Meet the Women's Swimming & Diving Newcomers
Oct 26, 2016 | Women's Swimming and Diving
A host of talented newcomers will compete in front of the home crowd for the first time when the Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team hosts South Carolina in its home opener at 5 p.m. on Friday at the Student Recreation Natatorium.
The dual meet, which is in conjunction with Alumni Weekend, has been designated the "Pink Meet" for breast cancer awareness and the first 100 fans at the Rec will receive pink Texas A&M Swimming and Diving flip flops.
Live results can be accessed on 12thMan.com or Meet Mobile. The competition will be available digitally on mobile devices, tablets, PCs and connect-TVs for SEC Network subscribers whose cable/satellite packages allow access to SEC Network+ through the WatchESPN app and SECSports.com.
Newcomers for the women's team include:
Women's Team newcomer biographical sketches:
Kaley Batten
A product of The Woodlands Diving Academy, Batten was a two-time Zone qualifier while training under former Texas A&M interim diving coach Kenny Armstrong. Competing for Willis High School, Batten was a two-time state finalist, taking fifth in 2015 and third in 2016. Batten was a two-time district and regional champion and was voted her team's Diving MVP three times.
"I chose Texas A&M because of the greatness and success that comes from this university in academics, sports, and as a community."
McKenna De Bever
A transfer from Auburn, De Bever was a finalist in the 100 free and swam a leg on the Tigers' 400 free relay at the 2015 SEC Championships and was a relay alternate at the 2015 NCAA Championships. She competed at the 2013 Junior World Championships and the 2015 Pan American Games and had a U.S. Olympic Team Trials cut in the 200 IM. An excellent student, De Bever was a two-time member of the SEC Honor Roll while at Auburn. As a club swimmer, De Bever was coached by Jason Calanog at the Bolles (Fla.) School.
"The women's team is outstanding and incomparable. Steve and Tanica are a great group of coaches that really complement each other. The amount of support from the academic side is unreal. Taking a look at the improvement rates, Steve and Tanica have done an outstanding job with their swimmers. I'm excited to be a part of such an excellent program.
Monika González-Hermosillo
A transfer from Penn State, González-Hermosillo placed 12th in the 400 IM and the 15th in the 200 IM at the 2016 Big Ten Championships. A freshman for the NIttany Lions in 2015-16, she posted NCAA "B" cuts in the 200 and 400 IM. She trained with Acuática Nelson Vargas in Mexico City for 15 and her coach was Carlos Aldama.
"I believe Texas A&M provides the perfect environment to succeed and reach your full potential, both athletically and academically, and Coach Bultman sounds like a great coach."
Dorothy Halmy
Halmy was rated No. 2 senior swimming prospect in the state of Texas by CollegeSwimming.com. Halmy has U.S. Open and Junior Nationals qualifying times. Competing for College Park High School in The Woodlands, Halmy was the Texas state runner-up in the 500-yard freestyle in 2014 and 2015. Halmy trained with the The Woodland Swim Team and was coached by Tim Bauer.
Karling Hemstreet
Hemstreet was rated the No. 1 senior in the state of Texas and No. 50 nationally by CollegeSwimming.com. Hemstreet produced U.S. Olympic Trials cuts in four races – the 200-, 400-, and 800-yard freestyles and the 200 backstroke, as well as U.S. Open qualifying times. Hemstreet is a U.S. Junior Team qualifier and a 2014 and 2015 finalist at the Junior Nationals. Competing for Nitro Swimming, Hemstreet was coached by Elliot McGill.
"I absolutely fell in love with the atmosphere of the school, it exudes friendliness," Hemstreet said. "The team feels like a family and they all are such great people that I felt so much at home while I was on campus. I'm so excited and fortunate to be a part of this team and to represent Texas A&M."
Sara Metzsch
Metzsch was rated the No. 4 recruit in the state of Oregon and No. 67 nationally by CollegeSwimming.com. She has achieved U.S. Olympic Trials cuts in the 100 and 200 backstroke, as well as U.S. Open and Junior Nationals qualifying times. Competing for the Tualatin Hills Swim Club, Metzch was coached by Franz Resseguie.
"I chose A&M because the team, coaches, and staff were incredibly welcoming and I immediately felt at home," Metzsch said. "A&M offers a great combination of academics and athletics, which was very important in my final decision. I was also amazed by all of the school traditions and spirit!
Amy Miller
Miller was rated the No. 2 senior prospect in the state of Louisiana by CollegeSwimming.com. A U.S. Open and Junior Nationals qualifier, Miller was the named the Outstanding Swimmer on the All-Metro Team by the Baton Rouge Advocate after winning the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle for St. Joseph's Academy at the LHSAA Div. I meet in 2015. At the Louisiana state meet, she became the first female to break the 50-second barrier in the 100-yard freestyle with a winning time of 49.97, and her time in the 100 breaststroke was the fastest in any division by more than three seconds. She was named the LHSAA Swimmer of the Meet.
