Women's swimming/diving class has 1 transfer, 5 freshmen

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Women’s Swimming Adds One Transfer and Five Freshmen to 2023 Class

DALLAS - SMU first-year head coach Ozzie Quevedo has notched one transfer and five freshmen to mark his first recruiting class with the Mustangs.

Quevedo said each one of his recruits represents the values of SMU.

"This is a very well balanced class which will provide depth to our team." Quevedo said. "Each one of these women brings a unique aspect to our team in the pool and all of them are brilliant in the classroom which aligns perfectly with the SMU model. We are excited to develop this class and continue the already ongoing process with the entire team."

SMU is looking to build upon its success from last season with its new additions. The Mustangs are coming off of three third place finishes at the American Athletic Conference Championships — which they have qualified for almost ten years in a row.

Below is a brief introduction of each incoming signee and/or transfer for the 2023 roster:

Erin McGrath - Freshman | Flower Mound, TX./Marcus High School
Specializing in the 50 and 100 free, McGrath joins the Mustangs with a family history of collegiate athletes in the water. Her sister Cory currently plays water polo for Austin College. McGrath herself is a four year letterwinner from Marcus High School and former member of the Lakeside Aquatic Club. There, she held three school records and was a state qualifier during her junior and senior years. Also during her upperclassman years, she was named swimmer of the year and awarded the LEF Scholarship.

Jordan Morgan - Junior | Gilroy, Calif./Transfer from University of Texas at Austin
Morgan comes highly decorated from a Power Five school as a two-time Big 12 Championship team member. The 5'7" swimmer specializes in the breaststroke and will be majoring in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs. At the University of Texas at Austin, she was a member of the 2022-23 Academic All-Big 12 First Team. Her mother, Allison, was a diver for the University of California San Diego. In High School, she attended the U.S. Performance Academy and was the two-time Pacific Outstanding Swimmer of the Year.

Caroline Nickel - Freshman | Milton, GA./Milton High School
Three-time varsity captain and four-time state qualifier, Nickel joins the Mustangs specializing in the 100 and 200-backstroke as well as the 50 and 100-freestyle. At Milton High School, she was the three-time Swimmer of the Year award and Most Valuable Player. Nickel also participated in club swimming with Atlanta Johns Creek, finishing in the top 10 at the state competition.

Madison Patel - Freshman | Paduch, KY./Paducah Tilghman High School
At just her second college visit, Patel signed with SMU due to her love of the school and the state of Texas. Also coming from a family line of collegiate swimmers, Patel lettered all four years in high school where she was the seven-time regional champion. She also finished in the top-eight in state all four years and was two-time team captain. She was a State Champion through club swimming with the Paducah Swim Team and will be swimming the 100-backstroke and 100-butterfly for the Mustangs.

Lauren Priest - Freshman | Hinsdale, IL./Hinsdale Central High School
2020-22 WSC Conference and Sectional Champion as well as 2021 and 2022 IHSA State Runner-Up, Priest, joins SMU to compete in the 200-backstroke. At Hinsdale Central High School, she graduated Magna Cum Laude and received the Young Scholars Award. Also competing in competitive swimming via FMC Aquatics and the Hinsdale Swim Club, she was a 2021-23 NCSA Qualifier and was a member of the National Team from 2020-23.

Katherine Woodal - Freshman | Lexington, KY./Lexington Catholic High School
Woodal comes to SMU specializing in the 100 and 200-backstroke. She is a futures, sections and NCSA qualifier as well as 10-time State Champion. She holds the Lexington Catholic records in the 100-free, 100-backstroke, 200-medley relay and 400-free. Woodal will be studying biophysics and was named the Overall High School Most Outstanding Student Athlete in the state.

Quevedo said this group feels extra special to him, as it's his first recruiting class for the Mustangs.

"This being the first recruiting class after coach Steve Collins retired, it's a special one because it will set the foundation for what's coming next," Quevedo said.

[Water Pony]

I like the focus on backstroke (my stroke) in this class, although you can't have enough freestylers, especially for relays.

And, the addition of Lauren Priest, a state runner-up from Hinsdale Central, which is a traditional powerhouse in Illinois, is good to see.

[ponyswim]

This is the prior staff's class - the freshmen were long committed. The transfer from UT is pretty good, but has not done best times in a long time. None of the freshmen have shown any sign of being NCAA level athletes except for the girl from Kentucky has some speed. They are probably great young women and good students, but are far short of what SMU needs athletically. That said - there is always a chance for great improvement. Hopefully Ozzie can come up with a couple of more transfers before the fall.