Swimming and Diving . August 17, 2021

Poppell Announces 2021-22 Signing Class

Gamecocks welcome 21 new freshman and transfer student-athletes

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Head coach Jeff Poppell announced the addition of 21 Gamecocks to his program for the upcoming 2021-22 season Tuesday morning.

“We’re very excited about this incoming class of freshman and transfers,” said Poppell. “As a swimming and diving program, we need to start making some strides towards the top of the SEC ladder, and I feel that this group of student-athletes helps us move forward along that path.”

2021 Gamecock Swimming Signing Class

Paige Collins (Naperville, IL – Butterfly/IM)

Took home second place at the IHSA State Meet in 2019 with a 54.38 in the 100 fly
Placed fourth in the 2019 IHSA State Meet with a 2:04.55 in the 200 IM
Daughter to Rebecca and Steven Collins, sister to Ryan and Lauren
Favorite food is hot chocolate

Luke DeVore (Haymarket, VA – Butterfly/IM)

Two time Atlantic 10 champion (100 and 200 fly) at George Mason University
Most outstanding rookie at the 2020 Atlantic 10 Championships
Virginia Sports Information Director’s Men’s Rookie Swimmer of the Year
Son to Janis and Joe DeVore, brother to Rachel and Rebecca
Enjoys fishing and spending time outdoors

Hendrik Faber (Bathmen, Netherlands – Freestyle)

Achieved All-American honors in 500-yard freestyle (x2) and 1650-yard freestyle
Made all-conference honors every year during undergraduate career at Queens University
Division II National Champion (x3) and Blue Grass Mountain Conference Champion (x4)
Son to Willem Faber and brother to Lucy Faber
Hobbies include surfing and windsurfing

Laura Goettler (Butler, PA – Breaststroke/IM)

Achieved Olympic Trial qualifying time at 2019 Summer Nationals in the 200 breaststroke
2019 and 2020 PIAA champion in the 100 breaststroke
Recorded a pool record in the 200-yard breaststroke of 2:18.01 at Duquesne University, where she also was on the 200-yard medley relay team

Patrick Groters (Santa Cruz, Aruba – Backstroke/IM)

Achieved All Summit League Honors in the 200 IM, 100 Backstroke and 200 Backstroke while at Denver University
As a freshman, set the Summit League Championship record and broke Denver’s school record in the 200 IM with a time of 1:46.24
Son to Maureen Croes and Ronald Groters, brother to Jordy, Derek, and Ashley
Enjoys gaming, editing, and designing in his free time

Blair Isenhour (Orlando, FL – 1m, 3m, Platform)

4x State Medalist in the state of Florida, 2018 State Champion
USA Diving National Qualifier, AAU Synchro National Champion
Daughter to Kelly and Tripp Isenhour, sister to Seth and Justin Isenhour
Hopes to one day start her own orthodontic practice

Emma Israels (Grand Rapids, MI – Butterfly, Backstroke)

Placed in the top 10 in both the 100 fly and 200 IM at the MHSAA Division 2 State Championship in 2017
Took fifth place at the Michigan Swimming Open Championships in 2019
Her 200 medley relay team broke the MHSAA D3 record with a time at 1:44.72 in 2019

Liam Kerns (Billings, MT – Breaststroke)

Has 6 state records in the state of Montana in breaststroke
Was a member of the Billings Aquatic Club, which have been named state champions for five consecutive years
Son to Chelsie and Benjamin Kerns, brother to Kayla and Kyler
Hopes to one day become a dentist

Michael Laitarovsky (Natanya, Israel – Backstroke)

Competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 100m backstroke
Has represented Israel in the 2020 European Championships and the 2019 World Championships

Ethan Martin (Greenwood, IN – Freestyle)

County athlete of the year
Named all-American while at Center Grove High School
Son to Kylah and Buddy Martin, brother to Hailey Martin
Favorite food is Texas Roadhouse rolls

Coleman McCreery (Charlotte, NC – Breaststroke)

Swam for four years with the South Mecklenburg HS Sabres
Son to Wendy and Max McCreery
Hobbies include skateboarding and mountain biking

Makenzy Mills (Lancaster, SC – Butterfly, Backstroke)

Raced in four events at the YMCA Nationals in April of 2019
Is a three-time class 4A backstroke champion in the state of South Carolina
Has two state titles in the 100-yard butterfly

Anna O’Shaughnessey (Chapin, SC – Freestyle)

Competed with the Chapin High School swim team for 6 years, setting three school records
Three-time National Qualifier at the YMCA, holds five team records
Four-time All-State qualifier with Carolina Aquatics
Daughter of Alison and Mike O’Shaughnessey, has two sisters – Ella and Mary Kate
Hopes to pursue a career in physical therapy

Greta Pelzek (Wilmette, IL – Butterfly)

Took home first place in both of her events at the 2019 IHSA Girls Sectional Championship
Three-time champion at the IHSA Girls Sectional in 2020
Placed first in both the 100 and 200 fly at the Speedo Sectionals in 2021

Maddie Pierce (Glen Allen, VA – Backstroke)

Swam in two events at the VHSL Class 5 State Championship in 2020 and one in 2018
Competed in the 2019 Winter Juniors East in both the 100 back and 100 fly
Daughter of Kirby and Steve Pierce, sister to Amber Hess
Enjoys traveling and helping to improve the environment

Mac Ratzlaff (Franklin, IN – Freestyle)

Took third place in the 200 free and fourth place in the 100 free at the IHSAA state meet
Son of Shannon and Todd Ratzlaff, Brother to Bella and Lili
Enjoys golf and once made an eagle on a par 5

Annaliese Streeter (Ypsilanti, MI – Breaststroke, Freestyle)

Won the 2019 Local 4 Fall Fan Choice awards as “Favorite Breaststroke Swimmer”
Made All State in Michigan for the 100 breaststroke in 2021
Daughter of Katherine and Dave Streeter
Hopes to one day be an orthopedic doctor or surgeon

Manny Vazquez Bas (San Juan, Puerto Rico – Diver)

While at LSU, earned 2020 SEC Co-Male Freshman Diver of the Year, 2020 All-SEC Freshman Team, and 2020 All-SEC Second Team
Is a two-time NCAA qualifier
Scored a 415.80 on the platform dive at the Texas Diving Invitational
Son of Carlos Quinones and Liza Bas, brother to Derek and Estrella

Sophie Verzyl (Columbia, SC – Springboard)

Dives with the South Carolina Divers under Julia Vincent, an alum of the UofSC diving program
Has attended regionals, zones, and nationals since 2014
Was selected to the CAMO Invitational in 2018
Scored a 419.10 on the 3-meter springboard
Daughter to Holly and Scott Verzyl, sister to Zach and Maddie
Enjoys weightlifting and is on the all-time school record board at AC Flora High School

Cameron Dafoe (Houston, TX – Freestyle/IM)

Was a state finalist in both the state of Texas and the state of Virginia during high school
2020 state champion in Virginia Class 6 in the 200 IM
In 2020, he was named to the USA Swimming 18U World 100
Competed in the ACC championships while at Pitt

McAllistar Milne (Glastonbury, CT – Freestyle/IM)