University of Tennessee Athletics
Swimming Announces 2016 Class
December 09, 2015 | Swimming & Diving
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Head swimming and diving coach Matt Kredich announced the 12 swimmers that will join the squad in the fall of 2016.
The incoming class, which includes multiple swimmers with experience and success on the international scale, includes six men and six women.
New additions on the men's side include: distance freestyler Taylor Abbott (Cedar Park, Texas), breaststroker Jared Clance (Suwanee, Ga.), sprint freestyler Alec Connolly (Knoxville, Tenn.), backstroker Matthew Garcia (Sarasota, Fla.), backstroker Nathan Murray (Charlotte, N.C.) and Braga Verhage (Perth, Australia). Freshmen joining the women's squad include: distance freestyler Spence Atkins (Sarasota, Fla.), backstroker/freestyler Mary Cayten Brakefield (Nashville, Tenn.), freestyler Erika Brown (Cornelius, N.C.), IMer/distance freestyler Tessa Cieplucha (Georgetown, Ontario, Canada), IMer Meghan Small (Lineboro, Md.) and breaststroker/IMer Annie Waldum (Gillette, Wyo.).
"We are really excited about the depth, breadth, potential, and character of this recruiting class," Kredich said. "Our staff has done a tremendous job of identifying people who fit our value system, and our team has been instrumental in helping them feel that they have a home and a family at the University of Tennessee. This group covers a lot of events and helps us fill in some of our needs, including the events in which our current seniors have excelled. We're going to have some holes to fill after graduation and we feel really good about this group's ability to step into those positions.
"We have a great mix of great experience and great potential in this class. We have people who have won medals internationally and some who are just now turning their attention to the sport and showing tremendous promise and passion. This is a group of very accomplished students with very high aspirations in the pool and in the classroom, and we expect to see them continue our tradition of academic excellence and achievement. I see them becoming great representatives of our university and having a significant and immediate impact on our program."
Here's a look at the newest Vols:
Taylor Abbott
A native of Cedar Park, Texas, Taylor Abbott is a distance freestyler who races for Nitro Swimming and has also represented Team USA in international competition. He was the 5K champion at the 2014 FINA Open Water Junior World Championships and was a USA Swimming Junior National Team member in 2014 and 2015. Earlier this year, he was the 10K junior national champion at the 2015 US Open Water Nationals (10th overall) and earned a silver medal in the 1500-meter free at the FINA Junior World Championships.
He also swam two years for Cedar Park High School, where he earned the silver medal in the 500 free in the Texas Class 4A meet two years in a row. In yards, his top career times include: 500 free (4:24.18) and 1650 free (15:01.46). The mile time would already place fourth in UT history.
He plans to major in business.
"I chose the University of Tennessee because Coach Kredich and Coach Fenwick have developed a program that gives their athletes an opportunity to achieve excellence in the pool, in the classroom, in open water and in life," Abbott said. "I believe that Tennessee is the best place for me because after meeting with the coaching staff, spending time with the team and touring the campus, it was very clear to me that the swimming program creates a positive and competitive environment for all its swimmers to perform at the highest level."
Kredich says: "Taylor is going to be a great addition to our team. He's a junior world champion so he knows how to win, he has a tremendous work ethic, and he is an intensely driven student. Taylor has been really impressive through this process because he knows what he wants in the classroom and in the pool, and he has a compelling vision for himself and the team at Tennessee. Taylor has his eyes set on the top of the podium, and he's got the work ethic and ability to get there."
Spence Atkins
Hailing from Sarasota, Fla., Spence Atkins is a distance freestyler with family ties to the Tennessee program. As a member of the Sarasota YMCA Sharks, the team won consecutive Junior Olympic Championships and YMCA National Championships. She competed for Riverview High School from 2012-15, earning All-America honors each year and serving as team captain in 2014 and 2015. The team won state championships in 2012 and 2013. She was the state champion in the 500 freestyle in 2015.
Her best time in the 500-yard free is 4:46.77 and her best in the 1650 free is 16:10.99.
