10 Newcomers Hit The Pool In 2018-19

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

8/29/2018 3:46:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

Head coach Diana Caskey unveiled the 10 Lions' that comprise the Class of 2022

NEW YORK - Columbia women's swimming and diving has added 10 new members to the program. The Class of 2022 features student-athletes from five different states.

"The class of 2022 is a dynamic and vibrant group with both strong talent and commitment to team success," stated head coach Diana Caskey. "(Associate head coach) Demerae Christianson, (head diving coach) Scott Donie and I are very excited about them individually and collectively."

Kasey Karkoska
Backstroke
Laguna Beach, Calif. | Laguna Beach

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2018 graduate of Laguna Beach High School … Four-year letter winner with the Laguna Beach Breakers … NISCA All-American … Orange County Swimmer of the Year Finalist 2017 … Most decorated female athlete of all time at Laguna Beach High School … Undefeated in League and league record holder throughout entire high school career in 100 free, 100 fly, 200 IM, and 100 Breast … Varsity swimming captain Junior and Senior year … Most valuable swimmer all four years of high school … personal best events include 200 Back – 1:58.28,100 Back – 55.39 and 50 Back – 26.81.

PERSONAL: Born June 17, 2000 … Daughter of Kristin and Robert Karkoska … Has one older brother, Cameron.

Clare Larsen
Freestyle | IM
Los Angeles, Calif. | Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2018 graduate of Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica ... Four-year letterwinner for the Roadrunners ... Placed fifth at CIF in the 100 free and was 12th in the state in 2018 ... Holds league records in the 200 freestyle and all relays ... Three-time team MVP ... Personal bests include 23.85 (50 free), 51.36 (100 free), 1:51.45 (200 free), 5:16.37 (500 free), 2:10.62 (200 IM)

PERSONAL: Born January 18, 2000 ... Daughter of Joan Wulf and Peter Larsen ... Has one sister, Ella ... Father, Peter, played baseball at UC Davis and for the San Francisco Giants.

Yani Le
Breaststroke
Laguna Bellingham, Wash. | Squalicum

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2018 graduate of Squalicum High School … Four-year letter winner with the Sqaulicum Storm … USA Swimming Scholastic All-American 2015-17 … WIAA Outstanding Scholastic Award 2014–16 … Northwest First Team All-Conference 2014-17 … Most Outstanding Swimmer – Squalicum High School 2014-16 … Team Captain Senior year … personal best events include: 50 SCY Breaststroke – 29.55, 100 Breaststroke SCY – 1:02.87, 200 Breaststroke SCY – 2:17.47.

PERSONAL: Born August 11, 2000 … Daughter of Li Jin and Jie Le … Plays the violin … Bilingual (Chinese and English).

Madison Leblanc
Breaststroke | IM | Freestyle
Scottsdale, Ariz. | Chaparral

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2018 graduate of Chaparral High School … Four-year letter winner with The Chaps … Women State Champions 2014-15 (Div. I) and 2016 – 2017 (Div. II) … Team Captain in Senior year … personal best events include 200 SCY Breaststroke – 2:18.3, 100 SCY Breaststroke – 1:06.2 and 400 SCY IM – 4:26.4.

PERSONAL: Born May 26, 2000 … Daughter of Adrienne and David Leblanc … Has two younger siblings, Matthew and Mackenzie …Father and Mother swam for four years at Arizona State University … Father swam for France in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul … Mother is an Age-Group National and World Champion in Triathlon … Father is a graduate of Yale graduate school (finance & business) … has tri-citizenship (France, USA, & Canada).

Michelle Lee
Diving
Hacienda Heights, Calif. | Fairmont Preparatory Academy

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2018 graduate of Fairmont Preparatory Academy … Received Varsity Letters for The Huskies in Diving and Golf … NISCA/Speedo Girls One Meter Diving All-American 2014 and 2015 … First place at CIF Southern Section Division IV Diving Championships in 2015 … Second place at CIF Southern Section Division IV Diving Championship … Rookie of the Year for Fairmont Prep in 2014 … Honorable Mention at Academy League Finals in 2014 and 2015 … personal best events include: USA Diving 1m: 367.85 (10 dives), 3m: 447.25 (10 dives), and Platform: 373.30 (9 dives).

