(Photo: Blake Benard/Blaze Sports)
The ASU swim team announced last week its new recruiting class for the 2017-18 season. In his second year as head coach, Bob Bowman is looking to dramatically improve his team through the newcomers. Bowman said the first step to building a program to compete in the competitive Pac-12 conference, is to recruit top people who can compete on a high level.
“We are looking for people who we feel like can fit into our training system,” Bowman said. “We need people to swim in both 25-yards and 50-meters. They have to be able to swim long-course because that will also help them swim multiple events, which is really important.”
Last year, Bowman and his staff recruited a very talented class that is making an immediate impact to this year’s team. Newcomers Cameron Craig and Claire Fisch have headlined numerous events. Bowman is looking to add to the versatile talent, and it shows in this year’s recruiting class.
Grant House
Cincinnati, Ohio
Events: All-around swimmer
House is a Jr. world champion and Jr. world record holder out of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, OH. According to colleswimming.com, he is the No. 4 recruit in the nation. He commits to Arizona State and is poised to contribute greatly in the sprint and middle distance freestyles, specializing in the 100-yard, 200-yard and 500-yard freestyles. He is also a very capable swimmer in the 100 and 200-yard breaststrokes, the 100-yard butterfly and the 200 and 400-yard individual medleys. His all-around talent is what makes him perfect for Bowman’s system. House and future teammate Cameron Craig will make a perfect versatile combination for the next four years.
Meghan Burton
Midlothian, Virginia
Events: Butterfly, Backstroke
Burton is a Virginia state runner-up and commits to Arizona State to bring depth in the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard butterfly events. in high school she achieved All-American times in while competing at the club level. She will bring a lot of depth to the short-distance events, which is something Bowman and Assistant Coach Misty Hyman are trying to improve with the women’s team.
Josh Vedder
Phoenix, Arizona
Events: Backstroke
Vedder is the first Arizona native to sign with ASU this year. As a local guy, he brings strength and depth to the backstroke events, and can continue to elevate his short freestyle abilities to compete for relay spots in the future.
Erica Laning
Knoxville, Tennessee
Events: Distance Freestyle
Top-ranked Tennessee recruit Laning from Knoxville, will fill a huge gap in distance for ASU.She primarily specializes in the middle-distance freestyle events, such as the 200-yard, 500-yard and 1650-yard freestyles. With Olympian Anna Olasz leaving this year, Laning he can bring great range to the Sun Devils and contribute more than any swimmer on the team in the distance freestyle events.
Emma Nordin
Carmel, Indiana
Events: Distance Freestyle
Nordin is a top-50 women’s recruit who commits to Arizona State to contribute big in the middle-distance and long-distance freestyle events. Like her future teammate Laning, Nordin will be a major contributor to the team right away, because both specialize in events that ASU needs more depth in.
Will Brenton
Long Lake, Minnesota
Events: Backstroke
As a Minnesota state runner-up, Brenton will contribute immediately in the 100-yard backstroke next season. With Richard Bohus and Reid Elliot graduating after this season, ASU will lack significant talent in backstroke. Brenton will fill the gap left by the two seniors, as well as make strides in his improvement.
Jack Dalmolin
Cumming, Georgia
Events: Freestyle, Breastroke
Another state runner-up, Dalmolin will add depth in his main two events: the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke. Dalmolin should be ready to contribute immediately, because Thibaut Capitaine is graduating this year, and Christian Lorenz will be in his senior season. Dalmolin will join Lorenz and Daniel Comforti for breastroke depth next season.
Cristian Musterait
Souderton, Pennsylvania
Events: Sprint Freestyle
No. 2 ranked Pennsylvania recruit and high school All-American Cristian Musterait is a pure freestyler who should look to immediately contribute in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events. Sprinting is a very crucial part to college swimming, and ASU is losing a lot of top talent next year when Bohus, Tadas Duskinas and Andrew Porter leave next year for graduation. Musterait held All-American times in the sprinting events in high school, so Arizona State did a nice job filling a gap for next year.
Graham Hauss
Clovis, California
Events: Sprint and Mid-Distance Freestyle
Hauss is another high school All American who will specialize in the 50, 100, 200 and 500-yard freestyle events. With the current team losing a lot of talent next year. Hauss will definitely help the team improve next season. His freestyle versatility will improve his stock with ASU next season, as Bowman will need to use him in several events.
The recruiting class is one of the bigger stories surrounding the ASU swim team. Since Bowman is a high profile coach, ASU has significant chances in recruiting some the premier swimming talent in the country. However, the Pac-12 is the most competitive conference in the country. Arizona State will have to compete with California and Stanford each year. For many years, those schools have been capable of recruiting not just top college talent, but top Olympic talent. Despite the competition, Bowman is still satisfied in his new class. He believes. they can make a strong impact.
“We’re always looking for people who can fill the holes in our program,” Bowman said. “I think we got some great people who can improve very quickly. We want people who can come in and immediately make an impact, but also improve.”