Atkins' mother, Tillie Patterson, was a three-time All-American at Tennessee from 1983-87. Reid Patterson, was an NCAA champion in the freestyle at Georgia in the 1950s and competed in the 1956 Olympics. Atkins' signing also marks a homecoming in another way; Atkins was born in Knoxville. Atkins' grandfather,
"I felt a sense of a family, unity and it just felt like home," Atkins said. "My mom encouraged me to go there; she thought it was the perfect fit, as did I."
Kredich says: "Spence is our third ever `legacy' swimmer on the women's team. Her mom was an All American and school record holder for Tennessee and we think Spence can work her way to that level as well. She is a very good distance swimmer, and should fit into our program seamlessly. She is known as a fierce competitor, and as part of the YMCA National Championship team, she has shown that she can help a team win at very high levels."
Mary Cayten Brakefield
An in-state product from Nashville, Tenn., Mary Cayten Brakefield attends Hillsboro High School. She was a multi-sport athlete at Hillsboro, competing in volleyball and tennis in addition to swimming. As a member of the Nashville Aquatic Club, she qualified for the USA Swimming Junior Winter Nationals for the first time.
Brakefield plans to major in retail management and already has experience in the field, frequently to serve others. She established Pillows with a Purpose, a specialty pillow making enterprise to support research for Hashimoto's encephalopathy. She's also been an intern for Nashville designer Van Hoang.
"I have been a huge Vols fan my entire life, and after meeting the team and the coaches, it was clear to me that Tennessee was the place I wanted to be," Brakefield said. "I loved the coaching style and philosophy of Coach Kredich and his staff, and the energy and enthusiasm of the team motivated me to choose Tennessee."
Kredich says: "We're really excited about Mary Cayten. She's a relative newcomer to the sport as a year round pursuit, and she is improving rapidly. Her background in other sports has helped her develop into a fantastic athlete, and that athleticism should allow her to step into this program and progress to the point where she is competitive for points in the conference and eventually at NCAA level. There is no question though that she'll have an immediate impact on our team through her character and personality. She's got great energy and enthusiasm for swimming and for Tennessee."
Erika Brown
Hailing from Cornelius, N.C., Erika Brown is a two-year freestyle All-American who attends William Amos Hough High. She was a two-time state champion as a junior, winning the 200-yard free (1:46.47) and the 400 free relay. She competes for SwimMAC Carolina and earned bronze medal finishes at the USA Swimming Junior Nationals in the 200 freestyle in 2014 and 2015.
In short course yards, here's a look at Brown's career bests: 50 free (22.95), 100 free (49.86), 200 free (1:46.47), and the 500 free (4:51.63).
Brown chose Tennessee because of the family atmosphere and coaching staff. She plans to eventually attend medical school to become a dermatologist.
Kredich says: "We're really excited about Erika for a lot of reasons. She's very accomplished, she's versatile, and she helps us fill several needs. She has three strong strokes and her freestyle is technically one of the best I've seen. Erika has a magnetic personality and is a strong communicator. Finally, she loves to compete. Two of Erika's past coaches, from opposite ends of the country, told me that "she will find a way to get her hand on the wall first."
Tessa Cieplucha
A native of Georgetown, Ontario, Tessa Cieplucha is an IMer and distance freestyler who has represented Canada on the international stage. She has competed the last three years with the Oakville Aquatic Club, which won the overall team and women's titles at the 2015 Canadian National Championships. As a show of her swimming versatility, she has recorded 10 Canadian Olympic trial qualifying times.
At this year's Canadian Pan Am Trials, Cieplucha won the 1500-meter free and was fourth in the IM. She also won three medals in the Canadian Summer Nationals, including a silver in the 800-meter free. In open water competition, she represented Canada at the 2014 FINA World Junior Open Water Championships in Hungary and in the 10K at the 2015 FINA World Cup stop in Cozumel, Mexico. In long course meters, her best times include: 400 IM (4:46.54); 200 free (2:03.39); 800 free (8:50.00) and the 1500 free (16:47.84).
She earned multiple swimming academic accolades while in high school and plans to major in environmental science at UT.
"I chose Tennessee because I had an instant connection from the beginning of the recruiting process. I loved the atmosphere and energy I got from both the team and the coaching staff; the environment makes you want to work hard and be successful. The support that is offered to the student-athletes is unbelievable and so are the facilities. I am so excited to be a Volunteer."
