By: Sam Boender
GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines Men's and Women's Swimming Head Coach
Claire McDaniel announced the signing of 11 student-athletes for the 2024-25 season and school year.
McDaniel added six women and five men after a 2023-24 campaign that saw both Oredigger squads once again score points at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. Eden Addison, Sophia Cristal, Ava LaBrose, Jennifer Pierson, Elizabeth Powers, and Abby Swanson will join the women's team this fall. Brenden Cook, Sawyer Jones, Vladislav Kazakin, Cameron MacMillan, and Lucas Waasdorp are set to bolster the men's roster. The newest Orediggers' tout a massive geographic footprint that spans the nation with the states of Maryland, Georgia, Texas, California, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Colorado all represented.
Below is a snapshot of the incoming class:
| Eden Addison |
5-6 |
Frisco, Texas / Panther Creek HS |
| Brenden Cook |
5-10 |
Irvine, Calif. / Irvine HS |
| Sophia Cristal |
5-5 |
The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands HS |
| Sawyer Jones |
6-4 |
Danville, Calif. / San Ramon Valley HS |
| Vladislav Kazakin |
5-9 |
Parker, Colo. / Highlands Ranch HS |
| Ava LaBrose |
5-8 |
Katy, Texas / Tompkins HS |
| Cameron MacMillan |
6-2 |
Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake HS |
| Jennifer Pierson |
5-9 |
Chaska, Minn. / Chanhassen HS |
| Elizabeth Powers |
5-5 |
Ames, Iowa / Gilbert HS |
| Abby Swanson |
5-7 |
Arlington Heights, Ill. / Buffalo Grove HS |
| Lucas Waasdorp |
5-10 |
Dunwoody, Ga. / Dunwoody HS |
Eden Addison – 5-6 – Career Top Times
Frisco, Texas – Panther Creek HS – Texas Ford Aquatics
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Earned four varsity letters as a swimmer at Panther Creek High School in Texas … Won the 2023 4A UIL State title in the 200-IM … Also won 2023 and 2024 4A UIL State silver in the 500-free and 200-free silver at the 2024 state meet … Posted sectional cuts in 11 different events including the long course 200-free, long course 400-free, 500-free, long course 800-free, 1000-free, long course 100-back, long course 200-back, 100-breast, 200-IM, long course 200-IM, and long course 400-IM … Team captain for her high school team and club team at Texas Ford Aquatics … Received the Character award and Pride awards at PCHS … In the classroom earned AP National Scholar Status and was Summa Cum Laud, ranked fifth in her class … Plans to major in electrical engineering at Mines.
Brenden Cook – 5-10 – Career Top Times
Irvine, Calif. – Irvine HS – Mission Viejo Nadadores
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Freestyle prep swimmer at Irvine High School with club affiliation at Mission Viejo Nadadores … Earned four varsity letters swimming at IHS … Top career times include 21.28 in the 50-free, 46.78 in the 100-free, and 1:41.39 in the 200-free … Won the Varsity Athletic Award and was named Most Inspirational Swimmer … Raced to silver in the 200-free at the CIF-SS Division 2 Championships and qualified for the CIF State Championships where he finished 34th overall … Also appeared at the PCL Championships, CA RMDA Road to Paris, and Speedo Sectionals … Academically, appeared on the Principal's Honor Roll and won the Spur Award … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
Sophia Cristal – 5-5 – Career Top Times
The Woodlands, Texas – The Woodlands HS – Houston Bridge Bats
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Two-sport athlete at The Woodlands High School in Texas, competing on the swim team and for the water polo squad … Totaled six varsity letters between the two sports … Helped the swim team win three Texas UIL 6A State Championships … Provided the leadoff leg for the 200-free relay which won bronze at the 2024 state meet … Was also named Conroe Independent School District MVP Goalie … Top career times include 57.3 in the 100-fly, 52.4 in the 100-free, and 23.9 in the 50-free … Appeared in four different events at Speedo Sectionals in Lewisville … Claimed bronze in the 50-free at Texas UIL regionals and silver in the same event at the district races … Club affiliation with Houston Bridge Bats … Classroom work helped her earn two selections as Texas Academic All-State along with All-American Academics status, and The Woodlands High School UIL Scholar Award … Plans to major in chemical engineering at Mines.
