NEW YORK — The Columbia women's swimming and diving program and head women's swimming coach
Diana Caskey, along with head diving coach
Scott Donie, announced the addition of 9 newcomers ahead of the 2023-24 season.
The class of 2027 hails from eight different states and is composed of eight swimmers and one diver.
"Columbia women's swimming and diving is really excited for the class of 2027 to join us," Caskey said. "They are a spirited group, with many diverse event strengths and lots of personality! Bodes well for an exciting 2023-24 season!"
Annabelle Kung is a 5'8'' freestyle and butterfly swimmer from Briarcliff, New York. Out of Briarcliff High School, she was a three-year varsity captain, and a two-time sectional champion and school record holder in the 100-fly. An All-League and All-Section honoree, Kung was also her school's Salutatorian, was a National Merit Finalist, an AP Scholar and NYS Scholar Athlete, and a member of the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society.
Meredith Stewart is a 5'10'' middle distance and distance freestyle swimmer from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Out of Hathaway Brown High School, she won the Captain's Award after both her junior and senior season. Stewart was also captain of DII OHSAA State Meet winning team, and made the cut in all short freestyle events at NCSA Jr. She was also a National Merit Scholarship finalist.
Emily Wang is a 5'7'' backstroke and IM swimmer from Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Out of Ridge High School, she was a team captain and NJSIAA All-State Relay Swimmer as well as a conference and county champion. Wang is also a New Jersey state record holder and a summer national finalist. Outside the pool, she was a three-time Scholastic All-American and AP Scholar with honors.
Ashley Wang is a 5'6'' backstroke and butterfly swimmer, as well as an IM specialist, from Stafford, Virginia. Out of Colonial Forge High School, she competed at the 2023 Virginia High School League (VHSL) 6A State Championships, where she advanced to finals in both 100-back and 100-fly. Wang most recently set personal bests in the 200IM and 100back at the Virginia Swimming LC Senior Championships.
Natalia Diaz is a 5'7'' breaststroke and IM specialist from Clarksville, Maryland. Out of McDonogh School in Owings Mills, she was an All-American and All-Conference swimmer for her team. Diaz is also a member of the Deans List, Hispanic National Honor Society, and African American National Honor Society.
Mia Avansino is a 5'3'' distance freestyle swimmer, who also specializes in butterfly and backstrokes, from Bellevue, Washington. A Product of Bellevue High School, she was the 2021 and 2022 Swim and Dive MVP Award winner, as well as her club team's Bumblebee Award winner. Outside the pool, Avansino was a 2021 AP Scholar with Honor, and 2022 AP Scholar with Distinction, as weill as a member of the Spanish National Honor Society.
Lorelai Page is a 5'10'' freestyle and backstroke swimmer from Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. A product of Mountain Lakes High School, she is the 100-back record holder and was the county champion in the same event in 2023. Page is also the record holder in the 15-18 500 SCY free and the 15-18 200 LCM back for her club team. She is also a two-time Scholastic All-American Athlete and a member of the National Honor Society.
Sophie Kloppenburg is a 5'7'' sprint and middle distance freestyle swimmer from Mount Vernon, Indiana. A product of Mount Vernon High School, she was the captain and MVP of her team. Kloppenburg is the program record holder in the 200-free relay and was a six-time IHSSA Sectional Champion and 10-time IHSAA State Finalist. She was also a soccer, cross country, and tennis star at Mount Vernon High School.
Sophia Wells is 5'5'' and the lone diver in Columbia's class of 2027. From Redwood City, California and a product of Woodside High School, she was a 2023 All-American, 2023 Academic All-American, Woodside High School 11-dive record holder, and two-time Woodside High School Diving MVP. Wells earned a Top-10 finish at the 2023 State Championships, leading to her being named the William Guttormsen Award winner. Outside the pool, Wells was the Valedictorian of her class, and was an AP Scholar with Distinction.
KEEPING UP WITH THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia women's swimming and diving program, follow @CULionsWSD and @CULionsDiving on Instagram and Twitter, and on the web at
GoColumbiaLions.com.