Kredich says: "Tessa is one of Canada's rising stars, so we feel fortunate to be able to bring her to the states. As a 400 IM'er she displays a desire for technical mastery as well as the work ethic and patience that it takes to excel in longer events. She does not have a weak stroke, and shares our teams relentless drive to improve."
Jared Clance
Jared Clance is a breaststroker from Suwanee, Ga. He competes as a member of Swim Atlanta and has participated in the 2015 junior nationals this year. His main events on the 200-yard breaststroke (2:01.08) and the 100 breaststroke (56.96).
He plans to major in biology and plans to become a veterinary surgeon. He has been a member of the Boy Scouts and competitive math teams. He was on the USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team in 2014 and 2015.
"Tennessee felt like the perfect school for me as soon as my recruiting visit started," Clance said. "I had an immediate connection with the coaches and team, and I loved everyone I met. The standards of the team fit perfectly with my swimming goals, and I know that it will be the perfect environment for me to continually improve. I was extremely impressed with the amount of the academic resources that will be available to me, and I'm confident that I will be able to excel both in swimming and in academics."
Kredich says: "Jared is a rapidly improving breaststroker who we think is going to have a real impact in the SEC. He's got a great work ethic, a great sense of humor, and is a fantastic student. Jared's desire to learn will be a great fit with our breaststroke training group."
Alec Connolly
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Alec Connolly is a homegrown sprint freestyler. He attends Knoxville Catholic High School, where he has been on the swimming and diving team throughout his entire high school career. He lettered in the varsity division in 2013-15, as well as being appointed team captain for his senior year.
Along with his high school athletic involvement, Alec is also a member of Tennessee Aquatics.
He specializes in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, posting career-best times of 20.94 and 46.32 in the two events. His future goals are to break the state records for the 50 and 100 freestyle during his senior year at Knoxville Catholic and to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics while representing his country on the international stage.
"Living in Knoxville my whole life, UT was always the first college I've ever been to and seen," Connolly said. "The swimming program at UT was a win when I first visited and saw what they offer to their athletes. First, the great coaching staff will find those tiny things that need improvement to make you a better athlete. Second was the awesome environment within the team. They weren't just teammates; they were family."
Kredich says: "Alec has been under our noses for the past few years and really jumped onto our radar after last year's high school championships. His coach Brett Tannhauser was Lance Asti's roommate in college, and has been praising Alec's ability for a while now. Alec has tremendous athletic skills and a very impressive progression considering the fact that he has devoted comparatively little time to swimming while he has pursued a lot of other interests. We're excited to see what he can do now that he's focused much more of his energy on swimming."
Matthew Garcia
A native of Sarasota, Fla., Matthew Garcia is a backstroker who has earned four All-America honors as a member of Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School. He has lettered for the team four years, spending his senior year as captain. Like Spence Atkins, Garcia is also a member of the Sarasota YMCA Sharks, which won the YMCA Nationals in 2015.
His top times in yards, include: 100 back (47.88), 200 back (1:45.67), 200 fly (1:50.59) and 200 free (1:39.60).
"I chose Tennessee for the motivated team atmosphere, the scientific coaching philosophy and I can continue my strength and conditioning training with Vern Gambetta," Garcia said.
Kredich says: "Matthew is a fantastic fit for our program. He's a very positive and driven young man who is going to make an immediate impact on our team. He's got three very good strokes, he has really good underwater speed, is a tough competitor, and is very good technically. Matthew is still developing rapidly and is familiar with a lot of what we do already, especially on land, so his transition should be pretty smooth. He helps us fill our backstroke needs and has put himself in a position to be able to help our relays immediately."
Nathan Murray
Nathan Murray is a three-time All-American backstroker hailing from Charlotte, N.C. At South Mecklenberg High School, Nathan has lettered all four years and helped lead the team to the state championship in 2015. His main events are the 100 and 200 backstroke, but cites one of his favorite performances was coming from being on his school's 400 freestyle relay team as anchor leg to win the state title.
He trains as a member of SwimMAC Carolina.
