Swimming & Diving Signs Two More For 2014-15
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas swimming and diving team signed two divers to National Letters of Intent (NLI) during the NCAA’s early signing period to continue their academic and athletic careers at the University of Kansas.
Joining the KU roster for the 2014-15 season will be Nadia Khechfe and Sydney Power. Alyssa Golden will be the only senior to graduate from the diving squad and diving coach Brian Pritt said he will be looking for the new girls to help fill her void.
“I will be looking for overall leadership after Alyssa is gone,” Pritt said. “I know that I personally am going to have to take a stronger role in that, as well. Alyssa has been doing well in that area. It’s always good having a senior on your team. Next year we are going to be younger. I think that Nadia has a strong personality and I’m looking for her to come in and lead by example.”
Nadia Khechfe • Lincoln, Neb. • Lincoln High School • Nebraska Dive Club
Khechfe has qualified for both USA and AAU nationals. She has been diving for eight years, but has been a multi-sport athlete in high school. In addition to diving, she is a member of the golf and varsity soccer teams for Lincoln High. Khechfe qualified for state her freshman year, which would be her only year of high school diving and she remains active in her club team, Nebraska Dive Club.
“She is a small girl, but packed full of power,” Pritt said. “She jumps really high and has great mechanics. She comes from a good club team. I have been friends with her coach Kris Hoffman for a while and as a result I trust Nadia’s background. I’m looking for big things from her. I think she is going to come in and be a powerhouse right off the bat.”
Sydney Power • Tampa, Fla. • H.B. Plant High School • West Florida Lightning Aquatics.
Power placed sixth in the Florida state meet. She has an unweighted GPA of 4.0 (5.8 weighted). She placed first at the 2012 YCF Diving Christmas Invitational and 13th at the 2013 USA Diving Summer Junior Region 7 Championships. Power also qualified for the 2013 USA Diving Junior Zone Championships.
“Sydney is a little raw,” Pritt said. “She has battled through a back injury for the past year so training hasn’t been consistent for her. She is a srtong kid and is willing to get better. She is bright and smart. She is a blank canvas and we have some things to work on but she is coming in as a former teammate of Amanda Maser and her coach, Patty Stringham was a former KU diver.”
