Bears Sign 14-Swimmer Class

Cal signed a 14-swimmer recruiting class on Wednesday, one that bolsters the Golden Bears in virtually event and brings scholar-athletes to Berkeley from across the country and around the world.
 
Five members of the group hail from California, including four from the Bay Area, while there are two from Illinois, and one each from Florida, Georgia, Oregon and South Carolina. The international contingent features swimmers from Hungary, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
 
"This is a big day for our program and for each of our new recruits," Cal head coach Teri McKeever said. "I believe that we have signed a great class, not just in size, but with their abilities in the pool and in the classroom. There are a lot of women in this class with exceptional talents beyond swimming who are going to be able to help us immediately and for the foreseeable future. I also want to acknowledge [associate head coach] Dani Korman's efforts for spearheading this class. I'm excited for this group and am looking forward to having them join our program."
 
The highest rated swimmer among the crew is Mia Kragh from San Diego, who is considered the No. 9 recruit nationally by SwimSwam and set California state records in the 100-yard butterfly and on the 200-yard medley relay at the 2019 CIF Championship meet. Alicia Henry of Alpharetta, Georgia, made SwimSwam's honorable mention list of top recruits. She captured Georgia state titles in the 100 breaststroke in both 2019 and 2020 and was the runner-up in the 200 individual medley this past year.
 
Stephanie Akakabota, a sprint freestyler, placed second in the 50 free at the Florida state meet last week, and Reed Broaders, from Danville, Illinois, owns nine section titles, with three coming in 2020 (50 and 100 free, 100 back). Lizzy Cook broke the Oregon state record in the 50 free as a sophomore in 2019. Annika McEnroe is a 10-time South Carolina state champion and set four state records, while McKenna Stone captured a pair of Illinois state titles in the 100 fly and another in the 200 IM.
 
Four of the recruits hail from the Bay Area – Jessica Davis (Danville, sixth-place CIF state finisher in the 100 back), Mèlanie Julia (Palo Alto, CIF runner-up in the 100 breast), Ella Mazurek (Aptos, league record-holder in the 100 and 200 free) and Shelby Suppiger (Lafayette, finalist in both breaststroke events at the CIF North Section Championships).
 
Daniela Cogswell (United Arab Emirates) was the International Middle East Open champion in the 50-meter backstroke and second-place finisher in three other events in 2019-20, while Fanni Fabian (Hungary), placed fifth in the 200-meter free and fourth in the 200-meter fly at the 2019 World Junior Championships. Lea Polonsky is the former Israeli record-holder in the 400 IM and earned a bronze medal in the 200 IM at the 2019 European Junior Championships.
 
Outside of the pool, there are nine USA Swimming Scholastic All-Americans and even one swimmer –Akakabota – who has performed the piano at Carnegie Hall.
 
Overall, Cal owns four NCAA Championships in its history and finished among the top three at the national meet 11 years in a row from 2009-2019 – the only team in the country to accomplish the feat. The Bears have produced a combined 74 NCAA individual and relay winners, and Cal swimmers have captured a total of 48 Olympic medals.
  
Stephanie Akakabota – Lake Mary, FL/Seminole HS – Sprint Free

• Won the 50m and 100m at the 2019 Florida LCM Seniors meet
• A two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
• As Seminole HS, placed second in the state meet in the 50 free as a senior and third as a junior after taking 10th as a sophomore
• An International Baccalaureate student
• Top times: 50 free – 22.81; 100 free – 52.15
• Born Nov. 13, 2003
• Parents are Tony and Boianie Akakabota
• Plans for a career in engineering
• Has been playing the piano since age 5, and has performed at Carnegie Hall

 
Reed Broaders – Danville, IL/University Laboratory HS – Fly/Back

• A three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and a four-time NISCA All-American
• Named team MVP three times and Rookie of the Year as a freshman
• Won nine sectional championships, including the 50 and 100 free and 100 back in 2020
• Set school records in the 50 free, 100 fly and 100 back
• The 2019 USA Futures 100 back champion
• Top times: 100 back – 55.40; 200 back – 2:06.36; 100 fly – 54.76
• Born Dec. 20, 2022
• Parents are Ron and Karen Broaders
• Father played basketball and football at Millikin University
• A high school and club teammate with junior Ema Rajic

