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Women's Swim Team Adds Nine In Early Signing Period

Five out-of-state, four local preps sign with UWM

Nov. 21, 2008

MILWAUKEE - Head coach Erica Janssen has announced the signing of nine swimmers to National Letters of Intent to compete for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team.

Taylor Andrews of Nashotah, Wis., Shea Berg of Hyde Park, N.Y., Emily Blohm of DePere, Wis., Randee Cardinal of Blaine, Minn., Aubrey Griffiths of Racine, Wis., Shannon Slattery of Chesterfield, Mo., Parker Watson of Overland Park, Kan., Katherine Werner of Wauwatosa, Wis., and Jenna Wisdorf of Cheyenne, Wyo., have all signed and will compete for the Milwaukee women's swimming team next season.

Andrews is a senior at Arrowhead High School but does not compete for her high school team. She swims for the Pabst Farms YMCA Club Team and is a YMCA national qualifier.

"Taylor will contribute immediately in our distance and 400 IM events," Janssen said. "We are looking for her to make a big impact right away and challenge our freshmen records in the process."

Berg was a team captain at Franklin Roosevelt High School in New York, qualifying for the New York State High School Championships in the 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay. She was named Mid-Hudson Athletic League All-Academic and also swims for the Newburgh Sharks club team.

"Shea will add depth to our backstroke group," Janssen said. "We will look for her to contribute solid swims in the 100 and 200 backstroke events as well as compete for relay spots."

Blohm swam for De Pere High School and holds school records in the 500 freestyle, 200 IM and as a member of the 400 free relay team. She is an All-Fox River Classic Conference swimmer, winning league titles in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM. In addition, she is a YMCA national qualifier for the Green Bay YMCA Swim Team.

"Emily is a swimmer that has made some great strides recently," Janssen said. "We expect that success to continue into her collegiate career."

"Randee will add to our very talented sprint group and compete for spots on freestyle relays," Janssen said. "She has already recorded her best times this season with the Minnesota state meet yet to come."

Griffiths is an all-state diver from Racine Case High School, setting school records for six and 11-dives as a senior. Her point total in the 11-dive category not only set the school mark but broke the city mark as well. She placed fifth at the state meet as a senior, fourth as a junior and won the first sectional championship for a Case diver in over 20 years. She also competes for the Schroeder Diving Club.

"We are looking for Aubrey to be a `go-to' diver for us already next year," Janssen said. "With Ashley [Hall, a current UWM senior] graduating, we will need someone to step up and that could easily be Aubrey. Her talent will allow her to compete for league titles as a freshman."

Slattery, a senior at Marquette High School in Chesterfield, Mo., is a state qualifier in the 100 breaststroke, 200 IM, 200 medley relay and the 400 medley relay. She was a consolation finalist in the 100 breast in 2008 and took 10th as a sophomore. She was also selected to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Honor Roll and as an honorable mention selection to its All-Metro Team.

"Shannon is an up-and-coming swimmer and we are very excited to have her join the team," Janssen said. "She has recently made great improvements and will be a contributor for us in all of her events."

Watson is a first team all-state swimmer, leading her Blue Valley Northwest High School team to a state championship as a junior with second-place individual swims in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. She has earned All-America consideration in the 200 free and 400 free relay and won a state title in the 200 free relay. She is a member of the Kansas City Star's All-Metro Swim team and earned All-Johnson County honors in the 50 free and 200 free relay.

"Parker will also add to our deep sprint group," Janssen said. "She will be looked at to make an immediate impact on relays and in the sprint events."

Werner is an all-state diver at Wauwatosa East High School, placing sixth at the Wisconsin State Meet in 2008. The four-time state qualifier has earned first team all-conference honors and was recently named team MVP. The two-time Greater Metro Conference champion is also a member of the Schroeder Diving Club and placed third on three-meter and sixth on one-meter at 2008 YMCA Nationals.

"Katie will round out our very talented diving team," Janssen said. "Her experience on both boards will make her an immediate contributor."

Wisdorf is a five-time Wyoming state champion and All-American swimmer from Cheyenne East High School. At state, she won the 100 backstroke (2007, 2006), 200 IM (2008, 2006) and was a member of the winning 200 medley relay squad in 2006. She also posted runner-up finishes in the 100 back (2008, 2005) and 200 IM (2007). Wisdorf owns school records in the 100 back, 200 IM and as part of the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams. She also holds the Southern Wyoming Athletic Conference records in those events.

She was a four-time Wyoming Coaches Association all-state and all-conference honoree and the Wyoming Swimming, Inc., Athlete of the Year in 2006. Wisdorf was a team captain as a junior and senior, Team MVP in 2005 and her school's outstanding athlete during her sophomore and junior years.

"Adding depth to our backstroke group was a must with this class and that is exactly what we found in Jenna," Janssen said. "She is a very accomplished and talented swimmer and we will look to her on relays as well as to leading the backstroke group. She continues to improve, which will lead to a very successful college career."