Swimming and Diving Signs Five
Nov. 16, 2004
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas swimming and diving head coach Clark Campbell announced the signing of five swimmers to national letters of intent for the 2005-06 season on Tuesday. Molly Brammer (Blue Springs, Mo.), Jessica Brozek (Great Bend, Kan.), Ashley Leidigh (Merriam, Kan.), Rhynn Malloy (Holden, Mass.) and Kendall Matous (Overland Park, Kan.) will join the team next fall.
Brammer is currently a senior at Blue Springs High School where she swims distance freestyle races and the individual medley. She is also a member of the Team Dolphins club team and is coached by Robert Sturman.
“Molly has a great background developed by her coach and former KU standout, Robert Sturman,” Campbell said. “She will come in and make an immediate impact in the 500, 1000 and 1650 Free as well as the 400 IM. Molly is also a dynamite student and will really contribute to our program’s academic goals as well.”
Brozek joins the team from Great Bend High School and is a member of the Western Kansas Swim Club team. She is currently coached by Karen Copeland and Steve Beaumont. Brozek will swim middle distance freestyle races at Kansas.
“Jessica is a true ‘diamond-in-the-rough’ and we feel very fortunate to have her stay in-state,” Campbell said. “Her best swimming is still in front of her and we feel she will really develop in college. Her work ethic is second-to-none and in our environment, she will greatly improve. She is extraordinarily gifted at her academics as well.”
Leidigh attends Shawnee Mission North where she swims the butterfly and sprint freestyle races. She is a member of the Kansas City Dolphins club team and is coached by Josh Keehn.
“Ashley was one of the most improved swimmers in our region last year. Her coach, Josh Keehn, did a tremendous job of getting Ashley to the next level,” Campbell said. “With the departure of Amy Gruber, we’ll need Ashley to step up immediately in her events and contribute right out of the gate. It is going to be exciting watching Ashley develop into one of the top swimmers in the Big 12.”
Malloy is currently a swimmer at Wachusett Regional where she swims the breaststroke and individual medley events. She is a member of the Magnus Aquatic Group club team and is coached by Don Lemieux.
“Rhynn is simply one of the most gifted breaststrokers I have ever recruited. She is still relatively new to the sport and has only begun year-around training,” Campbell said. “She could be one of the top 200 breaststrokers in the country as she has all the necessary tools. We’re also very excited about her potential in the individual medley events.”
Matous, a butterfly and freestyle swimmer from Blue Valley North, rounds out the recruiting class. She is a member of the Kansas City Blazers club team and is coached by Pete Malone.
“Kendall is another `diamond-in-the-rough’ we feel very lucky to have in our program,” Campbell said. “She comes to us from the KC Blazers and Pete Malone has really helped her improve in a short amount of time. Kendall should come in and contend right away. She has a lot of natural ability and is a very good underwater dolphin kicker, which will become a weapon for her.”
“Our fall signees represent another chapter in our progression as a team shooting for the top 25. They all can come to KU and be a part of that goal immediately. Our recruiting coordinator and assistant coach, Jen Fox, must be credited with this effort,” Campbell added. “She worked tirelessly on our fall recruiting phase and put together a great class. These five not only will help KU towards our collegiate goals, but have the opportunity to compete at the ’08 Olympic Trials.”
The Kansas swimming and diving team continues its 2004-05 season, Nov. 18-20, at the Nike Cup in Chapel Hill, N.C.
