ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Head University of Michigan swimming and diving coach Mike Bottom announced Tuesday (June 17) the addition of swimmer Samantha Yeo (Singapore/Raffles Girls' School) to the U-M women's swimming and diving team who will join the incoming freshman class of 2014-15.
Yeo joins the previously signed group of swimmers Gillian Ryan (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown Area HS), Hannah Moore (Cary, N.C./Green Hope HS), Clara Smiddy (Miami, Fla.), Emily Kopas (Davie, Fla./University School), Carolyn McCann (Federal Way, Wash./Gig Harbor HS) and Gabby DeLoof (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Grosse Pointe South HS), and diver Juliette Corboy (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier HS).
“This is a promising group of young women who are ready to become Michigan women,” said Bottom. “Adding Samantha and Hanna to this incoming class only solidifies our belief that it is one of the top incoming classes in the nation. We are excited about their collective work ethic and team spirit that will fit in well here at Michigan. Ann Arbor is a global destination for student-athletes, and we look forward to helping foster this group into the leaders and best. This class aspires to be, and will be champions.”
Samantha Yeo * Singapore * Raffles Girls' School * Breaststroke
Top Times
* 100-meter breaststroke: 1:10.49
* 200-meter breaststroke: 2:32.34
* 200-meter IM: 2:19.11
Yeo is the latest international swimmer in recent years to choose Michigan (Claudia Lau, Hong Kong; Marni Oldershaw and Sharalynn Missiuna, Canada; Julia Fiks Salem, Brazil; Claudia Goswell, Australia). She is a member of the Singapore National Team and holds several age-group records in her native country. Yeo specializes in breaststroke and continues to amass a great deal of experience in international competitions. Last year, she qualified for the Southeast Asian Games and took third in the 200-meter breaststroke. Before arriving in Ann Arbor, she'll represent Singapore at the Commonwealth Games (July 23 – Aug. 3) in Glasgow, Scotland. She will also race for her homeland at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea (Sept. 19-Oct. 4).
Previous Signee Updates
All times are in short course yards
Gillian Ryan * Kutztown, Pa * Kutztown Area * Distance
Ryan is a current member of the US National Team and trains at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club led by former U-M men's swimming and diving head coach Bob Bowman while taking online classes at Kutztown Area Senior High School in Kutztown, Pa., her hometown. She won the 800-meter freestyle at the 2011 U.S. National Championships while swimming for Parkland Aquatic Club. Ryan's best time in the 1,650-yard freestyle (15:49.74) would have been good enough for sixth place at the 2014 NCAA Championships. In 2011, she won a silver in the 800-meter freestyle and a bronze in 400-meter freestyle at the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships. She competed at the 2012 US Olympic Trials. She recently competed for the U.S. at the 2013 Duel in the Pool (Glasgow, Scotland). Earlier this year, she on two events (200, 800-meter freestyles) at the CeraVe Invitational (Jan. 10).
Top Times:
* 500 freestyle: 4:36.99
* 1,000 freestyle: 9:26.50
* 1,650 freestyle: 15:49.74
“The University of Michigan is a prestigious academic institution, which offers many opportunities for me to explore my interests, and this was definitely a key factor in my decision,” said Ryan. “In addition, the athletic aspect was suited to my personality, as the swim team and coaches are driven, supportive, and disciplined in and out of the pool, and have an incredible school spirit. The atmosphere and energy of Michigan is phenomenal and I am extremely excited to be a part of this university.”
Clara Smiddy * Miami, Fla. * Home schooled * Multiple
Smiddy was recently nominated to the 2014 U.S. Youth Olympic Team, which will compete in Nanjing, China (Aug. 17-22). She is a current member of the US Junior National Team. Smiddy took first in the 200-meter backstroke at the Arena Grand Prix at Mesa (April 25) and won the 100-yard backstroke and set a new meet record (51.75) at the USA Swimming Speedo Winter Junior National Championships (Dec. 13, 2013). Smiddy is home schooled and competed scholastically for the South Florida Home Educated Athletic Teams (HEAT). She won the 2013 Florida state championship in the 100-yard backstroke at 52.94 — a new state record — and took the title for the 200-yard IM as well. Smiddy is a member of the US Junior National Team (2013-14) and competed for the US at the 2013 FINA World Junior Championships where she took home a bronze medal in the 50-meter backstroke.
Top Times:
* 50 freestyle: 23.24
* 100 freestyle: 48.97
* 100 backstroke: 51.75
* 200 backstroke: 1:50.59
* 200 IM: 1:57.82
“I chose Michigan for its stellar academics, great swim team, exceptional coaching staff, and comfortable learning environment,” said Smiddy. “I am also confident that with the athletic support, I will be able to achieve my goals in the pool. Finally, I chose Michigan because I know that I will be surrounded by a beautiful campus with people who are focused on preparing me to not only work but to live in the real world.”
