Eight Men and Seven Women to Join Raiders in the Fall
Colgate Mark S. Randall Head Swimming and Diving Coach Andy Waeger has announced the addition of 15 student-athletes that will comprise the men’s and women’s swimming and diving classes of 2021.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome our 15 incoming first-years,” said Waeger. “The addition of these 15 student-athletes will provide us key depth and immediately make an impact on the program. We look forward to seeing what these talented student-athletes bring to the university, both in the pool and beyond.”
Below are the 15 newest members of the Raiders swimming and diving program:
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Annika Browning – Freestyle – Ithaca, N.Y./Ithaca
Top Times: 100 Free – 53.84, 200 Free – 1:52.42, 500 Free – 5:01.43
Accomplishments: Guided her Ithaca High School team to state team titles throughout her career…Named team MVP in 2016…Was a member of the Club Junior National Team in 2016…Named Academic All-American in 2017.
Personal: Born Annika Mae Browning in Ithaca, N.Y… Daughter of Peter and Ursula Browning … Has two sisters and one brother … Also played lacrosse in high school.
Waeger on Browning: “Annika is super talented in freestyle events and we’re going to really count on her to score a lot of points for us this year.”
Beth Carauna – Back/Free – Melville, N.Y./Saint Anthony’s
Top Times: 100 Back – 56.63, 200 Back – 2:01.78, 100 Fly – 57.77
Accomplishments: Three-time Catholic High School Champion in the 100 backstroke at Saint Anthony’s … Four-time state qualifier in the 100 back and two-time 200 IM and 100 fly state qualifier … Finished in sixth place in the state championship meet in the 100 back as a senior in 2017.
Personal: Born Beth Ann Caruana in Stony Brook, N.Y. … Daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Caruana … Has one brother.
Waeger on Caruana: “Beth is a really great backstroker and will be someone who is a point-scoring threat at Patriot League Championships as a freshman. We’re looking for some big things from her.”
Emily Huff – IM/Free – Naperville, Ill./Naperville North
Top Times: 200 IM – 2:10.87, 400 IM – 4:41.06
Accomplishments: Two-time IHSA state swim meet qualifier in the 400 freestyle relay … Voted team captain for 2015-16 season … four-year letter winner and held a cumulative GPA of 4.40.
Personal: Born Emily Lane Huff in Downers Grove, Ill … Daughter of Karl and Jennifer Huff.
Waeger on Huff: “Emily is actually a rising sophomore at Colgate. After taking her freshman year off, she really got the itch and wanted to get back into swimming. If she can get back to her club and high school times, she can really help us out.”
Emma Klein – Fly/Free – Alexandria, Va./Bishop Ireton
Top Times: 100 Fly – 57.51, 100 Back – 58.76, 50 Free – 24.61, 100 Free – 53.86
Accomplishments: Was a four-time state finalist and two-year team captain at Bishop Ireton High School … Holds three school records and was named the team MVP twice … Named the Alexandria Sportsmans Club Swimmer of the Year as a senior in 2017 … Also a two-time All-Conference pick in softball … Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Emma Josephine Klein in Alexandria, Va. … Daughter of Phil and Brigid Klein … Has one sister.
Waeger on Klein: “Emma comes from one of the best programs in the country in NCAP. She’s going to great in some short events for us and will help us out in a lot of different areas.”
Caroline LaPlante – Diving – Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman
Top Marks: 1 Meter Dive – 256.3
Accomplishments: Won the Montgomery County Maryland Public Schools Division II Diving Championship as a freshman … Had an All-American Diving qualifying score of 426.9 on the one-meter board with an 11 dive list … Also a member of school’s gymnastics and cheerleading teams … Cheer team was two-time county champion and served as team captain for gymnastics as a senior.
Personal: Born Caroline Marie LaPlante in Silver Spring, Md… Daughter of William LaPlante and Joanne Hogan … Has one sister.
Waeger on LaPlante: “Caroline fills a huge void with Austin Anderson’s graduation. She’s super talented and we’re really excited about what she can bring to the diving boards.”
Kenzie Martin – Free/Fly – Lexington, Mass./Lexington
Top Times: 100 Free – 57.96, 200 Free – 2:02.96
Accomplishments: Three-time medalist and four-time qualifier at MIAA States Division One and MIAA North Sectionals … Named to the All-Star Middlesex League Team in 2014 … President of school’s Economics Club.
Personal: Born Mackenzie Rae Martin in Boston … Daughter of Patrick Martin and Karen Goodridge … Has one sister … Cousin Kate Martin ’03 swam at Colgate.
Waeger on Martin: “Kenzie will provide a lot of depth to a lot of events. We’re excited to see how she develops and progresses throughout her four years.”
Maddi Sullivan – Free – Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima
Top Times: 50 Free – 23.89, 100 Free – 52.47
Accomplishments: Four-time All-County and three-time All-Greater Rochester honoree …12-time sectional champion and four-time state championship participant … Helped lead Honeoye Falls-Lima team to 2016 sectional championship and was named the Monroe County Division 3 Swimmer of the Year … Holds three school records … Won sectional championships in 100 and 200 free, and 200 and 400 free relays as a senior … Also played lacrosse and alpine skiing in high school … Was a member of National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Madison Taylor Sullivan in Warwick, N.Y. … Daughter of John and Karen Sullivan … Has one brother … Relative Patrick Kane played professional hockey.
Waeger on Sullivan: “Maddi is going to be huge for us in the sprint events. It’s an event group we really needed to address with recruiting, and we think she’s going to be an instant-impact swimmer.”
