Courtesy: South Carolina Athletics
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Head coach Jeff Poppell announced the addition of 21 Gamecocks to his program for the upcoming 2021-22 season Tuesday morning.
“We’re very excited about this incoming class of freshman and transfers,” said Poppell. “As a swimming and diving program, we need to start making some strides towards the top of the SEC ladder, and I feel that this group of student-athletes helps us move forward along that path.”
2021 Gamecock Swimming Signing Class
Paige Collins (Naperville, IL – Butterfly/IM)
- Took home second place at the IHSA State Meet in 2019 with a 54.38 in the 100 fly
- Placed fourth in the 2019 IHSA State Meet with a 2:04.55 in the 200 IM
- Daughter to Rebecca and Steven Collins, sister to Ryan and Lauren
- Favorite food is hot chocolate
Luke DeVore (Haymarket, VA – Butterfly/IM)
- Two time Atlantic 10 champion (100 and 200 fly) at George Mason University
- Most outstanding rookie at the 2020 Atlantic 10 Championships
- Virginia Sports Information Director’s Men’s Rookie Swimmer of the Year
- Son to Janis and Joe DeVore, brother to Rachel and Rebecca
- Enjoys fishing and spending time outdoors
Hendrik Faber (Bathmen, Netherlands – Freestyle)
- Achieved All-American honors in 500-yard freestyle (x2) and 1650-yard freestyle
- Made all-conference honors every year during undergraduate career at Queens University
- Division II National Champion (x3) and Blue Grass Mountain Conference Champion (x4)
- Son to Willem Faber and brother to Lucy Faber
- Hobbies include surfing and windsurfing
Laura Goettler (Butler, PA – Breaststroke/IM)
- Achieved Olympic Trial qualifying time at 2019 Summer Nationals in the 200 breaststroke
- 2019 and 2020 PIAA champion in the 100 breaststroke
- Recorded a pool record in the 200-yard breaststroke of 2:18.01 at Duquesne University, where she also was on the 200-yard medley relay team
Patrick Groters (Santa Cruz, Aruba – Backstroke/IM)
- Achieved All Summit League Honors in the 200 IM, 100 Backstroke and 200 Backstroke while at Denver University
- As a freshman, set the Summit League Championship record and broke Denver’s school record in the 200 IM with a time of 1:46.24
- Son to Maureen Croes and Ronald Groters, brother to Jordy, Derek, and Ashley
- Enjoys gaming, editing, and designing in his free time
Blair Isenhour (Orlando, FL – 1m, 3m, Platform)
- 4x State Medalist in the state of Florida, 2018 State Champion
- USA Diving National Qualifier, AAU Synchro National Champion
- Daughter to Kelly and Tripp Isenhour, sister to Seth and Justin Isenhour
- Hopes to one day start her own orthodontic practice
Emma Israels (Grand Rapids, MI – Butterfly, Backstroke)
- Placed in the top 10 in both the 100 fly and 200 IM at the MHSAA Division 2 State Championship in 2017
- Took fifth place at the Michigan Swimming Open Championships in 2019
- Her 200 medley relay team broke the MHSAA D3 record with a time at 1:44.72 in 2019
Liam Kerns (Billings, MT – Breaststroke)
- Has 6 state records in the state of Montana in breaststroke
- Was a member of the Billings Aquatic Club, which have been named state champions for five consecutive years
- Son to Chelsie and Benjamin Kerns, brother to Kayla and Kyler
- Hopes to one day become a dentist
Michael Laitarovsky (Natanya, Israel – Backstroke)
- Competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 100m backstroke
- Has represented Israel in the 2020 European Championships and the 2019 World Championships
Ethan Martin (Greenwood, IN – Freestyle)
- County athlete of the year
- Named all-American while at Center Grove High School
- Son to Kylah and Buddy Martin, brother to Hailey Martin
- Favorite food is Texas Roadhouse rolls
Coleman McCreery (Charlotte, NC – Breaststroke)
- Swam for four years with the South Mecklenburg HS Sabres
- Son to Wendy and Max McCreery
- Hobbies include skateboarding and mountain biking
Makenzy Mills (Lancaster, SC – Butterfly, Backstroke)
- Raced in four events at the YMCA Nationals in April of 2019
- Is a three-time class 4A backstroke champion in the state of South Carolina
- Has two state titles in the 100-yard butterfly
Anna O’Shaughnessey (Chapin, SC – Freestyle)
- Competed with the Chapin High School swim team for 6 years, setting three school records
- Three-time National Qualifier at the YMCA, holds five team records
- Four-time All-State qualifier with Carolina Aquatics
- Daughter of Alison and Mike O’Shaughnessey, has two sisters – Ella and Mary Kate
- Hopes to pursue a career in physical therapy
Greta Pelzek (Wilmette, IL – Butterfly)
- Took home first place in both of her events at the 2019 IHSA Girls Sectional Championship
- Three-time champion at the IHSA Girls Sectional in 2020
- Placed first in both the 100 and 200 fly at the Speedo Sectionals in 2021
Maddie Pierce (Glen Allen, VA – Backstroke)
- Swam in two events at the VHSL Class 5 State Championship in 2020 and one in 2018
- Competed in the 2019 Winter Juniors East in both the 100 back and 100 fly
- Daughter of Kirby and Steve Pierce, sister to Amber Hess
- Enjoys traveling and helping to improve the environment
Mac Ratzlaff (Franklin, IN – Freestyle)
- Took third place in the 200 free and fourth place in the 100 free at the IHSAA state meet
- Son of Shannon and Todd Ratzlaff, Brother to Bella and Lili
- Enjoys golf and once made an eagle on a par 5
Annaliese Streeter (Ypsilanti, MI – Breaststroke, Freestyle)
- Won the 2019 Local 4 Fall Fan Choice awards as “Favorite Breaststroke Swimmer”
- Made All State in Michigan for the 100 breaststroke in 2021
- Daughter of Katherine and Dave Streeter
- Hopes to one day be an orthopedic doctor or surgeon
Manny Vazquez Bas (San Juan, Puerto Rico – Diver)
- While at LSU, earned 2020 SEC Co-Male Freshman Diver of the Year, 2020 All-SEC Freshman Team, and 2020 All-SEC Second Team
- Is a two-time NCAA qualifier
- Scored a 415.80 on the platform dive at the Texas Diving Invitational
- Son of Carlos Quinones and Liza Bas, brother to Derek and Estrella
Sophie Verzyl (Columbia, SC – Springboard)
- Dives with the South Carolina Divers under Julia Vincent, an alum of the UofSC diving program
- Has attended regionals, zones, and nationals since 2014
- Was selected to the CAMO Invitational in 2018
- Scored a 419.10 on the 3-meter springboard
- Daughter to Holly and Scott Verzyl, sister to Zach and Maddie
- Enjoys weightlifting and is on the all-time school record board at AC Flora High School
Cameron Dafoe (Houston, TX – Freestyle/IM)
- Was a state finalist in both the state of Texas and the state of Virginia during high school
- 2020 state champion in Virginia Class 6 in the 200 IM
- In 2020, he was named to the USA Swimming 18U World 100
- Competed in the ACC championships while at Pitt
McAllistar Milne (Glastonbury, CT – Freestyle/IM)
- Received both All-State and All-Conference honors in high school
- Son of Beatriz and Michael Milne, brother to Luna, Ivy, and Marley
- Enjoys golf and basketball and was a rec league basketball champion
Congrats Coach Poppell.