Ranking the Classes (W): #10 Ohio State

"Our goal is to build a championship caliber program the Ohio swimming community will be proud to call their own," explains Dorenkott. It’s something Ohio club and high school coaches have been desperate for, and that’s what makes the signings Kristyn Fulcher, Alex Norris, Molly Osterhage, Mary Cruzan and Libby Hunschle so important. They’re not as talented as Margo Geer or Gracie Finnegan (who both went to Arizona) but as Dorenkott knows, "Improvement is not only a talent-driven proposition.” These five are immediate Big Ten contributors. More importantly, OSU now has the opportunity to give in-state coaches a reason to direct their best kids towards Columbus.

Of course, all the goodwill in the world won’t win championships. You still have to recruit talent and you still have to make that talent better. Phoebe Cater brings loads of talent from Down Under while Canadian Michelle Williams boasts an underwater kick that’s well-suited to SCY. Not all of the talent arrives at OSU via the former British Empire. Kelly Ann Baird has the talent to challenge Samantha Cheverton in the distance events, but talent alone won’t this group to the summit of collegiate swimming. As Dorenkott says, "Now, the work really starts.”