He is also an Eagle Scout, and National Honor Society member. His professional role model is Aaron Peirsol, a current world record holder in the 100 and 200 meter backstroke. The Olympics are in Nathan's sights, and uses his motivation to drive his effort while in the water. Nathan is a three time All-American. He is a qualifier for the 2016 Olympic trials in the 200-meter backstroke (2:02.34).
Kredich says: "Nathan is a fantastic backstroker and freestyler who caught our eye a couple of years ago because of his competitiveness and technical ability. He is an excellent student, a service minded member of the community, and a great team guy. I'm not sure how many Eagle Scouts we've ever signed but he's one of them. He will also help us fill the hole left by our senior backstrokers, and will give us more depth and possibilities in the freestyle events as well."
Meghan Small
A native of Lineboro, Md., Meghan Small is an IMer and versatile swimmer who has been top-ranked recruit by multiple services (No. 1 - SwimSwam, No. 2 - CollegeSwimming). Already a member of the USA Swimming Senior National Team, she took silver this summer in the 200-meter IM at the 2015 Pan Am Games. One of her first breakout international performances came at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, where she took bronze in the 200 IM. She competes with York YMCA and won four events this year (200 IM, 400 IM, 100 back, 200 back) at the YMCA Nationals.
Her top short course yard times include: 200 IM (1:54.25), 400 IM (4:03.96); 200 free (1:45.48), 100 back (52.19), 200 back (1:51.74). Her times in both individual medleys are already several seconds faster than the Tennessee school records, both held by current seniors on the UT squad.
Small will be among many Tennessee swimmers past and present to compete in next summer's USA Swimming Olympic Trials. She has the fifth fastest time -- best among swimmers 18 and under -- in the 200-meter IM (2:11.26). She has also qualified in the 400 IM, 200 breast, 100 back and 200 back.
Kredich says: "Meghan is one of the most accomplished swimmers we've ever brought into the women's team. She's a seasoned international competitor, and as a Pan Ams silver medallist, she has shown that she knows what it takes to win at the highest level. As a member of a great YMCA team, she's also learned what it means to be on a team and she's incredibly team focused. Meghan has a lot of tools - speed, endurance, technical proficiency, and great work ethic. She's going to have a big impact on our program right away."
Braga Verhage
Hailing from Perth, Australia, Braga Verhage specializes in the sprint events, running the gamut from freestyle to backstroke and butterfly. He competes for the West Coast Swimming Club, which has won the Western Australia A Grade pennant the last four years during Verhage's participation. He has won eight medals growing up at the Australian Age National championships, including four gold.
His top times in long course meters include: 50 free (23.19), 100 free (52.44), 100 back (57.55) and 100 butterfly (56.90).
"I chose Tennessee because it was an opportunity to do something different that Australia doesn't really offer," Verhage said.
Kredich says: "Braga is a high energy, multi talented sprinter who will be a great addition to our relays and our team as a whole. He's tremendous underwater and has great speed in freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly. He has competed well internationally and seems to rise to the occasion as the stakes get higher in competition."
Annie Waldum
A native of Gillette, Wyo., Annie Waldum is a breaststroker and IMer. She attends Campbell County High School, where she has helped the team to three consecutive state titles and an undefeated record, serving two years as team captain. She has won three state titles int he 100 breast and set the state record in the event. She also has a state title in the 200 IM. She is an all-state and all-conference recipient four years and was named the Wyoming high school swimmer of the year and swimmer of the state meet in 2014-15.
She is a member of the Gillette Swim Team and has competed at both the summer and winter junior nationals. Her short course top times include: 100 breast (1:03.56), 200 breast (2:20.53) and 200 IM (2:09.62).
She plans to major in kinesiology at Tennessee.
"I chose Tennessee because of the team and coaches," Waldum said. "The team and coaches were very warm and welcoming. I could tell they are very committed to excellence. I knew by choosing Tennessee, I would reach my full potential athletically and academically."
Kredich says: "Annie really stood out to us in some very important ways during the recruiting process. She is driven to improve and is doing so rapidly, she's a great leader, a great teammate, and is a very motivated student. She has an infectious attitude that will immediately make our team better."