Sawyer Jones – 6-4 – Career Top Times
Danville, Calif. – San Ramon Valley HS – Diablo Aquatics
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Freestyle sprinter and water polo student-athlete for San Ramon Valley High School in California … Accumulated seven varsity letters between the two sports … High Point winner for SRVHS in 2023 leading to NISCA All-American status … Was also named EBAL All-League, EBAL First-Team in water polo, and a NCS All-Star in water polo … Helped the SRVHS swim team take 13th in the state at the 2023 CIF State Championships and third at the 2023 North Coast Section Championships … The 2023 water polo squad was ranked top-40 in the nation … Raced club for Diablo Athletics … Some top career times include 20.58 in the 50-free, 45.80 in the 100-free, and 1:45.63 in the 200-free … Academically earned EBAL and NCS academic honors, was a USAA Water Polo Academic All-American and a three-year member of the National Honor Society … Plans to major in computer science at Mines.
Vladislav Kazakin – 5-9 – Career Top Times
Parker, Colo. – Highlands Ranch HS – Highlands Ranch Aquatics
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Four-time varsity letter winner in swimming for Highlands Ranch High School … Two-time All-American, earning the status as a junior and senior … 2024 Colorado 5A State Champion in the 500-free thanks to a finals time of 4:33.75 … Also placed top-20 at the 2024 state meet in the 200-free … Freshman season saw a finish of 30th in the 500-free at the state championships … Took eighth in the state in the 500-free as a sophomore and was 30th in the 200-free … Junior season brought Colorado silver in the 500-free and a 10th-place finish in the 100-back … Competed in club swimming for Highlands Ranch Aquatics … Work in the classroom led to Outstanding Mathematics Student awards as a freshman and sophomore … Plans to major in Computer Science at Mines.
Ava LaBrose – 5-8 – Career Top Times
Katy, Texas – Tompkins HS – Katy Aquatics
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Competed for the swim team at Tompkins High School in Texas while also racing for Katy Aquatics … Won the season high point award three times … Helped her prep squad win two UIL 6A District Championships … Was an individual qualifier for the Texas UIL 6A State Championships, finishing 15th in Texas in the 200-free … Also appeared on two relays at the state races … Medaled at the Texas UIL 6A Region Championships … Broke five school records during her time at Tompkins High … Served as a two-year captain as well and won the Falcon Award … For Katy aquatics, broke a team record and qualified for Futures … In the classroom, earned special honors for engineering design … Plans to major in civil engineering at Mines.
Cameron MacMillan – 6-2 – Career Top Times
Columbia, Md. – Wilde Lake HS – Columbia Aquatics Association
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Attended Wilde Lake High School in Maryland and competed for the Columbia Aquatics Association, specializing in the 200-free and 500-free … Top career times include 1:42.27 in the 200-free and 4:40.25 in the 500-free … Appeared at the Virginia State Long Course Championships and took bronze in the 50-free, fourth in the 200-breast, and sixth in the 100-back … Also raced at Speedo Sectionals in Buffalo and finished top-20 in the 100-free, 200-free, 400-free, and 200-back … Earned the Howard County Goodsports Award though the Columbia Aquatics Association … Graduated as an AP Scholar with Distinction … Plans to major in electrical engineering at Mines.
