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Milwaukee Women's Swimming & Diving Announces Recruiting Class

Griffore adds 12 in his first class at UWM

May 21, 2007

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming and diving team has announced the addition of 12 student-athletes who will compete next season for the Panthers. UWM head coach Dave Griffore announced the recruiting class today, which consists of 10 high school seniors and two transfers.

Ashley Hall of New Berlin, Wis., and Kate Riebe of Hales Corners, Wis., transferred to UW-Milwaukee from UW-Green Bay. Both transferred to UWM a year ago, but did not compete for the Panthers last season due to NCAA regulations.

Katelyn Brittain of Green Bay, Wis., Kelsey George of Middleton, Wis., Elizabeth Gross of Eau Claire, Wis., Michelle Kornder of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., Amanda Nelson of Forest Lake, Minn., Kelsey Ogle of West Bend, Wis., Suzy Paasch of Brookfield, Wis., Rachel Rebitski of Green Bay, Wis., Lauren Roy of Plymouth, Minn., and Danielle Wenger of Hartford, Wis., were all high school seniors last year. All will enroll at UWM and participate next season.

Hall spent two seasons at UW-Green Bay, placing sixth on both the one- and three-meter boards at the 2006 Horizon League Championships as a sophomore, and broke the UWGB school record on the one-meter. At New Berlin Eisenhower High School, she was a four-year letterwinner who went to state every year. She was an All-American and conference champion as a senior, while also serving as team captain.

"Ashley was a top diver in the Horizon League in her two years at Green Bay and also had to sit out last season and was only able to train," Griffore said. "She will be tough to beat next year."

Riebe spent two seasons at UW-Green Bay and already has a stellar Horizon League resume, placing second in the 100 backstroke, fourth in the 100 butterfly and winner of the consolation final of the 200 back at the 2006 Horizon League Championships. She was also member of the champion 200 medley relay team that set a pool record and took second in the 400 medley relay. Riebe was a four-year letterwinner and state champion swimmer in the 100 backstroke at Whitnall High School.

Brittain was a teammate of UWM recruit Rachel Rebitski at Bay Port High School. She helped team to an undefeated regular season and sectional championship in 2005 and a 10th place finish at the state meet as a senior, swimming in breaststroke and butterfly events.

"Katelyn comes from a successful high school team and will bring a winning attitude to the program," Griffore said. "She will help in our fly and breaststroke events next season."

George dove for Middleton High School, helping her high school team to state runner-up finishes in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Her team went 7-1 in the Big Eight Conference last season and George went on to finish in fifth place at the Wisconsin state meet.

"Kelsey was also one of the top seniors in the state of Wisconsin and has great potential to make an impact next season," Griffore said. "We are very excited for her to join our team."

Gross earned First Team All-Big Rivers Conference honors in the 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay as a senior at Eau Claire Memorial High School. She was a state qualifier in the 200 free, finishing 15th at the state meet, and a YMCA national qualifier in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles.

"Not only is Ellie a great freestyler," Griffore said, "but we see her making an impact in the backstroke events next season as well."

Kornder had a successful senior season diving last year at Kenosha Tremper, placing first in the Southeast Conference, first in sectionals and fourth at the Wisconsin state meet.

"Michelle was another one of the top senior divers in Wisconsin," Griffore said. "We are very excited for her to join the program and develop into a top diver in the league."

Nelson led Forest Lake High School to its first-ever sectional championship as a senior and went on to qualify for the state meet in the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle. She placed third at the state meet in the 100 fly and set a school record in the 200 free. Also, Nelson holds school records in the 100 fly and as a member of the 200 medley relay team and was named all-state in the 100 fly.

"Amanda was one of the top swimmers in the butterfly in the state of Minnesota last year," Griffore said. "With her times, she will come in as one of the top butterflyers in the Horizon League."

Ogle was named Wisconsin Little 10 Conference Swimmer of the Year as both a senior and junior at West Bend West High School. She placed sixth in the 200 and 500 freestyles at the state meet as a senior and also holds conference records in each of those events. She earned first team all-conference honors in those same events as a senior and was also named to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel All-Area Second Team in 2006.

"Kelsey is a very talented swimmer who had great success this past season," Griffore said. "She has the ability to come in and be one of the top freestylers in the Horizon League next season."

Paasch swam distance events at Brookfield Central High School, competing in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyles. She was a state qualifier as a senior and a junior in the 500 freestyle.

"Suzy will add great depth to the squad in the distance events next year," Griffore said. "She will have a great chance to contribute instantly next season."

Rebitski helped lead Bay Port High School to it's best-ever finishes at the Wisconsin State meet, taking 10th as a senior and 12th as a junior. She placed 10th in the 100 freestyle and 11th in the 200 freestyle at the state meet as a senior and helped her team to an undefeated regular season and sectional championship in 2005.

"Rachel will make an impact in the freestyle events next season and has the potential to have great success in the Horizon League," Griffore said.

Roy dove to a fourth place finish as a senior and seventh place as a junior at the Minnesota State Championship meet while at Benilde-St. Margaret's High School. She was named Team MVP three times in four years and to the all-state team twice, and also earned all-conference recognition for her diving to go along with conference and all-state academic awards.

"Lauren comes to us not only with success on the one-meter board, but also on the three-meter board," Griffore said. "She should be able to step in and help us immediately next season."

Wenger served as team captain at Hartford Union High School and competed in all freestyle events. She was a state qualifier in the 200 free, 500 free, 200 free relay and 400 free relay.

"Danielle can swim everything from the 50 to the 1650," Griffore said. "She will excel wherever we put her and we look forward to that versatility."

In Griffore's first season at the helm, the Panthers were in contention until the final event at the Horizon League Championships, finishing in second place - just 12.5 points behind UW-Green Bay - which won its third-straight league title. The women broke eight records overall - two Horizon League, four school and two freshman records fell at the event.