Michigan Lands Nine Women's Swimmers for 2020-21, Transfer for 2020
11/19/2019 9:32:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's swimming and diving program announced Tuesday (Nov. 19) the signings of nine prep standouts to National Letters of Intent for the 2020-21 season. The signees include Kathryn Ackerman (Grand Haven, Michigan), Casey Chung (Ann Arbor, Michigan), Claire Donan (Louisville, Kentucky), Sophie Housey (Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan), Natalie Kan (Hong Kong), Noelle Kaufmann (Mt. Kisco, New York), Claire Newman (Freeland, Michigan), Sophia Tuinman (Northville, Michigan) and Claire Tuttle (Hudsonville, Michigan).
The crop of incoming swimmers also includes Olivia Carter (Greensboro, North Carolina), a transfer from the University of Georgia. She plans to enroll in January and join the team for the second half of the season. Carter has three years of eligibility remaining.
"This is without question one of the best classes we've ever had," said head coach Mike Bottom. "This is a class that has a little bit of everything. Each of them is capable of scoring points in a more than one event. We're very excited to have them with us and look forward to integrating them within our current team."
Kathryn Ackerman
IM | Grand Haven, Mich. (Grand Haven/Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics)
Ackerman is one of the more versatile swimmers in the class and is best in the individual medley events. She won Michigan state titles in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard IM in 2018 and set an all-divisions Michigan state record in the 200-yard IM in 2017. A former member of the U.S. Junior National Team, Ackerman has U.S. Olympic Trials cuts in three events (100-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke, 200-meter IM). Coming to Michigan, she has three times -- in the 200-yard backstroke, 200-yard IM and 400-yard IM -- that would make the program's current all-time top yard performers list.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 200 IM (1:57.25), 400 IM (4:07.79), 100 BK (54.27), 200 BK (1:54.37)
Olivia Carter
Butterfly | Greensboro, N.C. (Home School/Enfinity Aquatic Club/University of Georgia)
Carter comes to Michigan after winning 2019 Southeastern Conference Freshman Swimmer of the Year honors in her lone year at the University of Georgia. She won the 200-yard butterfly at the 2019 SEC Championships and was seventh in the same event at the NCAA Championships, earning All-America honors. Carter was also three-time All-America honorable mention for the Bulldogs, finishing 12th in the 100-yard butterfly and swimming on the 200- and 800-yard freestyle relays. Internationally, she won gold in the 200-meter butterfly at the 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Championships and silver in the same event at the 2019 World University Games.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 100 FL (51.77), 200 FL (1:52.70), 100 BK (53.28), 200 BK (1:54.72), 200 IM (1:55.78)
Casey Chung
Backstroke | Ann Arbor, Mich. (Skyline/Club Wolverine)
An Ann Arbor native, Chung will not have far to go for college. She is a two-time Michigan state champion, winning the 100-yard backstroke at the MHSAA Girls D-I State Championships in back-to-back seasons. She also won the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes at the 2019 Michigan Swimming Open Championships. Chung qualified for 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials with a ninth-place finish in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2019 Speedo Junior National Championships.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 100 BK (53.76), 200 BK (1:56.39), 50 FR (23.59), 100 FL (55.95)
Claire Donan
Breaststroke/IM | Louisville, Ky. (Sacred Heart Academy/Triton Swimming)
Donan is one of the top breaststrokers in the class. She was runner-up in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes at the 2017 U.S. Summer Junior National Championships and qualified in three events for 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships. Donan is a two-time individual state champion in Kentucky, winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 2019 and the 200-yard IM in 2018.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 100 BR (1:00.88), 200 BR (2:11.73), 200 IM (1:59.63), 400 IM (4:16.91)
Sophie Housey
Freestyle/Backstroke | Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. (Liggett/Grosse Pointe Gators)
Michigan keeps the Grosse Pointe pipeline going with Housey, a multi-talented swimmer capable of scoring in every event. She is a two-time Michigan state champion, winning the 100- and 200-yard freestyles at the 2018 MHSAA Girls D-III State Championships. In long course, Housey was a five-time finalist at the 2018 NCSA Summer Swimming Championships and a four-time finalist at the 2018 NCSA Spring Junior National Championships.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 100 FR (50.47), 200 FR (1:47.32), 200 BK (1:57.64), 200 FL (1:58.73), 200 IM (1:59.23), 400 IM (4:15.58)
Natalie Kan
Butterfly/Freestyle | Hong Kong (Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School)
Kan, who continues the Hong Kong-to-Michigan pipeline, holds Hong Kong national records in the 100-meter IM and as part of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. Kan has extensive international experience. At the 2019 FINA Junior World Championships, Kan made semifinals in three events, finishing 14th in the 50-meter butterfly and 16th in both the 50-meter backstroke and 100-meter butterfly. She also swam at the 2018 Asian Games, the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and the 2018 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).
TOP TIMES (SCM): 50 FR (25.28), 100 BR (1:08.36), 200 BR (2:29.60), 200 IM (2:13.42)
Noelle Kaufmann
Freestyle/Backstroke | Mt. Kisco, N.Y. (Fox Lane/Badger Swim Club)
Kaufmann is another mid-distance specialist, excelling in the freestyle and backstroke events. She made finals in the 200- and 500-yard freestyles at the 2018 Speedo Winter Junior Championships (East) and was runner-up in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2017 New York High School Championships. This past summer, she set career bests in seven events (in long course), earning a U.S. Olympic Trials cut in the 200-meter backstroke.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 100 BK (54.77), 200 BK (1:57.81), 100 FR (50.87), 200 FR (1:47.22), 500 FR (4:47.97)
Claire Newman
Freestyle | Freeland, Mich. (Dow/Midland Dolphins)
Newman will give the Wolverines another sprinter next fall. She is a two-time state champion, winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyles at the 2018 MHSAA Girls D-II State Championships after taking second in both events a year before. Newman also won the 50-yard freestyle at the 2019 Michigan Swimming Open Championships and took second in the 100-yard freestyle. She is an NISCA All-American and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 50 FR (23.06), 100 FR (50.32), 200 FR (1:52.60)
Sophia Tuinman
Backstroke | Northville, Mich. (Northville/Club Wolverine)
Tuinman primarily swims backstroke for Club Wolverine. She was the runner-up in the 100-yard backstroke (to future teammate Casey Chung) and finished fourth in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2018 MHSAA Girls D-I State Championships. Tuinman won the 400-yard IM and was runner-up in both the 200-yard IM and 200-yard backstroke at the 2019 Michigan Swimming Open Championships. She also finished seventh in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2019 Speedo Junior National Championships.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 100 BK (54.62), 200 BK (1:56.78), 200 FR (1:50.50)
Claire Tuttle
Breaststroke/Freestyle | Hudsonville, Mich. (Hudsonville/Hudsonville Eagles Aquatics Team)
Tuttle is a fast-developing swimmer in the breaststroke and sprint freestyle events. She won the 100-yard breaststroke at the 2018 MHSAA Girls D-I State Championships and was fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships (East). Tuttle is also one of the best water polo players in the state, twice being named Michigan Water Polo Association Player of the Year. Last year as a junior, she led Hudsonville to a state title and scored 119 goals.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 100 BR (1:01.24), 200 BR (2:15.72), 50 FR (23.12), 100 FR (49.70)