Jennifer Pierson – 5-9 – Career Top Times
Chaska, Minn. – Chanhassen HS – Aquajets Swim Team
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Three-sport student-athlete at Chanhassen High School in Minnesota, competing in swimming, cross country, and track & field … Swim events included freestyle, butterfly, and backstroke … Comes to Mines touting career times of 23.83 in the 50-free, 51.48 in the 100-free, 1:54.60 in the 200-free, 57.93 in the 100-fly, 58.22 in the 100-back, and 2:06.35 in the 200-back … Twice served as the captain for her prep swim and dive team … Was named MSHSCA All-State for swimming three times and was a MSHSL Class AA State Finalist three times … Also advanced to Section 2AA finals three times and earned Metro West All-Conference in three seasons … Her 50-free and 100-free both rank Top-100 in Girls Minnesota Swimming All-Time State Meet Performances … Voted MVP of her prep swim & dive team … Was a team captain for the track & field team as well, advancing to sectional finals twice and earning five Metro West Conference podium appearances … Voted Ms. Versatility on her track & field team … In cross country, was a member of two MSHSL State Teams and helped her squad to two runner-up finishes at Section 2AAA races … Was Metro West All-Conference and Metro West Honorable Mention All-Conference in cross country … Earned Rookie of the Year status too … Totaled 10 varsity letters at Chanhassen High School … As a member of the Aquajets National Team, twice qualified for the NCSA National Meet and Speedo Futures Qualifiers … Tallied numerous individual podium finishes and helped relays top the podium multiple times at short course and long course Minnesota Club State Championships … Also earned the Minneapolis Athena Award and MSHSL ExCEL Award … Added Academic All-State status in track and swimming to her resume thanks to her work in the classroom … Twice named Metro West Academic All-Conference in swimming … Graduated as an AP Scholar with Distinction, Summa Cum Laude, and was a member of the National Honor Society … Plans to major in quantitative biosciences and engineering at Mines.
Elizabeth Powers – 5-5 – Career Top Times
Ames, Iowa – Gilbert HS – Ames Cyclone Aquatics Club
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Attended Gilbert High School in Iowa and competed for Ames High School while also racing for the Ames Cyclone Aquatics Club … Main events in swimming were the 100-fly, 100-back, 200-free, and 500-free … Top career times include 1:55.09 in the 200-free, 5:08.17 in the 500-free, 10:33.63 in the 1000-free, 17:35.15 in the 1650-free, 58.47 in the 100-back, 2:07.68 in the 200-back, 58.46 in the 100-fly, and 2:10.77 in the 200-fly … Helped her prep squad win the state title as a freshman and grab team silver as a sophomore … Earned four varsity letters swimming for Ames High School … Classroom performance led to Academic All-Conference four times and four academic letters … Also competed in Modeling the Future as a junior and senior, focusing on actuarial work and data modeling, advancing to the semifinals as a senior … Plans to major in quantitative biosciences and engineering at Mines.
Abby Swanson – 5-7 – Career Top Times
Arlington Heights, Ill. – Buffalo Grove HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Competed in soccer, volleyball, water polo, wrestling, track & field, and swimming while attending Buffalo Grove High School in Illinois … Totaled six varsity letters … Named an all-conference swimmer in 2022 and 2023 … Earned all-conference status in water polo in 2023 and 2024 along with all-sectional distinction in 2022 and 2023 … State qualifier as part of the medley relay as a junior … Senior season saw state qualifying in the 50-free, 100-free, 200-freestyle relay, and 400-freestyle relay … Nominated for all-conference accolades as a senior and was an all-state finisher as part of the 400-freestyle relay which finished 12th at the state championships … Top career times include 24.20 in the 50-free, 52.71 in the 100-free, 1:58.87 in the 200-free, and 5:19.19 in the 500-free … Out of the pool, won the MobileMakersEDU Screencast Coding Contest, was a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society, and appeared on the honor roll … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
Lucas Waasdorp – 5-10 – Career Top Times
Dunwoody, Ga. – Dunwoody HS – Spartans Aquatic Club
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Raced the butterfly and freestyle at Dunwoody High School in Georgia and for Spartans Aquatic Club … Won the Georgia State Class 6A title as part of the 400-freestyle relay … Was also Georgia State Class 6A runner-up as part of the 200-freestyle relay … Helped his team win the Dekalb County Championship while individually taking bronze in the 200-free … Earned four varsity letters during his prep career … Posted career times of 51.29 in the 100-fly, 46.97 in the 100-free, and 1:45.00 in the 200-free … Member of the Athletic Honor Society … Out of the pool, received the AP Scholar Award, appeared on the Principal's Honor Roll, earned the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and was a member of the National Honor Society … Plans to major in statistics at Mines.
Fans can keep up with Mines swimming on "X" (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram at @MinesSwimming. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X", and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.
