By: Sam Boender
GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines Swimming & Diving Head Coach
Claire McDaniel and her staff have signed 14 new Orediggers to join the team this fall.
The incoming class includes eight men and six women with 13 true freshmen and one transfer. Many states are represented including California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Texas, and Washington. The most represented areas were California, Florida, Texas, and Washington with multiple signees hailing from each of those states. The lone transfer is coming to Golden by way of The Ohio State University.
Below is a snapshot of the incoming class:
Travis Black | 6-1 | Sebastopol, Calif. | Analy HS
Aly Cutforth | 5-9 | San Jose, Calif. | Santa Teresa HS
Monica DiGaetani | 5-7 | Jacksonville, Fla. | Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies
Liv Doruk-Olsen | 5-7 | New York, N.Y. | The Bronx High School of Science
Sebastian Guio | 5-9 | Jacksonville, Fla. | Episcopal School of Jacksonville
Dylan Heikkila | 5-10 | Olympia, Wash. | Olympia HS
Lizzie Landuyt | 5-6 | Parkville, Mo. | Park Hill South HS
Kaitlyn LaTendresse | 5-7 | Gig Harbor, Wash. | Gig Harbor HS
Zach Marshall | 5-9 | Round Rock, Texas | Round Rock HS
William McCaffery | 6-4 | Ridgeland, Miss. | St. Andrews Episcopal School
Zoe McGee | 5-6 | Bethesda, Md. | Walter Johnson HS
Tyler Mury | 5-10 | Tomball, Texas | Tomball Memorial HS
Gherman Prudnikau | 6-0 | Aurora, Colo. | Ohio State | Grandview HS
Gavin Richmond | 5-8 | Boerne, Texas | Boerne-Champion HS
Travis Black – 6-0 – Career Top Times
Sebastopol, Calif. – Analy HS – Neptune Swimming
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Collected four varsity letters as a swimmer at Analy High School in California … Broke two high school league records … Qualified for the state meet as a junior … Also qualified for Futures in the 100-back, 200-back, and 200-free as a sophomore … Was the high point scorer on his high school team … Won the Mettlehead award … Named Tri-County Male Swimmer of the Year as a junior as well … Club team was Neptune Swimming … Broke the club records in the 100-back, 200-back, and 200-free with two other records in Pacific swimming … Ranked first on his club team … Out of the pool, appeared on the Principal's Highest Honor Roll, was an Athletic Scholar, and an AP Scholar … Plans to major in civil engineering at Mines.
Aly Cutforth– 5-9 – Career Top Times
San Jose, Calif. – Santa Teresa HS – Swim South Bay
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Competed for the swim team at Santa Teresa High School in California … Focused mostly on the 50-free and 100-free with relay roles as well … Broke the school record on the 200-medley relay, 400-freestyle relay, and in the 50-free … Qualified for the CIF state championships as a freshman and junior … Placed fifth in the 50-free at the CIF Central Coast sectional … Boasts top career times of 23.64 in the 50-free, 51.82 in the 100-free, 1:55.05 in the 200-free, 57.18 in the 100-fly, and 30.37 in the 50-breast … Named the team's Co-MVP in 2023 and was the Girls Freshman Class Athlete of the Year … Earned Girls Sophomore Class Athlete of the Year in 2024 and the Junior Class Athlete of the Year in 2025 as well … Claimed a second team MVP award in 2025 too … Club team was Swim South Bay where she qualified for Futures in 2025, was the 2024-25 Swimmer of the Year, and was Girls 15-18 Most Valuable … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
Monica DiGaetani – 5-7 – Career Top Times
Jacksonville, Fla. – Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies – Planet Swim Aquatics Club
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Earned four varsity letters while swimming at Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies in Florida … Was a four-time all-conference swimmer … Won five state medals at Florida's 1A/2A level … Club team was Planet Swim Aquatics … In the classroom, was named a 1010 XL Scholar Athlete … Member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and the French Honor Society … Claimed the International Baccalaureate Principled Award … Also an AP Scholar with Distinction … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
Liv Doruk-Olsen – 5-7 – Career Top Times
New York, N.Y. – The Bronx High School of Science