"I chose Texas A&M for the amazing school traditions, the great academics, and the encouraging atmosphere of the team. I knew this was the perfect place for me," Miller said.
Katie Portz
Portz was the top-rated senior swimmer in the state of Michigan, according to CollegeSwimming.com. Portz has a U.S. Olympic Trials cut in the 200 freestyle, as well as a U.S. Open qualifying time in the 100 free. After winning four events at the 2015 Michigan Div. I state finals and earning All-America honors in seven races, Portz was named the MHSAA Swimmer of the Year, as well as Swimmer of the Year by the Ann Arbor News. Individually, Portz broke the Div. I finals record in the 100-yard freestyle with a winning time of 49.34 and also won the 200 free in 1:46.84. Portz was coached by Kelton Graham at Club Wolverine.
"Texas A&M has an amazing team and coaching staff, as well as a great business school," Portz said of her decision to choose the Aggies."
Golf Sapianchai
Sapianchai competed for Thanyapura PIA Phuket and coach Miguel Lopez and earned many medals at a variety of championship events in Thailand and southeast Asia.
"I love the team vibe and I'm impressed with the coaching staff."
Samantha Siebenaller
Siebenaller was rated the No. 5 senior swimmer in the state of Wisconsin and No. 54 nationally by CollegeSwimming.com. She has achieved a U.S. Olympic Trials cut in the 100 backstroke, as well as U.S. Open and Junior Nationals qualifying times. Siebenaller was named her high school team's MVP three times and she qualified for the Wisconsin state meet all four years. During her high school career, Siebenaller earned medals at the state meets eight times. Siebenaller was coached by Scott Mueller at Menomonee Falls Swim Club.
"After visiting Texas A&M, I instantly felt welcomed, not only by the swimming team and staff, but also by the community," Siebenaller said. "I took notice to the way the team interacted and I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of the Aggie family. I also was amazed by the amount of academic support that is given to student-athletes, whether they are in need of changing a major or finding a career. Overall, I found that A&M was the perfect fit for me both academically and athletically. I can't wait for future!
The dual meet, which is in conjunction with Alumni Weekend, has been designated the "Pink Meet" for breast cancer awareness and the first 100 fans at the Rec will receive pink Texas A&M Swimming and Diving flip flops.
Live results can be accessed on 12thMan.com or Meet Mobile. The competition will be available digitally on mobile devices, tablets, PCs and connect-TVs for SEC Network subscribers whose cable/satellite packages allow access to SEC Network+ through the WatchESPN app and SECSports.com.
Newcomers for the women's team include:
| Swimmer/Diver | Hometown | Club Team (Coach) |
| Kaley Batten | Willis, Texas | Woodlands Diving Academy (Kenny Armstrong) |
| McKenna De Bever | Denver, Colo. | Bolles {Fla.} School (Jason Calanog) |
| Monika González-Hermosillo | Mexico City, Mexico | Acuática Nelson Vargas (Carlos Aldama |
| Dorothy Halmy | The Woodlands, Texas | The Woodlands Swim Team (Tim Bauer) |
| Karling Hemstreet | Austin, Texas | Nitro Swimming (Elliott McGill) |
| Sara Metzsch | Hillsboro, Ore. | Tualatin Hills Swim Club (Franz Resseguie) |
| Amy Miller | Baton Rouge, La. | Crawfish Aquatics (Jayme Cramer) |
| Katie Portz | Ann Arbor, Mich. | Club Wolverine (Kelton Graham) |
| Golf Sapianchai | Phuket, Thailand | Thanyapura PIA Phuket (Miguel Lopez) |
| Samantha Siebenaller | Germantown, Wisc. | Menomonee Falls Swim Club (Scott Mueller) |
Women's Team newcomer biographical sketches:
Kaley Batten
A product of The Woodlands Diving Academy, Batten was a two-time Zone qualifier while training under former Texas A&M interim diving coach Kenny Armstrong. Competing for Willis High School, Batten was a two-time state finalist, taking fifth in 2015 and third in 2016. Batten was a two-time district and regional champion and was voted her team's Diving MVP three times.
"I chose Texas A&M because of the greatness and success that comes from this university in academics, sports, and as a community."
McKenna De Bever
A transfer from Auburn, De Bever was a finalist in the 100 free and swam a leg on the Tigers' 400 free relay at the 2015 SEC Championships and was a relay alternate at the 2015 NCAA Championships. She competed at the 2013 Junior World Championships and the 2015 Pan American Games and had a U.S. Olympic Team Trials cut in the 200 IM. An excellent student, De Bever was a two-time member of the SEC Honor Roll while at Auburn. As a club swimmer, De Bever was coached by Jason Calanog at the Bolles (Fla.) School.
"The women's team is outstanding and incomparable. Steve and Tanica are a great group of coaches that really complement each other. The amount of support from the academic side is unreal. Taking a look at the improvement rates, Steve and Tanica have done an outstanding job with their swimmers. I'm excited to be a part of such an excellent program.
