Florida Atlantic University swimming and diving will welcome a total of 17 newcomers for the 2015-16 season with the addition of nine spring signees. From the spring, the women will add three while the men will bring on six.
“We are very excited to welcome these new swimmers and divers into our FAU family,” said Lara Preacco, head swim and dive coach. “The hard work that they have demonstrated in the past, both academically and athletically, will be a positive addition to our team. They will help us enhance the team goals that we have been working toward in the classroom, in our conference and in the community.”
Alexis DeLisle was a member of the Winter Speedo Junior Stars National team in 2015 and was a two-time NCSA junior qualifier. While at Olympia High, DeLisle qualified for state competition in 2013 in the 50 freestyle and in 2014 for both the 50 and 100 free. She graduated in the top 20 percent of her class. DeLisle was a 10-year member of the Southwest Stars and swam for Coach Justin Correria.
Currently a sophomore at FAU, Bailey Grabenhorst spent her freshman year training with Performance Aquatics (PAQ), a USA Swim club team, under Kathleen Klein Prindle. With PAQ, Grabenhorst was able to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to prepare for the upcoming season. She specializes in in the 200 breaststroke, 200 and 400 IM, as well as the 200 and 400 free.
Fort Myers native Emily Summa was a District Champion in in the 50 and 100 free as well as a Lee County Champion in the 50 and 100 free and 200 free relay. She served as team captain at Fort Myers High and medaled in state competition in the 400 free relay in addition to competing as a finalist in the 50 and 100 free and 200 free relay. Summa was a member of the National Honor Society and swam for Mac Kennedy at Swim Florida.
Ethan Amity, hailing from Rockville, MD, is a two-time 4A West Region Champion and record holder in the 100 breaststroke. He was a member of the 4A/3A State Champion 4×100 free relay team and is a three-time NCSA junior national qualifier. While at Montgomery Blair High, Amity served as team captain, was a member of the Honor Roll and received the AP Scholar Award.
Joaquin Garcia brings his talent all the way from Bogotá, Columbia. During his swimming career, he achieved several honors as the Most Valuable Player at Nueva Granada High School. He is currently part of the Bogotá State team that will compete at the Colombian National Games in 2015. His primary strokes are sprint freestyle events, and he is currently a member of the Club el Rincon de Cajicá and swims for Coach Edgar Cadena.
Connor Hodges also brings his skills in sprint freestyle. He was an NCSA junior national qualifier and named a NISCA Academic All-American in 2015. Hodges holds seven records at Arnold High School and was named the AHS MVP for varsity swimming in 2013 and 2014. He was a Florida state finalist in the 100 free, 200 free and 200 IM. He was an AP Scholar with honors and graduated in the top five percent of his class. Hodges swam for the Panama City Swim Team under Coach Brian Haddad.
South Carolinian Colin Kemp was a member of the Riverside High team that won the South Carolina League State Swimming Championship in 2013 and 2014 and were the Regional Champions from 2011-2014. Kemp was selected to the 2013 and 2014 All-State and All-Region teams. From 2011-2014, he was a South Carolina High School League Swimming State qualifier and finalist in the 200 IM, 50 and 100 free and 100 backstroke. Kemp was a member of the Beta Club and National Art Honor Society and swam for Ted Pierson as a member of the Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club.
Colin Kozak currently swims for Todd Foley at the Blue Wave Swim Club out of Brandon, Fla. With his club team, he has gone to the Senior Championships twice, first for the 50 free and the second time for six different events in which he placed in the top 20 in every one. Since his freshman year, Kozak’s high school team has won three Western Conference titles and two District titles.
Sheldon Solomon, the lone diver of the group, hails from Phoenix, Ariz., and dives for the East Valley Dive Club under Coach Lauren Theil. He won the Arizona High School State Championship in the one meter in 2012 and was an Arizona Club State Champion in the one and three meter during 2012 and 2013. In 2011 and 2012, Solomon was named All-American, and in 2013 he was a national qualifier.
The team will announce its 2015-16 schedule in August.
Swimming news courtesy of FAU Swimming & Diving.