University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Swim & Dive Recruit Class Ranked No. 8 Nationally
August 28, 2019 | Swimming & Diving
LOS ANGELES โ The incoming UCLA swimming and diving recruiting class has been ranked the No. 8 group in the country, it was revealed by the outlet SwimSwam this week.
This marks the first time a Bruin recruit class has been nationally ranked by SwimSwam since 2015, when UCLA was also No. 8. That class featured a pair of Bruin mainstays in Emma Schanz and Sandra Soe.
The newest class of Bruins is headlined by Gabby Dang (Bothell, Wash.), Sophia Kosturos (Orinda, Calif.), Brooke Scaffer (Mountain View, Calif.), Rachel Rhee (Encinitas, Calif.), Daniella Hawkins (San Ramon, Calif.), and Lauryn Johnson (Rockville Centre, N.Y.).
Both Dang (100 fly, 52.58; 50 free, 22.90) and Kosturos (100 back, 52.92; 50 free, 53.93) enter their collegiate careers with near-NCAA qualifying marks. Johnson recently earned an Olympic Trials-qualifying cut in the 200 fly after finishing in 2:14.28 at this summer's Junior Nationals. ย
UCLA head diving coach Tom Stebbins, who in 2019 was honored as both the CSCAA and Pac-12 Diving Coach of the Year, re-loaded with a pair of diving recruits in Hannah Butler (Rochester, N.Y.) and Katelynn Shaheen (La Canada, Calif.). During their prep careers, Butler was a New York State Champion in girls diving while Shaheen is a World Junior Trial finalist.
Among the incoming Bruins, nine were named All-Americans this past season by the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA), four won State Championships, and another four won events at their section championships.
UCLA swim fans can see the newest Bruins in action for the first time during Blue and Gold Meet Weekend, scheduled for Oct. 4-5. The weekend will consist of an intersquad meet at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 followed by a post-meet social that will both welcome new head coach Jordan Wolfrum and celebrate the career of the recently-retired Cyndi Gallagher.
For more info on Blue and Gold Meet Weekend, contact Nathan Anderson at nanderson@athletics.ucla.edu or call 310-825-6303.
Keep up-to-date on all things UCLA Swim and Dive by following the team on Twitter (@UCLASwimAndDive) and Instagram (@uclaswimandive).ย
Players Mentioned