Monika González-Hermosillo
A transfer from Penn State, González-Hermosillo placed 12th in the 400 IM and the 15th in the 200 IM at the 2016 Big Ten Championships. A freshman for the NIttany Lions in 2015-16, she posted NCAA "B" cuts in the 200 and 400 IM. She trained with Acuática Nelson Vargas in Mexico City for 15 and her coach was Carlos Aldama.
"I believe Texas A&M provides the perfect environment to succeed and reach your full potential, both athletically and academically, and Coach Bultman sounds like a great coach."
Dorothy Halmy
Halmy was rated No. 2 senior swimming prospect in the state of Texas by CollegeSwimming.com. Halmy has U.S. Open and Junior Nationals qualifying times. Competing for College Park High School in The Woodlands, Halmy was the Texas state runner-up in the 500-yard freestyle in 2014 and 2015. Halmy trained with the The Woodland Swim Team and was coached by Tim Bauer.
Karling Hemstreet
Hemstreet was rated the No. 1 senior in the state of Texas and No. 50 nationally by CollegeSwimming.com. Hemstreet produced U.S. Olympic Trials cuts in four races – the 200-, 400-, and 800-yard freestyles and the 200 backstroke, as well as U.S. Open qualifying times. Hemstreet is a U.S. Junior Team qualifier and a 2014 and 2015 finalist at the Junior Nationals. Competing for Nitro Swimming, Hemstreet was coached by Elliot McGill.
"I absolutely fell in love with the atmosphere of the school, it exudes friendliness," Hemstreet said. "The team feels like a family and they all are such great people that I felt so much at home while I was on campus. I'm so excited and fortunate to be a part of this team and to represent Texas A&M."
Sara Metzsch
Metzsch was rated the No. 4 recruit in the state of Oregon and No. 67 nationally by CollegeSwimming.com. She has achieved U.S. Olympic Trials cuts in the 100 and 200 backstroke, as well as U.S. Open and Junior Nationals qualifying times. Competing for the Tualatin Hills Swim Club, Metzch was coached by Franz Resseguie.
"I chose A&M because the team, coaches, and staff were incredibly welcoming and I immediately felt at home," Metzsch said. "A&M offers a great combination of academics and athletics, which was very important in my final decision. I was also amazed by all of the school traditions and spirit!
Amy Miller
Miller was rated the No. 2 senior prospect in the state of Louisiana by CollegeSwimming.com. A U.S. Open and Junior Nationals qualifier, Miller was the named the Outstanding Swimmer on the All-Metro Team by the Baton Rouge Advocate after winning the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle for St. Joseph's Academy at the LHSAA Div. I meet in 2015. At the Louisiana state meet, she became the first female to break the 50-second barrier in the 100-yard freestyle with a winning time of 49.97, and her time in the 100 breaststroke was the fastest in any division by more than three seconds. She was named the LHSAA Swimmer of the Meet.
"I chose Texas A&M for the amazing school traditions, the great academics, and the encouraging atmosphere of the team. I knew this was the perfect place for me," Miller said.
Katie Portz
Portz was the top-rated senior swimmer in the state of Michigan, according to CollegeSwimming.com. Portz has a U.S. Olympic Trials cut in the 200 freestyle, as well as a U.S. Open qualifying time in the 100 free. After winning four events at the 2015 Michigan Div. I state finals and earning All-America honors in seven races, Portz was named the MHSAA Swimmer of the Year, as well as Swimmer of the Year by the Ann Arbor News. Individually, Portz broke the Div. I finals record in the 100-yard freestyle with a winning time of 49.34 and also won the 200 free in 1:46.84. Portz was coached by Kelton Graham at Club Wolverine.
"Texas A&M has an amazing team and coaching staff, as well as a great business school," Portz said of her decision to choose the Aggies."
Golf Sapianchai
Sapianchai competed for Thanyapura PIA Phuket and coach Miguel Lopez and earned many medals at a variety of championship events in Thailand and southeast Asia.
"I love the team vibe and I'm impressed with the coaching staff."
Samantha Siebenaller
Siebenaller was rated the No. 5 senior swimmer in the state of Wisconsin and No. 54 nationally by CollegeSwimming.com. She has achieved a U.S. Olympic Trials cut in the 100 backstroke, as well as U.S. Open and Junior Nationals qualifying times. Siebenaller was named her high school team's MVP three times and she qualified for the Wisconsin state meet all four years. During her high school career, Siebenaller earned medals at the state meets eight times. Siebenaller was coached by Scott Mueller at Menomonee Falls Swim Club.
"After visiting Texas A&M, I instantly felt welcomed, not only by the swimming team and staff, but also by the community," Siebenaller said. "I took notice to the way the team interacted and I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of the Aggie family. I also was amazed by the amount of academic support that is given to student-athletes, whether they are in need of changing a major or finding a career. Overall, I found that A&M was the perfect fit for me both academically and athletically. I can't wait for future!
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