic honors. All six have cumulative grade point averages of at least a 3.00 with four of them above a 3.80.
 
However it is spun, the Lumberjack swimming seniors have been sensational and that is why Saturday's meet will be a special one for them. That is why there is no other class like them.
 
Claire Hammond – Roseville, Calif.
Andy Johns: "Claire really likes to race and the way she attacks her 200 (freestyle) especially, you can't coach that. That's something she feels good about doing and she does it really well. She's steady all the time and in the end, her confidence in herself not only helps her but it helps the whole team."
 
Roni Houck – Peoria, Ariz.
Johns: "Roni puts a lot of pressure on herself to perform well, not just in the pool but in the classroom as well. She's come so far from her freshman year and last week's results were her best ever not in a tech suit. She's tough and her effort is never in question. I love her excitement and she's at a lot of NAU events supporting all of other athletes."
 
Allison Mann – Phoenix, Ariz.
Johns: "Allison brings the spirit and the energy, and she takes care of everybody on the team. She helps people out in the weight room. Like everyone else, she's serious about her academics, and she's already getting great experience with design firms. She's an amazing artist and we're going to miss her spirit."
 
Audrey Mann – Phoenix, Ariz.
Johns: "Audrey is the leader of the breaststroke and IM group without question. That is a tough event at our conference meet, and she's persevered to have some breakthrough moments. She's hard on herself, maybe more than anybody is on her, and she's another one that has maybe had one B in her school work. She's on a path to get into physical therapy school and without question, she's a leader."
 
Kimmy Richter – Big Bay, Auckland
Johns: "Kimmy is Kiwi Tough. She came from the same club team as (former Lumberjacks) Emma Lowther and Rachel Palmer and she really exemplifies the hard work we value in our program. We ask a lot of her in dual meets because of her versatility. She is an HRM major who has already done a lot of work in that field."
 
Alina Staffeldt – Hannover, Germany
Johns: "We've had a few girls who have made it to NCAAs, but amazingly so they are not in the record books. Alina is in the record books, but she hasn't made (NCAAs) yet. She works hard every day and she really likes to race for the team. She's got a crazy 3.9 GPA in accounting and she's just a great overall member of the team."