Greeley, Colo – After already signing five prolific swimmers to bolster their roster, Northern Colorado Swimming and Diving adds eight more athletes to the program. Four of the signees arrive from successful high school and club programs around the country. The remaining four make their way to Greeley via the University of North Dakota.
Earlier in 2017, the Fighting Hawks athletic department announced the termination of the UND Swimming and Diving program. With an excellent track record of taking athletes to the next step and an already impressive signing class brewing, each of these former Fighting Hawks, now Bears, made the easy decision to join head coach, Lisa Ebeling and her crew.
“We couldn’t be more proud of the outstanding group of young women that will be joining us for the 2017-2018 season,” said Ebeling. “This is a group of strong leaders and tough competitors who will help Northern Colorado Swimming and Diving get to the next level in the pool. Their dynamic personalities and values will also represent our University well outside of the pool. We are very excited to welcome them all to the Bear family!”
Lauren Gaines
Lauren makes her way to Northern Colorado by way of Desert Vista High School in Chandler, Arizona. A four-year varsity letterman, Gaines was also the team captain for the Thunder. In 2013, the Desert Vista Coach’s Award winner never lost a race, leader her team to a state championship in 2013 and then repeating the feat in 2016. Out of the pool, Gaines also served as the Science as well as the Spanish National Honor Society Vice President from 2016-17, was selected to the Honor Roll each of her four years as Desert Vista and was a scholar athlete recipient from 2013-17 as well. While in Greeley, Gaines will pursue a degree in Biological Science.
Stephanie Tymoszuk
A local Coloradoan, Stehpanie Tymoszuk joins the Blue and Gold from Monarch High School in Lousiville, Colorado. Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Tymoszuk moved to Broomfield in 2015. In her time with the Coyotes, Stephanie was a two-year letterman on the swim team under Melanie Beard. As a member of the Monarch team that qualified for the state championships, Tymoszuk was also named the Coyote Swimmer of the Year in 2016 and was selected as a member of the 2017 BoCo Prep Honorable Mention All-Region Team. Tymoszuk will study pre-med, but while high school, she was inducted into the both the NSHSS and the National Honor Society, and was accepted to the volunteer medical program at Anista Hospital in Louisville, Colorado.
Hayley Stauber
The second product from the Centennial State, Hayley Stauber comes to Northern Colorado from Legend High School in Parker. Stauber lettered in swimming for three consecutive years before an ankle injury kept her from competing her senior season. Leading the Titans through the Continental Conference, Stauber holds the school record in the 100-yard butterfly and was a member of the record-setting 200-yard medley relay team. Prior to her injury, Hayley qualified, individually for the State Sectionals, swimming her fastest times of her career. Stauber has been an Academic letterman since 2015, a member for the Science National Honor Society for all four years of high school, a member of the Choir Council and the Thespian Society. Hayley will pursue a degree in Biology once arriving on campus.
Katie Stover
One of four transfers from the University of North Dakota, Stover will look to make an immediate impact on the Northern Colorado program. Before competing in Fargo, Stover was a standout on both the swimming and synchronized swimming teams at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minnesota, lettering four times across the two sports. Stover was elected captain of the swimming team in 2014 and elected to the same position on the synchro team a year later. Katie led the Trojans to dominating performances, earning state championships in synchro form 2011-14 and a state title in swimming in 2014. While at UND, Stover served as a freestyle specialist, coming in with impressive times in the 1650, 500 and 200-yard freestyle. Once on campus, Katie will seek a degree in Elementary Education.
Hallie Peterson
Representing the second transfer from UND, Peterson is another Fighting Hawk turned Bear that will fill a vital role for coach Ebeling. In high school, swimming under Sally Richardson for the West Fargo Packer Bulls, Peterson was a five-time All-Conference selection as well as a five-time First Team All-State member. Team captain in 2015 and team MVP in 2014, Hallie also holds one individual school record along with three relay records. In 2016, Peterson led the Packer Bulls to five state championships in relays and a state title in the 100-yard butterfly. In Grand Forks, she competed in both the 100 and 200-yard freestyle, the 100 and 200-yard butterfly as well as the 400-yard individual medley.
Emily Hamel
Emily marks the third athlete making the transfer from Grand Forks to Greeley. A native of Minot, Minnesota, Hamel lettered four times in swimming and once in track and field. Emily led the Magicians to back-to-back conference and state championships in 2013 and 20154. Individually, Hamel was selected as All-State and All-Conference each of her four years in high school. Team captain in 2015 and team MVP from 2013-15, Hamel was selected as Senior of the Year in 2016 and was a member of the state record-setting 200-yard freestyle relar team. While swimming for the Fighting Hawks, Hamel was a specialist in the freestyle discipline, competing in the 50, 100 and 200-yard events. Her 50-free time of 23.39 would rank the fastest in UNC program history. Upon arrival at Northern Colorado, Hamel will pursue a degree in Elementary Education.
Keeley Coffee
The final transfer from Grand Forks makes her return home, growing up in Littleton, Colorado. Diving for coach Kristi Marosy at Dakota Ridge High School, Coffee lettered three times for the Eagles. Coffee was the recipient of the Coach’s and “To Love” Awards in 2012, the “To Leave a Legacy” Award in 2015 and was elected team captain in 2015. Keeley spent seven consecutive semesters on the Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA and was also a part of the Honor Roll at the University of North Dakota this past year. Studying Audiology and Speech Language Sciences at UNC, Coffee will join Allyson Wood and fellow signee, Sarah Parshall on the diving squad.
Sarah Parshall
A talented young diver arrives in Greeley for Ebeling and diving coach, Tyler Miller. Hailing from Riverside, California, Sarah Parshall was a standout and a leader at Riverside Poly. Parshall, the Bears’ team captain for all four years of high school, was also awarded four varsity letters and the Diving Academic Letter of Excellence. A member of the Honors Escort and a Girls State Senate Delegate in 2016, Parshall was also on the Honor Roll each of her four years at Poly and won the AP Scholar Award in 2016. In the diving well, Parshall was a CIF finalist in 2014 and 2014. In 2014, she placed 11th at CIF, improving to 7th place by 2016, qualifying her for the Stat Championships were she would finish 16th.
The University of Northern Colorado contributed this report.