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Raced for The Bronx High School of Science, focused mostly on the butterfly and individual medley … Broke the school records in the 200-IM and 100-fly … Posted cuts for Futures in the 200-IM, 400-IM, 100-fly, and 200-fly … Four-time qualifier for the PSAL playoffs … Advanced to PSAL quarters as a senior … Two-time PSAL A winner … Served as a team captain and was a state qualifier … Also participated in the 2025 Turkish National Qualifying meet, placing fifth in the 400-IM (LCM) and seventh in the 200-fly (LCM) … Work in the classroom led to AP Scholar with Honors status … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
Sebastian Guio – 5-9 – Career Top Times
Jacksonville, Fla. – Episcopal School of Jacksonville
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Totaled four varsity letters as a swimmer at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville in Florida … Four-time state qualifier and four-time state finalist … Voted Team MVP for the 2024-25 season … Won the coaches award after the 2025-26 season … Broke team records in the 200-IM, 200-back, and 200-breast … Was a Junior National Qualifier … Named All-First Coast team in 2025-26 as well … Scholastic All-American in 2023-24 and 2024-25 … Member of the National Honor Society … Earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
Dylan Heikkila – 5-10 – Career Top Times
Olympia, Wash. – Olympia HS – King Aquatic Club
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Member of the swim team at Olympia High School in Washington … Focused primarily on the sprint events … Club team was King Aquatic … Qualified for the Speedo Junior National Championships and finished 39th in the 50-fly with a time of 25.39 … Posted a 20.30 50-free at the Speedo Winter Junior Championship West … Won the 50-fly with a career-best time of 21.65 at the PN VAST 49th Annual Washington Open … Also won the 100-breast and 50-free at the PN Division 1 Age Group Invitational … Earned the Seal of Biliteracy … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
Lizzie Landuyt – 5-6 – Career Top Times
Parkville, Mo. – Park Hill South HS – Kansas City Tsunami Swim Team
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Two-sport athlete at Park Hill South High School in Missouri, competing in track & field and swimming … Earned four varsity letters in the pool and one on the track team … Won the state title in the 100-back as a junior and added a state bronze medal in the same event as a senior … Earned All-State status all four years of high school … Helped Park Hill South with three straight team titles at the state meet … Also won state gold as part of the 200-medley relay and 400-freestyle relay … Club team was Kansas City Tsunami Swim Team where she competed at sectionals nine times and qualified for NSCA and Futures four times … Member of the National Honor Society … Named to the Missouri Valley Swimming All-Academic Team … Was an AP Scholar and AP Scholar with Merit too … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines with a focus on aerospace engineering.
Kaitlyn LaTendresse – 5-7 – Career Top Times
Gig Harbor, Wash. – Gig Harbor HS – King Aquatic Club
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Collected three varsity letters as a swimmer at Gig Harbor High School in Washington … Broke the school record in the 100-back … Named 2025 Puget Sound League MVP … As a junior, finished fifth in the state in the 200-free, 100-back, as part of the 200-freestyle relay, and 400-freestyle relay … Won the 2025 West Central District III title in the 200-free, 100-back, 200-medley relay, and 400-freestyle relay … League champion in the 200-free, 500-free, 200-medley relay, and 400-freestyle relay … Placed sixth in the state in the 500-free and both freestyle relays as a sophomore … District champion as a sophomore in the 200-free, 500-free, and both freestyle relays … Served as team captain … Named WIAA Athlete of the Week … Was a two-time Tacoma Athletic Commission Athlete of the Year nominee … Twice won the GHHS Swim & Dive Coach's Award … Three-time swim & dive MVP … Crowned Swimmer of the Meet at the 2025 Swimvitational Championship … Also collected the team captain's award and best newcomer award … Club team was King Aquatic where she was a four-time qualifier for Futures … Finished as high as third at Futures as part of the 800-freestyle relay and was 13
th in the 200-back in 2024 … Took seventh at the 2022 Open Water Junior National 5K race and was 14
th at the 2024 Open Water Junior Nationals 7.5K race … In the classroom, earned the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish … Part of the College Board National Recognition Program … Was an AP Scholar with Distinction … Won the AP Capstone Award … Earned a Varsity letter in community service for over 100 hours of service … Member of the National Honor Society and chapter president … Plans to major in chemical engineering at Mines.
