University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Sign Four to National Letters of Intent
11/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Co-head coaches Kelly Kremer and Terry Nieszner have announced that Marissa Davies (Winnipeg, Man.), Hannah Whitehead (East Grand Forks, Minn.), Ashley Steenvoorden (East Brunswick, N.J.) and Kristen Steenvoorden (East Brunswick, N.J.) have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the program in the fall of 2008.
“We are so pleased with this group of athletes that have chosen to continue their academic and athletic careers here with us,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “Hannah, Kristen, Marissa and Ashley all present a great work ethic and attitude that will only add to our current team. The quality and depth of our freestyle events for next year have certainly been strengthened by their addition and the overall competitiveness of our team should continue to rise.”
Ashley Steenvoorden swims with the Scarlet Aquatic Club under coach Tom Speedling. A spring championship qualifier in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 free, Steenvoorden is also a Senior National qualifier in the 1,000 and 1,650 free. At the spring sectionals, Steenvoorden finished third in the female high point when she won the 1,000 and 1,650 free. She followed with a fourth-place high point finish at the Super Sectionals when she finished third in the 800, second in the 1,500 and was a member of the third-place finish with the 800 free relay. A member of the school honor roll, Steenvoorden will graduate from East Brunswick High School this spring.
“Ashley was someone we knew belonged here the minute she stepped on our campus,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “We are so pleased that through this process she has decided to come to Minnesota. She is a very strong middle distance and distance freestyler, and will make an immediate impact at both the Big Ten and NCAA meets.”
Kristen Steenvoorden also swims with the Scarlet Aquatic Club under coach Tom Speedling. A spring championship qualifier in the 200 and 400 individual medleys and the 1,650 free, Steenvoorden is also a Senior National qualifier in the 400 IM. At the Super Sectionals this past summer, Steenvoorden was third in the high point when she won the 400 IM and was a member of the third-place 800 free relay. Also an honor roll student at East Brunswick High School, Kristen she will graduate this spring.
“Kristen is a very dynamic and versatile swimmer,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “This past summer she really had some nice breakout swims including a National Standard in the 400 IM. Her work ethic and attitude will have an immediate positive impact on our Distance Training Group and Team, and we anticipate her being a member of our NCAA Team as a freshman.”
Marissa Davies swims for Manta Swim Club in her hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba under head coach Tom Hainey. A national qualifier in the sprint and middle distance freestyles, Davies was also selected to the 2007-08 Canadian Junior National Team. During her time with Manta, Davies was awarded Manitoba’s Outstanding Youth Swimmer in back-to-back years in 2005-06 and 2006-07. Davies is a Canadian national and Olympic Trial qualifier in seven events. An honor roll student, Davies will graduate from Westwood Collegiate this spring.
“Marissa has tremendous range in the freestyle events,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “She can swim the 50 and up to the 500. This was also a breakout year for Marissa who has really taken her swimming to another level in the past several months. Marissa is capable of challenging for relay positions coming in the door.”
Hannah Whitehead is a member of the East Grand Forks High School swim team and also swims for the Wahoos and head coach Bryan Walls. Whitehead holds two North Dakota state records in the 200 and 500 free and was named the 2007 North Dakota Senior Athlete of the Year. A 10-time state champion, Whitehead won nine individual events and was a member of a winning relay. Whitehead is a nine-time NISCA All-American and a 17-time YMCA All-American. She is also a national qualifier in the middle distance and distance free events.
“This has been an exciting past few days for Hannah as she just won a couple of State Titles up in North Dakota a couple weeks ago, and we are really happy that she has decided to become a Golden Gopher,” Kremer and Nieszner said. “Bryan Walls has done such a great job of developing Hannah, and we are looking forward to helping her continue that development here.”