FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 27, 2019) – Northern Arizona University swimming and diving has officially announced their freshman class of 2020, with three new swimmers and three new divers for the upcoming fall season. Annie Carlton (Phoenix, Ariz.), Maddy Rey (Columbia, Ill.), Francesca Criscione (Corvallis, Ore.) and Emma Warner (Cottonwood, Ariz.) will all swim for the reigning six-time WAC Champions while Maegan Jensen (San Diego, Calif.), Reaney Preston (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Victoria Knapp (Mesa, Ariz.) will dive.
"We are very excited about our incoming freshman," head diving coach
Nikki Huffman said. "I believe all of them will be a great addition to the program. As I have gotten to know all of them through the recruiting process, I think we have added great athletes as well as great people to our program."
Knapp, from Mesa, Ariz., was home schooled but dove for Skyline under Lauren Thief from 2015-2019. She earned recognition as the Most Valuable Diver as she went undefeated all four years in the State Championships. In 2018, she was an AAU Champion on the 3-meter board. "Victoria will make an immediate impact on our team, Huffman said. "She has a lot of elite experience and has competed and been successful at the national level."
Preston will head up north from Scottsdale, Ariz. where she dove for ten years under her head coach, Josh Rusbolt, splitting her time between club and high school at Chaparral under Richie Kryzanowski. She was a part of a team that earned State Championship recognition from 2016-2019. "Reaney is one of those divers that dives better the higher she goes, Huffman said. " She has a great "rip entry" which is an asset in 3m and platform events."
"I am excited to coach all of them and see how far they can go in their collegiate sport of diving," Huffman said.
Jensen from San Diego, Calif. was the first person to compete at the state meet for her high school, Westview. "Maegan has not been diving as long as some other divers, but what she has accomplished in that short time is very impressive, Huffman said." As a four year letter-winner, starter and two year captain, she was named as the Most Improved Diver in 2017, the Most Inspirational Diver in 2018 and the Most Outstanding Diver in 2019. She was also awarded the Breitbard Certificate of Athletic Achievement. Her highest six dive record was scored at 291.60 and a record high of 393.80 tally for 11 dives.
Born in Saint Louis, Mo. and raised in Columbia, Ill. is Rey, who swam at Columbia High School. She was a two-time recipient of having the Best Attitude on the team, as well as being the Hardest Worker. She was a state qualifier and placed on the sectional team for three years (2016-2019). In 2019, she earned first place in Region VIII Spring Sectionals. "Rey also has a brother who goes to NAU," Johns said. "She will also be involved with ROTC and that was a big draw for us. We will get strength and depth with Madison, she's a leader and a hard worker with a ton of potential. This process has been good to know her. She will be our first ROTC student athlete."
From the Beaver State, Criscione has been swimming since she was nine years old, earning State Champion recognition in various events. She has won in the 400 individual medley, 200 fly, 500 freestyle, 100 fly, 200 IM, 200 freestyle, and the mile in both yards and meters. For four years, she was on the Oregon Zones Team. She has also been a part of the Oregon All Star Team, National Diversity Select Team and the Western Zone Select Team. "She was our first commit back in April. Were really excited what she's going to bring to the team, inside and outside of the pool. She will help us out in some distance freestyle, 400 individual medley and 200 butterfly. We're excited about her and her potential. She will be a great addition to our squad."
Carlton from Phoenix, Ariz. is a three-time varsity letter-holder, specializing in the 100 and 200 backstroke. She is a part of the Phoenix Swim Club with Garrett McCaffrey. At the Arizona Division II State Championships, she placed third in the 100 back, breaking the school record with a time of 57.53. "Both her parents went to NAU and her older brother goes here too, so there was a really strong connection to come to Flagstaff, Johns said. "She just keeps getting better in her events. She will be able to contribute in more ways than just her specialty, the backstroke. She will be a quality person and a quality student. We're ready to see her take off when she gets here," Johns said.
From the small town of Cottonwood, Ariz., Warner holds the record for the 100 breaststroke at Mingus Union with a time of 1:07.87. She qualified for state all four years of high school, winning the Championship her senior year in the 100 breaststroke. Her freshman year, she was featured in Swimming World Magazine (March 2017) As an "Up and Comer." Warner is a four-year letter-winner, starter and captained for one year. "We've known Emma since she was in seventh grade," Johns said. "We signed her as part of an outreach program. We we're really fortunate to keep building this relationship over the last five years. She's one who will bring so many intangibles like her spirit and her attitude. Our team will be better with her on it."
The seven incoming freshmen will help the Lumberjacks replenish a roster that loses five graduating seniors:
Kate Bier,
Alice Hick,
Fernanda Montiel,
Erin Spielman and
Raquel Gonzales.