Zach Marshall – 5-9 – Career Top Times
Round Rock, Texas – Round Rock HS – Nitro Swimming
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Member of the swimming & diving team at Round Rock High School in Texas, focusing primarily on the breaststroke and individual medley … As a sophomore, finished 13th at the district meet in the 200-IM … Junior season yielded a sixth-place finish at districts as part of the 200-medley relay and a pair of seventh-place finishes in the 100-breast and 200-IM … Tabbed as an alternated for the 2025 regional meet … Senior campaign finished with him taking eighth in the state in the 100-breast at the 6A level after district silver in the 100-breast and 200-IM with a bronze medal on the 200-medley relay … Final regional meet featured a fourth-place finish in the 100-breast, sixth on the 200-medley relay, and seventh in the 200-IM … Dropped over 15 seconds off his 200-IM and 100-breast throughout his prep career … Served as team captain his senior year after winning the Coaches' Award as a junior … Multiple All-District awards thanks to finishes of sixth or better at the 25-6A championships … Scored the most points on the team leading to MVP status during the 2025-26 season … Club team was Nitro Swimming … Qualified for Winter Juniors Nationals in 2025 and Summer Junior Nationals in 2025 and 2026 … Was a finalist at the national meet thanks to a top-25 finish in the 200-breast … Qualified for sectionals in 2025 and 2026 with a medal in 2026 after taking seventh in the 200-breast … Earned the club Coaches' Award in 2021 … Work in the classroom led to Academic All-District status … Claimed the Round Rock High School Academic Award all four years … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines with a focus in aerospace engineering.
William McCaffery – 6-4 – Career Top Times
Ridgeland, Miss. – St. Andrew's Episcopal School – Mississippi Makos Swim Team
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Standout swimmer for St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Mississippi … Collected six varsity letters during his prep career … Helped his team win six consecutive MHSAA Class I state titles from 2020-25 … Won the 2025 individual title broke the state record in the MHSAA Class I 500-free … Added another gold medal and state record as part of the 200-freestyle relay at the 2025 meet … Made a trio of state titles by helping the 400-freestyle relay win gold in 2025 … Served as co-captain of the high school squad for the 2025 season … Club team was the Mississippi Makos Swim Team … Broke multiple state records during his club career including the 500-free, 1650-free, and as part of the 400-freestyle relay and 800-freestyle relay … High Point award for the Mississippi Long Course State Championship and the Mississippi Short Course State Championship … Honored as Mississippi's Most Outstanding Swimmer and led his club team in points … Junior National qualifier in the 500 and 1000-free … In the classroom, earned USA Swimming Scholastic All-America status … Member of the National Honor Society, cum laude society, and Mu Alpha Theta … Plans to major in electrical engineering at Mines.
Zoe McGee – 5-6 – Career Top Times
Bethesda, Md. – Walter Johnson HS – Rockville Montgomery Swim Club
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Totaled four varsity letters while swimming for Walter Johnson High School in Maryland … Focused primarily on the butterfly and individual medley … Top career times include a 56.08 in the 100-fly and a 2:06.22 in the 200-IM … Helped her high school team win two Maryland state titles and the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Championships … Served as team captain her senior year … Raced to a silver medal at the state championships in the 200-IM … Club team was Rockville Montgomery Swim Club … Member of the club's national team, swimming 2:02.83 om the 200-fly and 4:29.14 in the 400-IM … Academic work led to recognition as a PVS Scholar Athlete from 2023-25 … Plans to major in quantum systems engineering at Mines.
