Badgers announce talented class of signees for 2018-19

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin swimming and diving program and head coach Whitney Hite announced Thursday a 12-member recruiting class for the 2018-19 season. The signees include four additions to the men's roster and a total of eight newcomers for the UW women.

Men's Signees

Caleb Aman (Bettendorf, Iowa)

IM/Breaststroke/Backstroke
High School: Bettendorf
Club: Lane Four Aquatics
Top Times: 200 IM: 1:47.31; 400 IM: 3:49.54

Aman began his high school career by participating on the state runner-up team, then went on to set a total of 12 individual records over his sophomore and junior years. In club competition, Aman set the Iowa state record in the 400 IM (3:51.03) and placed seventh in the 400 IM at the 2017 NCSA Summer Championships.

Why Wisconsin: "I chose Wisconsin because of the balance between academics and athletics and also the team atmosphere. I am beyond excited to attend and cannot wait for the future."

Hite on Aman: "I'm really excited about Caleb. Anyone who can swim a 1:47 400 IM in high school is definitely someone who is going to help our team. He is very versatile, and should be able to help us in a number of events."

Eli Fouts (Gaithersburg, Md.)

Breaststroke / IM
High School: Quince Orchard
Club: Rockville Montgomery Swim Club
Top Times: 100 Breast: 53.88; 200 Breast: 2:00.54; 100 Fly: 49.27

A two-time captain, Fouts has enjoyed a decorated high school career. He holds the Maryland state record in the 100 breast and has collected three individual state titles. Fouts also broke the district record in the 100 breast set by NCAA champion Eric Friedland. As a member of Rockville Montgomery Swim Club, Fouts finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke at the NCSA summer seniors.

Why Wisconsin: "During my official visit, I enjoyed the team camaraderie of the swimmers and divers. Academically, Wisconsin is top notch. Since I am not completely certain of my major, the range of majors available is attractive. I hope to be a contributor to the team chemistry and the overall performance of the team."

Hite on Fouts: "Eli is someone who can do some really great things for us. You can never have too many breaststrokers on your team, so we're very happy to have him."

Erik Gessner (Plymouth, Minn.)

Backstroke / Butterfly
High School: Minnetonka
Club: Aquajets Swim Team
Top Times: 100 Back: 49.80; 100 Fly: 49.69

Gessner has garnered all-state recognition each year of his high school career and was named an All-American as a junior. He owns the Minnetoka record in the 100 fly. A two-time national qualifier in club competition, Gessner capped off his junior year by participating on a record-setting 200 medley relay squad.

Why Wisconsin: "My grandparents suggested that I take a look at their almamater, the University of Wisconsin. I knew almost instantly during my visit that this was home. Wisconsin has prestigious academics, an incredible swim program, and a sense of family I knew I wanted to be a part of. I am beyond excited to spend my next four years as a Badger. On, Wisconsin!"

Hite on Gessner: "Erik is someone who has an enormous amount of potential. We expect him to come in and improve, and to be swimming very fast."

Matthew Hillmer (Weldon Spring, Mo.)

Freestyle
High School: De Smet Jesuit
Club: CSP Tideriders
Top Times: 500 Free: 4:31.66

In club competition, Hillmer is a NSCA finalist in the 400 free and 1500 free, finishing twelfth and tenth respectively. His club career includes three consecutive appearances in the open water 5K national championship. He swam with his high school as a sophomore, finishing sixth in the 500 freestyle and ninth in the 200 freestyle at the Missouri state championships.

Why Wisconsin: "While my decision to attend is based on my desire to swim for the Men's team, it was strongly influenced by the university's well-rounded offerings. The university excelled in all of my criteria and, after spending a football weekend on campus, captured me with its enthusiasm and charm. I see the University of Wisconsin is the perfect place for me to thrive as a student-athlete and to give back to the community and university for years to come. Finally, in my heart it felt right to say 'I'm a Badger'"

Hite on Hillmer:"He's a distance guy. That's an area that we've been very successful at as a team, and we're hoping to pass the torch to him in that department."

Women's Signees

Alana Palmer (Lincoln, Neb.)

Freestyle
High School: Lincoln Southwest
Club: Lincoln Select Swimming
Top Times: 100 Free: 50.49; 200 Free: 1:48.00; 100 Back: 56.19

Palmer has taken part in a number of decorated relay squads, including a 200-yard medley relay squad that set a Nebraska state-record and claimed the second-fastest time in the country. That relay squad, as well as Palmer's state record performance in the 200 free (1:48.74), helped lift the Lincoln Southwest to a state championship. In club competition, Palmer has qualified for junior nationals the past two years.

Why Wisconsin: "I chose Wisconsin because on my visit I immediately felt at home. I fell in love with the campus, the team and the city of Madison in general. I feel that UW is the place where I will be able to reach my goals academically and in the pool."

Hite on Palmer: "Alana is someone who I think is very untapped. She has a tremendous upside and should be able to help in the 50, 100 and 200 free. We're very excited about her."

Alex Zeiss (Buffalo, Minn.)

