FIU swimming and diving head coach Randy Horner has announced seven additions to the FIU Swimming and Diving program to go along with the eight fall signees. The seven additional newcomers include four divers and three swimmers. Joining FIU’s program this fall will be Abbey Spaulding, Laura Coronado, Natalia Coronado, Rebecca Quesnel, Naomi Ruele, Karin Tomeckova and Paulina Zelazna.
“This is a very well rounded group of athletes we have coming in this fall,” said Horner. “I think we have covered many areas of need for our program and group of ladies will make our team better right away.”
Abbey Spaulding
Home Town: Cheyenne, Wyoming
Event: Diving
Was a team captain the last two seasons at Cheyenne South High School…Became the first Division I signee out of her high school…Team won the conference championships in 2013…Earned a fourth place finish at the Wyoming State Championships in 2012 and 2013 in the 1-meter diving…Placed 12th at the State Championships as a sophomore in 2011.
Laura Coronado
Home Town: USA/ Bolivia/ Mexico
Event: Diving
District Diving Champion in Mexico DF…Earned a third place finish in synchronized diving at the 2013 Bolivarian Games.
Natalia Coronado
Home Town: USA/ Bolivia / Mexico
Event: Diving
District Diving Champion in Mexico DF…Earned a third place in synchronized diving at the Bolivarian Games in 2013.
Rebecca Quesnel
Home Town: Burlington, Ontario
Event: Diving
Nationally ranked platform and springboard diver….Placed 8th at the CAMO International Invitational on platform, and 7th on 3M springboards…Placed 10th on 3M springboard at Canadian Junior Elite Nationals…Was a 2013 finalist at the CAMO International and Junior Nationals…Named an alternate for 2013 Team Ontario…Was also a Junior Nationals qualifier in 2011 and 2012.
Naomi Ruele
Hometown: Botswana, Africa
Event: Backstroke/Freestyle
Earned a bronze medal in the 50 back with a time of 30.13 at the 2014 South Africa championships…Finished 5th in the 100 back with a time of 1:05.24 at the championships as well…Also has top times of 27.42 in the 50 freestyle and 1:01.81 in the 100 freestyle…Was a participant in the London 2012 Training Program…Earned five gold medals at the Botswana Nationals in December 2013…Earned three gold medals in the 50 backstroke, 100 backstroke, and 50 freestyle at the CANA Zone III & IV in Zambia in April 2013…Qualified for the Youth Olympic Games in the 50 backstroke at the South African National Aquatics in 2013, becoming the first swimmer in her country to qualify for the event.
Karin Tomeckova
Hometown: Bratislava, Slovakia
Event: Backstroke/IM
Comes to FIU as a Transfer from Oakland University, where she spent two seasons…During here time at Oakland during the 2013-14 season, she won the 100 back at the Horizon League Championships with a time of 54.40…Took second in the 200 IM at the Horizon League Championships with a time of 2:03.37…Was also second in the 200 back at the Horizon League Championships with a time of 1:57.48…Earned runner-up finishes with the 200 and 400 medley relay teams at the championships as well…Named Newcomer of the Championships in 2013 at The Summit League Championships, as she won the 200 backstroke by breaking the league and school record with an NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time of 1:57.31…Captured the 100 back title with an NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time of 54.03 and was a member of the championship 200 medley and 200 free relay teams that set new Summit League records…Earned a runner-up finish in the 200 IM with an NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time of 2:01.20…Won the 200-Back at the Slovak Championships in 2011 as well as finished runner-up in the 50 and 100 Back…Holds the Slovak National Senior record in the 200-Back with a time of 2:18.56.
Paulina Zelazna
Hometown: Wroclaw, Poland
Club Team: WKS Slask Wroctaw Swim Club
Event: Freestyle
Comes to FIU as a freestyle swimmer…Top times are 25.82 in the 50 Free (scm), 55.55 in the 100 Free (scm) and 2:02.68 in the 200 Free (scm)…Holds WKS Slask Wroctaw Swim Club records in the 100 Free, the 50 Free and all relays…Was a member of the Polish National Team….Plans on majoring in international business.
Horner’s fall signees included, Kayley Tepe (Cincinnati, Ohio), Ally Mayhew (Dayton, Ohio), Julianna Pettinger (Jacksonville, Fla.), Jacquie Kinman (Pensacola, Fla.), Chase Harris (Jupiter, Fla.), Britney Fant (Humble, Texas), Maria Lopez (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) and Skye Carey (Satellite Beach, Fla.).
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College Swimming New is courtesy of FIU.