Tyler Mury – 5-10 – Career Top Times
Tomball, Texas – Tomball Memorial HS – Cypress Fairbanks Swim Club
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Claimed three varsity letters competing for Tomball Memorial High School in Texas … Career-best times include a 48.94 in the 100-fly, 1:48.47 in the 200-fly, 20.87 in the 50-free, 45.47 in the 100-free, 1:37.69 in the 200-free, 4:31.07 in the 500-free, and 1:51.48 in the 200-IM … Served as team captain of his high school squad … Raced to NISCA Boys High School Swimming All-America status in the 200-free in 2024-25 and 2025-26 … Was a two-time B-finalist at the UIL Texas State Championships … Posted a pair of fourth-place finishes at the state meet … Collected five silver medals and one gold medal at the UIL Region Championships … Broke 10 school records … Named 2026 UIL District Swimmer of the Meet while helping his team win the district crown … Earned TISCA First-Team All-State distinction in the 200-free and 100-fly with Second-Team status in the 200-IM, 100-free, 50-free, and as part of the 200-freestyle relay and 400-freestyle relay … Also Honorable Mention All-State in the 100-back … Club team was Cypress Fairbanks Swim Club … Swam into finals at Winter Junior Nationals … Member of the Gulf Select Team … Was top-seven at TYR Futures … Named most improved after the 2024-25 club season … Academic work led to 2025 Scholastic All-America and Gulf Scholastic Team … An AP Scholar with Distinction … College Board – National Recognition … Member of the National Honor Society … Graduated magna cum laude … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
Gherman Prudnikau – 6-0 – Career Top Times
Aurora, Colo. – Ohio State – Grandview HS
OHIO STATE (2025-26): Started his collegiate career at The Ohio State University … Qualified for the B1G Conference Championships where he raced the 200-free, 500-free, and 1650-free … Conference times qualified him for the CSCAA National Invitational Championship where his top finish was fourth in the 1000-free … Also placed sixth in the 1650-free and 11th in the 500-free … College swimming debut was at the NC State Raleigh Rumble where he appeared in the 500-free, 1000-free, and 200-fly … Also competed in seven other meets during his true freshman season including the Toyota US Open Championships and the Eddie Reese Texas Showdown.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Attended Grandview High School in Colorado where he was a two-time 5A state champion, winning the 500-free with a leg on the 200-freestyle relay … Broke six pool records and three team records … Was the 2025 West Sectionals High Point winner … Claimed four gold medals at the 2025 West Sectional … Won Swimmer of the Year and earned all-America distinction as well … Club team was Mission Aurora Colorado Swimming … Broke eight club records too … Top prep times included a 9:02.35 in the 1000-free, 15:13.10 in the 1650-free, 3:58.08 in the 400-free long course, 4:22.14 in the 500-free, and 1:36.99 in the 200-free.
Gavin Richmond – 5-8 – Career Top Scores
Boerne, Texas – Boerne-Champion HS – Northside Diving Academy
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Competed in diving for Boerne-Champion High School and Northside Diving Academy in Texas … Best eleven-dive score off a 1-meter board was 412 … Posted a career-best score of 330 in 10 dives at 3-meters … Won district and regional bronze in 2025 … Claimed district silver and the regional title in 2026 … Was sixth at the UIL 5A State Championship his senior season … Two-time diver of the year at Boerne-Champion … Honorable Mention All-State in 2025 and First-Team All-State in 2026 … At Northside Diving Academy, posted an AAU National Qualifying Score and a score above the All-America cut … Earned Bigfuture National Recognition Rural and Small Town Award … Was an AP Scholar … Plans to major in chemical engineering at Mines.
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