aeFLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (June 17, 2020) – Head coach
Andy Johns and Associate Head Coach
Nikki Huffman have announced their incoming 2020 class. The class includes three divers and nine swimmers, hailing from five different states: Arizona, Oregon, California, Illinois, and Georgia.
2020 Signing Class
| Name |
Position |
Hometown |
| Annie Carlton |
Swim |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Kendall Carlson |
Swim |
Gilbert, Ariz. |
| Francesca Criscione |
Swim |
Corvallis, Ore. |
| Emma Hart |
Swim |
Vista, Calif. |
| Caylah Jago |
Swim |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Maegan Jensen |
Dive |
San Diego, Calif. |
| Victoria Knapp |
Dive |
Mesa, Ariz. |
| Reaney Preston |
Dive |
Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| Maddy Rey |
Swim |
Columbia, Ill. |
| Abigail Tashlein |
Swim |
Braselton, Ga. |
| Sophie Velitchkov |
Swim |
Tempe, Ariz. |
| Emma Warner |
Swim |
Clarkdale, Ariz. |
Diving Class of 2020
Maegan Jensen
Jensen from San Diego, Calif. was the first person to compete at the state meet for her high school, Westview. 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.
Victoria Knapp
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.
Reaney Preston
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.
Swimming Class of 2020
Annie Carlton
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.
Kendall Carlson
From Gilbert, Ariz., Carlson graduated Summa Cum Laude from Casteel High School, where she was a four year letter winner and starter, as well as a two year captain. For eight years, she swam for the Seville Sharks, starting for six years and a captain for four. Carlson holds club records in the 100 and 200 butterfly, 100 and 200 breaststroke, 200 back and the 200 and 400 IM.
Francesca Criscione
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.
Emma Hart
Hart hails from Vista, Calif., becoming a letter winner all four years of her high school and captaining for one under John Moncure. She broke records in the 100 fly, 100 backstroke, 200 IM, and the 100 breaststroke. She also played water polo, where she earned a both an MVP and Most Determined award.
Caylah Jago
Swimming under Tyler Fox at the Scottsdale Christian Academy, Jago was a 2019 State Champion in the 100 Butterfly in the D-III level. She also holds eight records in her school. From her success in high school, she was a four year letter winner, starter, and one year captain. In the Small School Championships, Jago held the record in both 2018 and 2019 in the 100 butterfly.
Maddy Rey
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.
Abigail Tashlein
Tashlein was a two time captain at Mill Creek High School in Braelston, Ga. At state her junior year, she took fourth place in the 100 backstroke and second in the 200 IM. All four years, Tashlein earned the Iron Hawk award, which honored athletes who earned state qualifying times in eight events, and was the first female to receive it for all four years.
Sophie Velitchkov
At McClintock high school, Velitchkov was a four year starter and letter winner. She was an All-City Champion all four years and even an All-American consideration. Velitchkov holds three records at her high school, breaking the 100 back, 50 free, and 200 free, as well as the 200 and 400 medley relay and
Emma Warner
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.
The newcomers will replenish five graduated seniors.
