A Closer Look: Kentucky Women’s Swimming & Diving Class of 2018
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Coming off back-to-back top 15 finishes at the NCAA Championships, Kentucky women’s swimming and diving looks to add more depth to its roster for the upcoming season with its incoming freshman class.
“We’re really looking for this women’s class to have an immediate impact,” said Kentucky head coach Lars Jorgensen. “I think they have the potential to help us get to the next level of both SECs and NCAAs and we’re excited to get the season underway in a few months.”
The women’s class features two top 100 recruits, No. 51 Izzy Gati and No. 98 Riley Gaines, as well as Kelly Rodriguez, Gaby Pires, Sophie Sorenson, Caroline Szydlowski and diver Kyndal Knight. Between them, the seven combine for an impressive 15 state titles in their respective states.
Riley Gaines (No. 98 recruit by CollegeSwimming.com)
Excel Aquatics/Station Camp High School – Gallatin, Tenn.
Free/Fly
The No. 98 recruit in the class of 2018 and the No. 2 recruit out of Tennessee, Gaines comes to Lexington as a seven-time Tennessee State champion, including a four-year sweep of the 100-yard butterfly and three victories in the 100 freestyle. A 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100-meter freestyle, Gaines adds versatility and depth for the Wildcats in both sprint and middle distance free, as well as butterfly.
Riley’s Top Times:
100 Fly: 54.15
200 Fly: 2:00.18
50 Free: 23.40
100 Free: 49.36
200 Free: 1:47.29
Isabella ‘Izzy’ Gati (No. 51 recruit by CollegeSwimming.com)
Nation’s Capital Swim Club/The Madeira School – El Dorado, Ark.
Fly/Free
A butterfly specialist, Gati joins the Wildcats as the top recruit out of Arkansas and the No. 51 prospect overall in the women’s class of 2018. A native of El Dorado, Arkansas, Gati boarded at the Madeira School and trained with Nations Capital Swim Club in Virginia. She owns back-to-back VISAA (Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association) state championships in the 100 butterfly in 2017 and 2018.
Izzy’s Top Times:
50 Fly: 24.80
100 Fly: 53.63
200 Fly: 1:56.87
50 Free: 23.46
100 Free: 50.55
200 Free: 1:48.57
Kyndal Knight
Carolina Diving Academy/East Gaston High School – Stanley, N.C.
Diving
After posting runner-up finishes on 1-meter at the North Carolina State Championships in 2016 and 2017, Knight won the state title in the event her senior season with a 1A/2A state-record score of 490.60. A level 10 gymnast prior to diving, Knight has been a USA Diving Nationals qualifier in both 2017 and 2018.
Gaby Pires
Enfinity Aquatic Club/Ardrey Kell High School – Charlotte, N.C.
Free/Fly
A four-year member of Ardrey Kell’s state championship team, Pires was part of Ardrey Kell’s school-record 200 medley relay team. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Pires is a butterfly specialist who also trained with Enfinity Aquatic Club.
Gaby’s Top Times:
100 Fly: 58.79
100 Free: 55.89
Kelly Rodriguez
Badger Aquatics Club/Edgewood High School – Madison, Wis.
Freestyle
Rodriguez enjoyed a highly successful senior season. After winning the 200 freestyle state title with a state-record time of 1:48.39 at the 2017 WIAA Division 2 State Championships, Rodriguez was named the 2018 WIAA Division 2 girls swimmer of the year. The victory marked her third consecutive title in the event, helping her high school to its third-straight state championship.
Kelly’s Top Times:
100 Free: 50.98
200 Free: 1:48.39
500 Free: 4:53.64
Sophie Sorenson
Ames Cyclone Aquatic Club/Ames High School – Ames, Iowa
Backstroke
Sorensen will look to add to Kentucky’s experienced backstroke group. The Ames, Iowa, product is the 2016 and 2017 IGHSAU (Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union) state champion and state record-holder in the 100 backstroke (54.60) as well as holding state records in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. Her efforts helped lead the Little Cyclones to three consecutive team state championship. Sorenson was also a 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in 200-meter backstroke.
Sophie’s Top Times:
100 Back: 54.49
200 Back: 1:56.83
200 IM: 2:02.08
Caroline Szydlowski
Oakland Live Y’ers/Academy of the Sacred Heart – Oakland Township, Mich.
Freestyle
Despite her high school not having a swimming team, Szydlowski trained with the Oakland Live Y’ers club team in her home town of Oakland Township, Michigan. A distance specialist, Szydlowski will look to add depth to Kentucky’s distance group.
Caroline’s Top Times:
500 Free: 4:57.09
1,000 Free: 10:13.01
1,650 Free: 16:53.79
