Oakland swimming and diving head coach Pete Hovland announced Friday the addition of seven student-athletes during the spring signing period. The men’s squad will add four to the 2017-18 campaign, while the women’s team will have three newcomers for next season.
“We are happy to announce the addition of seven new Golden Grizzlies to our 2017-18 freshmen class, bringing our total to sixteen,” said Hovland. “The newest additions have many of the same characteristics as our early signees; they are very talented athletes, very bright students and outstanding people. Not only will this class take some of the sting out of losing a very large and talented senior class but they will also play a major role in helping us enhance and perpetuate the championship culture we have created here at Oakland. Their arrival cannot get here soon enough.”
Carson Barnes
New Albany, Ohio
New Albany • New Albany Aquatic Club
5-8 • Butterfly
College Swimming Power Ranking: 12.37
Ohio Rank: 21
2017 Overall Rank: 428
HIGHLIGHTS
• Two-time district champion in the 100 fly
• Four-time state finalist
• Four-time National Club Swimming Association qualifier
• Junior Nationals qualifier
TOP TIMES
• 100-yard Fly: 49.89
• 200-yard Fly: 1:50.22
Why Barnes chose Oakland:
• The great swimming program
• Quality engineering program
• Closeness to family
Hovland on Barnes: “Carson came to us very late in the process and we are happy and excited he decided to become a Golden Grizzly. His main events (100/200 butterfly) and his times in those events will have a significant impact in the Horizon League. His signing is also one of need for us due to the loss of a couple of our top flyers. Carson’s coaches speak very highly of him. They have emphasized to us his strong desire to work hard and they believe it will translate well to the challenges that will he will encounter next year. In order to maximize his overall potential he will have to focus on developing his third event this summer but we do not imagine that to be much of a challenge for him.”
Will Gayne
Nottingham, United Kingdom
Carlton Willows Academy • Nova Centurion
6-1 • Backstroke/IM/Freestyle
College Swimming Power Ranking: 19.74
2017 Overall Rank: 912
HIGHLIGHTS
• 2016 National Summer Champion in the 50-meter backstroke
• 2016 Olympic Trials participant
• Won 14 national age group medals from 2011-16
• Owns five county records
• Named 2016 Nottinghamshire Swimmer of the Year
TOP TIMES
• 100-meter free: 53.34
• 200-meter free: 1:56.82
• 400-meter free: 4:07.77
• 200-meter IM: 2:09.84
• 400-meter IM: 4:41.64
• 100-meter back: 58.14
• 200-meter back: 2:05.73
Why Gayne chose Oakland:
• Fantastic swim team and facilities
• Health science program
• Desire to reach potential in swimming
Hovland on Gayne: “Will’s times in the 100 and 200 backstroke definitely place him within the top-eight of our conference and therefore he is a very solid signing for us, especially with the loss of two outstanding senior backstrokers. Though Will’s strengths lie in the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke events, he is also extremely strong in the 200 IM and the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle. Will has good size and is extremely excited to come to the states to train and go to school. We have high expectations for Will and I feel very confident that he will acclimate himself to his new surroundings very quickly and that he will become a major contributor right from the start.”
Joey Mangner
Chelsea, Mich.
Chelsea • Travis Pointe Swim Club
5-11 • Freestyle
College Swimming Power Ranking: 13.72
Michigan ranking: 12
2017 Overall Rank: 481
HIGHLIGHTS
• All-American in the 50 free (2017) and 200 Medley Relay (2015)
• All-State in the 200 and 400 free relay (2014)
• All-State in the 50 and 100 free plus 200 free relay (2016)
• Five-time school record holder at Chelsea HS
• Named team MVP in 2016 and 2017
TOP TIMES
• 50-yard free: 20.76
• 100-yard free: 46.31
• 200-yard free: 1:48.01
Why Mangner chose Oakland:
• Teammates on the swim team
• Beautiful campus
• Good location
Hovland on Mangner: “Joey is going to have an impact in the sprint Freestyle events right away. He comes from a highly competitive program at Chelsea HS where he has been coached very well. Our staff is extremely excited with what Joey will bring to our program. His current times in the sprint freestyle events will score well at our championships. He also has the potential to fill some voids in a number of our relays. We will have to find a strong third event for him but with a solid summer of training and lifting to look forward to that. We expect him to play a major role for us in our quest to win another championship.”
Gabe Trevino
Zeeland, Mich.