 
Daniela Cogswell – Dubai, United Arab Emirates/GEMS World Academic – Free/Back

• The International Middle East Open champion in the 50m back, and runner-up in the 50m and 100m free and 100 back in 2019-20; also the Spanish national junior champion in the 50m free and 400m free relay
• In 2018-19, was the Spanish national junior champ in the 50m free and 400m free and 400m medley relays
• Earned her high school's DP School Scholarship Award for academic and swimming achievement three time
• In 2018-19, named the UAE Athlete of the Year (under 16) and received her school's Sport Award for swimming
• Born May 8, 2003
• Interested in psychology as a major
• Parents are Jonathan Cogswell and Conception Rodriquez Reina
• Also ran the 200m on her high school's track & field team
• Has traveled extensively, including throughout Europe, Asia and Africa

 
Lizzy Cook – Portland, OR/Catlin Gabel School – Free/Fly

• Set the Oregon Class 1-4A record in the 50 free as a sophomore at the 2019 state championships (23.50), breaking the previous record by more than half a second; also won the 100 fly (55.04) and was on the winning 400 free relay at the state meet
• A two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
• Set three high school records in the 50 free, 10 free and 100 fly
• Top times: 50 free – 23.01; 100 free – 49.81; 200 free – 1:47.94; 100 fly – 53.64; 200 fly – 1:56.10
• Born July 22, 2002
• Parents are Tim and Karen Cook
• Both of her parents swam at Ithaca College, while her sister, Emily, is a senior swimmer at Minnesota and her sister, Susan, is a rower at Boston University

 
Jessica Davis – Danville, CA/Carondelet HS – Back

• Three-year member of the USA Swimming Scholastic All-America team and named a NISCA High School Swimming All-American in the 100 back in 2018- and 2019
• At the CIF state championships, placed sixth in the 100 back as a sophomore and eighth in the event as a junior
• Ranked 73rd in the under-18 world rankings in the 100m back
• Took seventh in the 100m back and sixth in the 200m at the 2018 Speedo Summer Junior Nationals
• Helped her team to victories in the 800 free relay and 400 medley relay at the 2018 Speedo West Winter Junior Nationals meet
• Top times: 100 back – 54.47; 200 back – 1:58.98
• A two-time team MVP at Carondelet HS
• A California Scholarship Federation member
• Born Nov. 22, 2002
• Parents are Michael and Laura Davis
• Father played football at the University of Louisville

 
Fanni Fabian – Szeged, Hungary/SZTE Practicing High School – Free/Fly/IM

• Placed fifth in the 200m free (1:59.37) and fourth in the 200m fly (2:09.94) at the 2019 World Junior Championships in Budapest
• Participated in the European Junior Championships from 2016-19, and won two gold medals in the 200m free relay (2017 and 2018); also earned a silver medal in the 200 fly in 2018 and took fourth in the event in 2019
• Born Oct. 30, 2002
• Parents are Zoltan Fabian and Eva Zlatics

 
Alicia Henry – Alpharetta, GA/Alpharetta HS – Breast/IM

• Made SwimSwam's honorable mention list of top recruits for 2020
• A three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
• Captured the state title in the 100 breast in both 2019 and 2020, while she was the 2020 state runner-up in the 200 IM
• Set five Alpharetta HS records and broke the Georgia state record in the 100 breast four times
• Won the 100m and 200m breast at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in 2018
• Top times: 100 breast – 1:00.20; 200 breast – 2:13.85; 200 IM – 2:04.66
• Born Aug. 30, 2003
• Parents are Ken and Mary Henry

 
Mèlanie Julia – Palo Alto, CA/ Gunn HS – Breast/IM

• Set school records in the 100 breast and on the 200 medley relay, and helped her team to a pair of CCS championships
• The French Junior champion in the 50m breast (2017) and 100m breast (2018)
• The CIF state runner-up in the 100 breast in 2019
• Top times: 100 breast – 1:00.80; 200 breast – 2:13.80; 200 IM – 2:03.59; 400 IM – 4:27.49
• Earned her school's Biology Award, Math Award and Heart of Orchestra Award
• Born Oct. 4, 2002
• Parents are Luc Julia Ellen Sentovich
• Born in Berkeley, and her mother earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Cal
• Lived in Paris for six years