PERSONAL: Born July 3, 2000 … Daughter of Christine and Kenneth Lee … Has two younger siblings, Justin and Lauren … Has the played the piano since age five … Was on the ABC TV diving show "Splash" and taught and dove with NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Chaewoon Lim
Butterfly | IM
Tenafly, N.J. | Tenafly

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2018 graduate of Tenafly High School … Three-year letter winner with The Tenafly Tigers … Scholastic All-American Swimmer 2017 … First Team All-County (Bergen County) freshman, sophomore and junior years … Swimmer of the Year, Athlete of the Week for The Record 2017 … Set team records in the 100/200 Butterfly and 200 IM in 2017 … personal best events include: 100 Free – 53.44, 200 Fly – 2:02.47, 100 Back – 58.12.

PERSONAL: Born August, 10 2000 … Daughter of Jae H. Lee and Young Joon Lim … Has older brother, Leo … Brother swam for Harvard University 2012-16 … Knows Morse Code.

Claire Lin
Freestyle
Palo Alto, Calif. | Palo Alto

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2018 graduate of Palo Alto High School … A Four-Year letter winner at Palo Alto High School … All-American women's swimming 50 free in 2018 … 4-time varsity Swimmer … Senior Team Captain for Women's swim and dive team … Captured first place SCVAL League Champion Varsity women 100 free … Captured first place SCVAL League Champion Varsity women 50 free/100 free in 2017… All-American Interscholastic Swim team, 2014-15, 2015-16 … Santa Clara Valley League Swimming Champions 2015-18 … Two-time Central Coast Sectional Champions, Varsity Swimming 2016 & 2017 … Set the CIF California State Championship record and new Palo Alto High school record in the 200 free rely for 2015-16 season … Set new Palo Alto High School record in the 200 medley in 2016 … personal best events include: 50 Free SCY – 23.66, 100 Free SCY – 52.16, 100 Fly SCY – 59.65.

PERSONAL: Born November 6, 1999 … Daughter of Kimberly and Patrick Lin … Has two older sisters, Natalie and Alexandra.

Mary Pruden
IM | Backstroke | Distance Freestyle
Raleigh, N.C. | Ravenscroft School

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2018 graduate of Ravenscroft School … Four-year letter winner in swimming and one-year letter winner in cross country (First year) for The Ravens … Team Captain in Junior and Senior Year … All-Conference swimmer (TISAC Conference) for entire high school career … All-State … USA Swimming Winter Junior Nationals Qualifier … USA Swimming Speedo Junior Nationals Qualifier … Scholastic All American 2016, 2017 and 2018 … High School All American in 2018 in the 200 free, 500 free, and 100 back … Captured first place 500 free and 200 free at the NCISAA Championships … All-Metro team for the Raleigh area … Captured first place 200 IM at the NCISAA Championships as a first year and sophomore … NCSA Junior National Qualifier … Personal best events include: 200 Free – 1:48.79 (NCISAA state record), 500 Free – 4:52.57 (NCISAA state record), 200 IM – 2:02.98

PERSONAL: Born December 20, 1999 … Daughter of Caroline and William Pruden … has three siblings, Cathleen, Andrew and Jack … Father attended Princeton and Grandfather attended Dartmouth … Mother Caroline swam two years at Bucknell University ('84) … Sister Cathleen swam four years at Mount Holyoke College and was DIII All-American and Honorable Mention All-American 2014-16.

Lindsay Rispoli
Breaststroke
New Providence, N.J. | The Pingry School

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2018 graduate The Pingray School … Four-year letter-winner with the Big Blue … Best event is the 100/200 breaststroke … Personal best events include: 200 Breaststroke – 2:17:07, 100 Breaststroke – 1:04:16, 200 IM – 2:09:68, 400 IM – 4:31:44 all in 2017.

PERSONAL: Born April 15, 2000 … Daughter of Diane and Tom Rispoli … Has an older brother, Thomas … Loves hiking, traveling and spending time with the family.

Brighida Rosendahl
Diving
Los Angeles, Calif. | Immaculate Heart High School

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2018 graduate of Immaculate Heart High School … received a Letter for The Pandas in Varsity Diving … All American … 2nd Place CIF … Has competed in USA Diving since 2009 with the exception of 2016 and finals with Michelle Lee at USA Synchronized Diving Nationals … Personal best events include: 1m: 381.40 (10 Dives), 3m: 438.55).

PERSONAL: Born August 10, 1999 … Daughter of Anne Kosco and Daniel Rosendahl … has an older sister, Olivia … Sister Olivia has competed for three years as a diver at Northwestern University … Grandfather attended Princeton University for graduate school … Plays the piano.