Women's Recruiting - #7 Arizona

What a change a couple of weeks can make. A year ago, Arizona didn’t translate its first NCAA team title into success on the recruiting trail. Even with a small graduating class, that will cause you to fall fast in the exclusive club of championship contenders. No question about it – in a program that had Frank Busch had built from the ground up – this class was pivotal. Would the Wildcats be a one-and-done title team, or are they in the club for the long haul?

A month ago that was still in question. While rivals were signing their classes in November, Arizona was watching the likes of Caitlin Leverenz (California) and Christine Olson (Virginia) leave the state. They landed Monica Drake, but were putting together what one coach called, “A very ordinary class.” They were good, but Caitlin Leverenz opted for California. Christine Olson was Virginia-bound. they weren’t going to make up for the 180+ points that Lara Jackson, Julie Stupp, Taylor Baughman, Hailey DeGolia and Lindsey Kelly put on the board this year. Leverenz, Caitlin

Then their fortunes changed. It started when Whitney Lopus decided to leave Utah to return to her home state. The comfort of being back home should enable the sophomore to recapture the success that made her a top-ten recruit last year.

Then, Washington dropped their program leaving Chandler native Erin Campbell without a home. It was then that she learned, yes you can return home again. It was also when Arizona’s class went from “very ordinary” to outstanding.

In addition to Campbell and Lopus, Arizona signed another top-50 recruit in Monica Drake. Drake hails from Bloomington, Illinois where she trains under distance guru Charlie Yourd. Ellyn Baumgardner was the other out-of-state pickup. The Curl Burke breaststroker has lots of room to improve, but Arizona will still be on the lookout for a breaststroker to replace Annie Chandler after this coming season.

Stef Wells and Courtney Rhodenbaugh complete the class. Both opted to start their careers in Tuscon rather than take the circuitous routes of Campbell and Lopus. Both will also extend a history of local kids (Sarah Tolar and Emily Mastin come to mind) who excel under the direction of Arizona’s talented coaching staff.

Campbell, Erin	82.64	3	Chandler, AZ	Transfer: Washington
Lopus, Whitney	74.54	27	Scottsdale, AZ	Transfer: Utah
Drake, Monica	74.33	28	Bloomington, IL	Waves Bloomington/Normal Y S.T.
Wells, Stef	67.49	63	Tucson, AZ	Ford Dealers Aquatics
Baumgardner, Ellyn	59.59	147	Fairfax City, VA	Curl Burke Swim Club
Rhodenbaugh, Courtney	37.45	490	Tucson, AZ	Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics

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