 
Mia Kragh – San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS – Free/Fly

• Ranked as the No. 9 recruit in the country by SwimSwam
• Broke the California state records in the 100 fly and 200 medley relay at the 2019 CIF meet
• Has earned her Olympic Trials cut in the 100m fly
• The 2019 Torrey Pines HS Female Athlete of the Year, as well as the swim team MVP (2019) and team Freshman of the Year (2018)
• Placed fourth in the 100 fly at 2019 Speedo Winter Junior Nationals
• Top times: 50 free – 22.82; 100 free – 49.87; 200 free – 1:48.29; 100 fly – 52.01; 200 fly – 1:56.16
• Born July 11, 2003
• Parents are Peter and Betty Kragh

 
Ella Mazurek – Aptos, CA/Soquel HIS - Free

• Has dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship and competed the 2019 Canadian World Championships Trials
• A three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and five-time NISCA High School Swimming All-American
• Set the league records in the 100 and 200 free
• Selected to Swimming Canada's National ID team
• Reached the final of the 100 free at 2019 Winter Junior Nationals
• Top times: 50 free – 23.16; 100 free – 49.60; 200 free – 1:48.04
• Born Aug. 25, 2003
• Parents are Robert Mazurek and Heather Faust

 
Annika McEnroe – Spartanburg, SC/Spartanburg HS – Fly/Breast/IM

• A 10-time South Carolina state champion, including in six relays, two wins in the 100 fly, and victories in the 100 back (2019) and 200 IM (2020)
• Set four state records at the 2020 state meet – 100 fly, 200 IM, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay
• A member of the NISCA All-American Interscholastic Team and three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
• Qualified for the 2021 Olympic Trials in the 200m breast and 400m IM
• Participated in the 2019 USA Swimming National Select Camp at the Olympic Training Center
• Played third in the 200m breast and fifth in 400m IM at 2019 Speedo Junior Nationals
• Ranked 53rd in the world (under 18) in the 200m breast
• Top times: 100 breast – 1:03.28; 200 breast – 2:12.43; 100 fly – 53.06; 200 fly – 1:58.27; 200 IM – 1:59.29; 400 IM – 4:12.94
• An AP Scholar with Distinction and has taken nine AP courses
• Plays cello in the school orchestra
• Interested in a career in a STEM-related field and has served as a biomedical/clinical research intern
• Born Dec. 10, 2002
• Father, Sean, competed in track & field at Marquette, while mother, Gretchen, played basketball at Boston University

 
Lea Polonsky – Haifa, Israel/Ironi Hey High School – Free/Breast/IM

• Bronze medalist in the 200m IM at the 2019 European Junior Championships (2:14.29)
• Former Israeli national record holder in the 400m IM
• Member of the Israeli National Team since 2016
• Named her school's Honor Athlete of the Year
• Top times (LCM): 200m free – 2:01.94; 200m IM – 2:13.61; 100 breast – 1:08.97
• Born May 25, 2002
• Parents are Oleg and Anna Polonsky
• Brother, Ron, attends Stanford, and has two younger siblings, Libi and Jonathan
• Participated in ballroom dancing for five years

 
McKenna Stone – Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley HS – free/fly/IM

• Has earned her 2021 Olympic Trials cut in the 50m free
• A two-time state champion in the 100 fly, as well as the 2020 state champ in the 200 IM
• A three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and named an All-American 12 times between 2017-19
• Finished third in the 50 free at the 2018 Winter Junior Championships
• Set four individual and two relay school records in 2020
• Top times: 50 free – 22.61; 100 free – 49.50; 200 free – 1:49.04; 100 fly – 53.04; 200 IM – 2:00.75
• Member of her school's Academic High Honor Roll for six semesters
• Born June 17, 2003
• Parents are Adam and Rita Stone
• Father played soccer and mother played softball, both at DePaul

 
Shelby Suppiger – Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS – Breast/IM

• Named MVP of her high school in 2019
• Placed fifth in the 100 breast and third in the 200 breast at the 2019 CIF North Coast Section meet
• Member of the CIF Scholar Athlete Honor Roll from 2018-19 and the CIF President's List from 2017-18 and 2019-20
• Swam for the Crow Canyon Sharks and earned All-America Interscholastic honors in the 100 breast and 200 IM in 2018-19
• A USA Swimming Scholastic All-American from 2017-20
• Top times: 100 breast – 1:01.31; 200 breast – 2:12.41; 200 IM – 2:01.15
• Born March 29, 2003
• Parents are Erik and Lori Suppiger
• Earned Bronze, Silver and Gold awards from the Girl Scout