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Cole Bligh – Free/Fly – Summit, N.J./Summit
Top Times: 200 Free – 1:48.20, 500 Free – 4:41.55
Accomplishments: Named MVP of his Summit High School team in 2017 as a senior captain … Participated in the 200 Free, 500 Free, 200 Free Relay and 400 Free Relay in the 2014 and 2015 Section North 2 Championships.
Personal: Born Coleman Walker Bligh in Summit, N.J. … Son of Thomas ’88 and Victoria ’90 Bligh … Father ran cross country at Colgate … Grandfather Copeland Bertsche ’63 is also a Colgate alum … Has two sisters.
Waeger on Bligh: “Cole looks like he can swim just about anything. He’s going to be able to plug any hole we need him to fill in a lot of events.”
Nick Deibold – Breast/Free – Weston, Mass./Weston
Top Times: 100 Breast – 59.21, 100 Fly – 53.98
Accomplishments: Helped guide his Weston High School team to a pair of Massachusetts State Championships in 2014 and 2016 … Named a four-year Dual County League All-Star … Swam to the league title in the 100 breaststroke in 2016 … Served as a team captain and was named the team MVP.
Personal: Born Nicholas Bandak Diebold in Bryn Mawr, Pa. … Son of Kurt and Tania Diebold … Has one brother.
Waeger on Deibold: “Nick is a versatile swimmer. Breaststroke is one of our deepest events on the team and he’s going to come in and push the upperclassmen.”
Ehran Hodes – Breast/Free – Hamden, Conn./Hamden
Top Times: 100 Breast – 1:01.53, 200 Breast – 2:13.29, 500 Free – 4:50.18
Accomplishments: Guided his Hamden High School team to a SCC Division 2 Championship as a senior in 2017 … Sectional and YMCA Nationals Qualifier … Served as team captain of Omni Swim Club in 2016-17 … Member of the National Honors Society.
Personal: Born Ehran William Hodes in New Haven, Conn… Son of Jack and Traci Hodes … Has two sisters.
Waeger on Hodes: “Ehran can swim just about anything, but we’ll probably narrow in on some breaststroke and freestyle. He’s one of the most enthusiastic incoming first-years and he’s very ready to be a Colgate swimmer.”
Andrew Keleman – Free – Penfield, N.Y./Fairport
Top Times: 200 Free – 1:45.30, 500 Free – 4:41.80, 1,000 Free – 9:43.99, 1,650 Free – 16:18.03
Accomplishments: Led Fairport High School team to state and sectional championships … Three-year All-Greater Rochester selection … Captained team as a senior.
Personal: Born Andrew Lawrence Kelemen in Hartford, Conn. … Son of Drew and MaryJane Keleman … Has two sisters … Grandfather Larry Bossidy ’57 played baseball at Colgate.
Waeger on Keleman: “Andrew will come in and fill a big hole that Dominic Wilkins left upon graduation in distance freestyle. The program Andrew comes from, Victor Swim Club, really prepared him for college swimming.”
Ryan Klein – Free – Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell
Top Times: 100 Free – 49.15, 200 Free – 1:48.95
Accomplishments: Led his Maine-Endwell High School team to three New York State Small School Championships and four-straight sectional titles … Named All-Conference as a senior captain in 2017 … Class President and member of the National Honor Society and Key Club.
Personal: Born Ryan Joseph Klein in Buffalo, N.Y… Son of Kathy Klein … Has one brother and one sister … Also played tennis in high school.
Waeger on Klein: “Ryan will help us a lot in freestyle. He’ll gain a lot from experience and we see great things for his future.”
Camden Koch – Back/IM/Fly – Middlebury, Ind./Northridge
Top Times: 100 Back – 50.99, 200 Back – 1:53.05, 200 IM – 1:54.78, 400 IM – 4:04.20
Accomplishments: Two-time second team All-State in 100 backstroke and four-time All-Conference pick … Two-time NISCA All-American and Junior National Qualifier … Selected for the Indiana Swimming Olympic Development Swim Camp … Helped lead team to state final appearances in all four years of his career, as well as four sectional and conference championships .
Personal: Born Camden Charles Koch in South Bend, Ind… Son of Tim and Micki Koch … Has one brother and one sister.
Waeger on Koch: “Camden is one our top recruits coming in. He’s a really talented backstroker and fills a huge hole for us in that event. He can get it done in a lot of different events and we’re happy to have him.”
Mick Leonard – Breast/Free – Thousand Oaks, Calif./Viewpoint School
Top Times: 100 Breast – 1:02.14, 50 Free – 22.50
Accomplishments: Led his Viewpoint School team to a Gold Coast League Championship as a senior captain in 2017 … Member of the 200 medley relay team that placed 10th in the California State Championships … Was also a captain of the lacrosse team and a member of the Spanish National Honor Society.
Personal: Born McCloy Douglas Leonard in Los Angeles … Son of Andy Leonard and Jesse Douglas … Has one brother and one sister.
Waeger on Leonard: “Mick is raw talent, having picked up swimming a bit later in life. He has a really athletic build and he’s going to be one to watch once we can develop and fine-tune some things. The sky is the limit with Mick.”
Graham Russell – Free – New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan
Top Times: 100 Free – 49.15, 200 Free – 1:48.95
Accomplishments: Helped lead New Canaan High School team to a pair of State Championships as a junior and senior … Earned All-State honors in the 200 medley relay … Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Graham Keith Russell in Chicago … Son of Stephen and Gretchen Russell … Has one brother.
Waeger on Russell: “Graham is another raw talent. The more experience he gets, the better he’ll be and we really look forward to seeing him grow and develop as a Raider.”