Hannah Moore * Cary, N.C. * Green Hope * Multiple
Like Smiddy, Moore was recently nominated to the 2014 U.S. Youth Olympic Team, which will compete in Nanjing, China (Aug. 17-22). She set a North Carolina state record in the 500-yard freestyle at the 4A state swimming championships (4:40.98) and won the 500-yard freestyle at the USA Swimming Junior National Winter Nationals (Dec. 11). She is from Cary, N.C., where she trains with the Triangle Aquatic Club Titans and Green Hope High School. Moore is a four-time state champion in North Carolina claiming the 100-yard backstroke and 500-yard freestyle as a junior and the 200-yard IM and 500-yard freestyle as a sophomore. Moore competed at the 2012 US Olympic Trials in four events, finishing 11th in the 200-meter backstroke. She also took fifth in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2013 Long Course Junior Nationals.
Top Times
* 100 backstroke: 53.91
* 200 backstroke: 1:54.46
* 200 IM: 1:59.20
* 400 IM: 4:10.95
* 500 freestyle: 4:40.98
* 1,000 freestyle: 9:42.56
“I chose Michigan because the team and the coaches create such a positive and passionate atmosphere,” said Moore. “Mike Bottom's program is one of the best in the country, as seen by the men's success, and I want to be a part of his undoubted success with the women as well. Plus, Michigan is an incredible institution where I can receive a world-class education.”
Emily Kopas * Davie, Fla. * University School * Breaststroke
Like fellow incoming Floridian Smiddy, Kopas is also a member of the US Junior National Team (2013-14). Kopas primarily swims breaststroke but also competes in the 200 individual medley. She competes for the University School of Nova Southeastern Swim Club and won the 2013 state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke. Her family has strong swimming ties to U-M: her father Bill was the 1986 Big Ten champion in the 1,650-yard freestyle while studying in Ann Arbor and her uncle Brice was an All-American for Michigan in 1994.
Top Times
* 100 breaststroke: 1:01.92
*200 breaststroke: 2:12.50
“The University of Michigan provides me with the perfect balance of academics and athletics,” said Kopas. “Growing up with a Michigan alumnus in my family has played a vital role in determining my decision. Mike Bottom's goals for the Michigan women's swim team are also aligned with my high aspirations.”
Carolyn McCann * Federal Way, Wash. * Gig Harbor * Breaststroke
McCann focuses primarily on breaststroke for the King Aquatic Club where she is coached by former Olympian Tommy Hannan. She won both the 100 and 200-yard breaststrokes at the Washington state championships (Dec. 23) and took first in the 100-yard breaststroke at the 2014 Federal Way sectional meet (March 15). She helped set a national age group record for King Aquatic Club in the 200-meter medley relay at 1:56.39 in July. Just recently McCann won the Washington Class 4A 100-yard breaststroke state championship in record-setting fashion, besting a five year-old record with her time of 1:01.33. She also assisted in the 200-yard medley relay state championship by swimming the butterfly leg. This past August, McCann competed at the USA Swimming Junior National Championships.
Top Times
* 100 breaststroke: 1:00.93
* 200 breaststroke: 2:14.33
* 200 IM: 1:59.56
“I chose Michigan because I want to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said McCann. “The Michigan team is going to make huge strides in the next few years and I want to be a part of its success. I also fell in love with the Midwestern campus, the outstanding overall athletic support and nationally-ranked engineering program.”
Gabby DeLoof * Grosse Pointe, Mich. * Grosse Pointe South * Freestyle/Backstroke
DeLoof focuses on freestyle and backstroke while competing for Grosse Pointe South High School and Pointe Aquatics. She helped Grosse Pointe South to a third-place finish at the 2012 Michigan state championship while earning two All-State accolades. She competed at the 2013 USA Swimming Junior National Championships and at the 2012 US Olympic Trials. She is the younger sister of current Wolverine Ali DeLoof.
Top Times
* 100 backstroke: 55.18
* 200 backstroke: 1:59.04
* 100 freestyle: 51.88
“I chose the University of Michigan in order to be part of something great,” said DeLoof. “There is so much that Michigan has to offer from high-caliber academics to world-renowned athletics. I will have the chance to learn from highly acclaimed professors and an experienced coaching staff. This will afford me the opportunity to excel both academically and athletically. This group of women is very dedicated, hard-working and supportive. I am privileged to be a part of this team and to be able to compete with my sister, Ali, once again.”
Juliette Corboy * Winnetka, Ill. * New Trier * Diving
Corboy is one of the top divers in Illinois, receiving three straight All-State first team honors (2011-13) following two third-place finishes and a sixth at the state meet. She captured the Central Suburban League South diving title in 2013 with a score of 482.04 (11 dives) that set a new division and school record. She also was named to the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) All-America team three straight seasons as well. Corboy qualified for the USA Diving Junior National Championships each year from 2008-2013. She competes for the Chicago Diving Club under coach Alik Sarkisian.
“I chose Michigan because I felt that it was the school where I would be the most successful both in the pool and in the classroom,” said Corboy. “Michigan seemed like the perfect place where I could accomplish both with its prestigious education and high level of athletics. Michigan's swimming and diving team has had a long history of being very successful, and I know that I'd like to be a part of that success in the future. I loved the atmosphere of the school, team and coaching staff.”