Zeeland HS • West Michigan Swimmers
6-2 • Freestyle/IM/Butterfly/B
HIGHLIGHTS
• National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association All-American
• Runner-up in the 50 and 100 free at the 2017 MHSAA DI State Meet
• All-State, All-Conference and All-Area selection
• All-State and All-Conference selection in water polo
• School record holder in the 50 and 100 free, 200 medley relay and 100 fly
TOP TIMES
• 50-yard free: 20.54
• 100-yard free: 45.28
• 200-yard free: 1:44.74
• 500-yard free: 4:48.98
• 200-yard IM: 1:54.21
• 100-yard back: 56.56
• 100-yard fly: 51.77
• 100-yard breast: 59.84
Why Trevino chose Oakland:
• Great school and area that I see myself going far at
• Great swim program
• Amazing facilities
Hovland on Trevino: “Gabe’s addition is a win-win for us. Not only was he the runner-up in both the 50 and 100 freestyles at the Division I MHSAA meet with times that would score Top 8 at the Horizon League championships but he also played a major role in two of Zeeland’s outstanding relays. On top of that, Gabe will provide a lot of versatility with extremely competitive times in all freestyle events up to the 500 as well as the 200 IM, 100 fly, 100 breast and the 100 backstroke. His impact in his individual events along with his participation in our relays will be immediate. Being from the west side of the state, Gabe is close friends with a number of our current team members therefore I think his transition should be a smooth one.”
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Name
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Event
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Hometown
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Previous School
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Free/Backstroke
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Fenton, Mich.
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Fenton HS
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Diving
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Macomb, Mich.
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Dakota HS
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Free
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La Salle, Mich.
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Monroe HS
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Elise Cassidy
Fenton, Mich.
Fenton HS • Fenton Area Swim Team
5-6 • Free/Backstroke
College Swimming Power Ranking: 40
Michigan ranking: 83
HIGHLIGHTS
• 11-time First-Team Flint Metro League All-Conference selection
• Two-time All-State Honorable Mention in the 100 back (2015, 2016)
• Part of the 200 medley relay team that holds the Flint Metro record
• Four-year letter recipient under coach Brad Jones
TOP TIMES
• 100-yard back: 58.91
Why Cassidy chose Oakland:
• Swim program
• Beautiful campus
• Close to home
Hovland on Cassidy: “Elise, the younger sister to Brant Cassidy, has grown up watching her big brother compete as a Golden Grizzly the past three years and has developed a strong desire to wear the Black & Gold for a while now. With a great spring and summer, Elise will have the chance to help fill needs in both the sprint freestyle and backstroke events. She is also an outstanding student, teammate and leader and fits the positive image our athletic program strives to cultivate and project.”
Kaylee Gwyn
Macomb, Mich.
Dakota • Legacy Diving
5-5 • Diving
HIGHLIGHTS
• Holds the six- and 11-dive school records at Dakota HS
• Placed 18th at the 2017 MHSAA State Meet after just three months of formal diving
• Second-Team All-County selection
• Honor Roll athlete all four years of high school
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude
TOP SCORES
• 1-meter (6 dives): 248.80
• 1-meter (11 dives): 335.00
Why Gwyn chose Oakland:
• Quality academics
• Great coaching staff and supportive team
• Beautiful campus
Larry Albright on Gwyn: “I heard about Kaylee from another diver on my club team and was told she is a first year diver but was learning very fast. I then spoke to her coach and asked for a video and after watching the video, I knew right away that I wanted her on the team. Kaylee is an amazing athlete with a level nine gymnastics background. Even though she is a first year diver, she was able to compete at the Division I state meet, nearly qualifying for finals. This is a very impressive accomplishment. She is also very impressive academically with a 4.0 GPA. I’m looking forward to having her on the team and excited to see how she progresses. She is truly a diamond in the rough.”
Denise Lenhard
La Salle, Mich.
Monroe • SMAC Swim Club
6-0 • Free
College Swimming Power Ranking: 27.46
Michigan Rank: 33
Highlights:
• Holds the school record at Monroe HS in the 100 free at 51.93
• Moved to the United States from Germany in 2015
• Two-time letter winner for coach Doug Schade
• Team captain as a senior
Top times:
• 50-yard free: 24.98
• 100-yard free: 51.93
• 200-yard free: 1:55.88
• 500-yard free: 5:09.84
Why Lenhard chose Oakland:
• Amazing swim team with great facilities
• Academics
• Campus diversity
Hovland on Lenhard: “The measurables on Denise are all good and they are all tracking in a very positive direction. As a staff, we think we are getting a young lady with a very high ceiling. She is six feet tall with a wingspan to match. She has a great six-beat kick and has a very efficient stroke and it looks like she will be able to handle all the freestyle events from the 50 free up to the 500 free. We will also spend time working with her on her 200 IM. From the opportunities that we have had to watch Denise swim, it also looks like she is a good racer and that she competes very well. As a student, Denise’s GPA is almost perfect and thus fits our profile for recruits exceptionally well.”
News courtesy of Oakland Athletics.