Diving
High School: Buffalo
Club: Minnesota Diving Academy
Top Dives: 1 meter (6 dives): 315; 1 meter (11 dives): 470

Zeiss has been named to the Minnesota all-state diving team twice and received All-America recognition as a junior. Her performance as a junior also garnered her recognition as the section diver of the year and as Buffalo High's most valuable diver.

Why Wisconsin: "A few reasons I was immediately drawn to the University of Wisconsin was for the academic rigor, competitive diving program and the beautiful campus. The first time I visited Madison, it felt like home and I knew it was where I wanted to be. Another factor that made my decision so easy was the supportive coaching staff and welcoming team."

Carly Townsend (Dana Point, Calif.)

Diving
High School: JSerra Catholic
Club: Mission Viejo Nadadores

Townsend made history her junior year when she became the first diver in her school's history. She didn't stop there, earning a trip to the California Interscholastic Federation championships. Townsend also made waves outside the pool, competing internationally with the United States national trampoline team.

Why Wisconsin:"I chose the University of Wisconsin for the prestigious academics, the outstanding swimming and diving program, and the sense of community. I knew within the first day that Wisconsin was where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life. I felt Wisconsin had everything I was looking for in a school, as well as everything I needed in order to be successful."

Holly Stoll (Hartland, Wis.)

Backstroke
High School: Arrowhead
Club:Schroeder YMCA
Top Times: 100 Back: 55.59; 200 Back: 159.47 200 IM: 2:03.39

As a team captain her senior year, Stoll finished fifth in the 200 IM and sixth in the 100 back at the WIAA state championships. She also led her team's 200 medley and 400 free relay squads to fifth and third place finishes, respectively. In club competition, Stoll has taken home a total of seven second-place finishes over three years at the state championships, and has participated on two championship-winning relay squads.

Why Wisconsin: "Entitled to nothing, grateful for everything. When I read this written on the wall during my junior day visit, I knew this was home for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a student-athlete at one of the best universities in the country, both academically and athletically, and to represent the state I love and am proud to call home."

Hite on Stoll: "We think Holly is a bullet underwater. Every coach that we've talked to about her had nothing but great things to say about her, so we're very excited to have her."

Izzy Lampre (Brisbane, Australia)

Freestyle / Butterfly
High School: Genesis Christian College
Club:Brisbane Grammar
Top Times (LCM): 100 Back: 1:02.34; 100 IM: 1:02.40; 200 IM: 2:13.27

A captain her senior year, Lampre holds six school records and was named team MVP each of her four years at Genesis. While competing with the Brisbane Grammer Swimming Club, Lampre won the 100 IM and the 200 IM at the Queensland short course championships every year she competed with the club.

Why Wisconsin: "I chose the University of Wisconsin because of their unique combination of both academic and swimming excellence. As an Australian, finding a home in America that suited me was really important and the Badgers have a strong history of Australian swimmers that left no doubt in my mind that this would be the place for me."

Hite on Lampre: "We're very excited about Izzy. I think that she's going to do great things. She can do a lot of things very well."

Lillie Hosack (Cedarburg, Wis.)

Freestyle / Backstroke / IM
High School: Cedarburg
Club: Ozaukee Aquatics
Top Times: 100 Back: 53.98; 200 back: 158.44; 200 IM: 1:58.13

A two-time MVP of her high school team, Hosack took home All-America honors for the 200 IM and 100 back after her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Hosack was named the Wisconsin short course swimmer of the year in 2016 while competing with Ozaukee Aquatics.

Why Wisconsin: "Wisconsin has a good atmosphere, great academics, a top coaching staff, and I love the culture of the team. Also, I wanted to swim at UW to represent my home state."

Hite on Hosack: "Arguably the top recruit in Wisconsin this year. I think she has the potential to be on the U.S. national team. She's going to be very, very good."

Maddy Gough (Gold Coast, Australia)

Freestyle
High School: Varsity Lakes
Top Times (LCM): 400 Free: 4:08.27; 800 Free: 8:23.86; 1500 Free: 16:02.34

Why Wisconsin: "I chose Wisconsin for the chance to swim in a really positive team environment, for the great school, and for the snow!"

Hite on Gough: "More of a distance swimmer. I think Madeleine has a tremendous amount of potential. She's another athlete who has the potential to represent her country at the highest level."

Margaret Guanci (Riverwoods, Ill.)

Backstroke
High School: Loyola Academy
Club: New Trier Swim Club
Top Times: 100 Back: 59.93; 200 Back (LCM): 2:14.74

Named a captain of her high school team for her senior year, Guanci finished fourth in the 100 back at the 2016 Illinois state championships. She also was part of two second-place relay squads at the same event. Her performance earned her a spot on the all-state team. In club competition, Guanci set the 17-18 Illinois state record for the 200 back and qualified for finals in the 200 back at the 2017 Phillips 66 National Championships.

Why Wisconsin: "The first time I visited UW-Madison it was a cold day in early January and no students were on campus. I still fell in love with the school and the city. I loved the girls I met, the coaches and the team environment."

Hite on Guanci: "Margaret had a tremendous summer. She's going to help us with the backstroke., and the sky is the limit for her. I think she fits the mold of a Badger student-athlete."

University of Wisconsin Athletics