Women's Swimming and Diving Lands Nine for 2022-23
11/17/2021 10:18:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's swimming and diving program announced the signings of nine prep standouts to National Letters of Intent for the 2022-23 season on Wednesday (Nov. 17). The signees include Malia Amuan (North Andover, Mass.), Victoria Bergeli (Dubai, United Aab Emirates), Katie Crom (Mission Viejo, Calif.), Riley Francis (Southlake, Texas), Brady Kendall (Canton, Mich.), Devon Kitchel (Zionsville, Ind.), Christey Liang (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), Ella Jo Piersma (Cincinnati, Ohio), and Kiarra Milligan (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.).
"This class is similar to some of our best classes in our history," said head coach Mike Bottom. "We have a lot of student-athletes coming to Michigan to get better and are ready to embrace the hard work that is necessary to put in to become a champion. We're very excited for them to join us."
Malia Amuan | Freestyle/IM | North Andover, Mass. (North Andover/Phoenix Swimming)
Amuan joins the Wolverines as a highly-decorated prep standout from Massachusetts. She was a two-time state champion, scholastic All-American and team Most Valuable Player as a freshman in 2018, and went on to win state championships in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle in 2019 with record times. She was a two-time NISCA All-American and the 2019 Boston Globe Athlete of the Year, and still holds the Massachusetts record for the 200-yard freestyle. Amuan swam at the Junior Nationals and US Open in 2019 and 2021 and participated in the 2020 National Select Camp.
TOP TIMES (SCY):100 FR (49.88), 200 FR (1:48.17), 50 FR (23.37), 200 IM (2:01.38)
Victoria Bergeli | Freestyle/Butterfly | Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Dubai American Academy/Hamilton Aquatics Dubai)
A native of Dubai and Norway, Bergeli brings international experience in both freestyle and butterfly. She competed in the short course Norwegian Junior Nationals in 2017, as well as both short and long course Norwegian Junior Nationals in 2018. Bergeli also swam at the long course English National Winter Championships (2018), the Scottish National Age Group Swimming Championships (2019) and most recently the Norwegian Junior Nationals long course (2021).
TOP TIMES (SCM):50 FR (25.24), 100 FR (55.61), 200 FR (2:01.01), 50 FL (26.94)
Katie Crom | Freestyle/Butterfly/IM | Mission Viejo, Calif. (Tesoro/Mission Viejo Nadadores)
Crom comes to Ann Arbor by way of California and Nevada, having competed for Lakeridge Swim Team from 2013-18 and the Mission Viejo Nadadores from 2018-2021. She competed in the Junior Olympics each year from 2012-17, the Nevada State Championships from 2011-17 and the PC Western Zone All-Stars every year from 2012-15. Crom also competed at the Olympic Wave II Trials last June.
TOP TIMES (SCY):200 FL (1:56.00), 400 FR (4:44.39), 400 IM (4:15.34), 200 FR (1:47.57)
Riley Francis | Freestyle/Backstroke | Southlake, Texas (Carrol/Lakeside Aquatic)
Michigan dips into the Lone Star State to pick up Francis, who is a multi-time state champion for Carrol High School. Francis helped the Dragons to a 6-A State Championship in both her freshman and sophomore seasons, qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200 freestyle in 2020. She placed second in the 100 freestyle and third in the 200 freestyle at the 2019 Summer Junior Nationals, and contributed to Lakeside Aquatic Clubs gold medal recognition. Francis also is fantastic in the classroom, earning USA Swimming Scholastic All-American three times.
TOP TIMES (SCY):200 FR (1:47.00), 100 FR (49.51), 50 FR (22.93), 500 FR (4:49.51), 200 BK (1:59.75)
Brady Kendall | Butterfly/Freestyle/IM | Canton, Mich. (Plymouth/Club Wolverine)
Kendall stays close to home coming from nearby Canton, bringing experience in the butterfly, freestyle and IM to Canham. She earned the title of MISCA DI Swimmer of the Year as a junior in 2020-21, and has been recognized as an All-American, All-State and All-Conference honoree in each of her three seasons in the pool.
TOP TIMES (SCY):100 FL (54.02), 50 FR (22.98), 100 FR (51.22), 200 IM (2:05.35)
Devon Kitchel | Butterfly/Backstroke/Breaststroke | Zionsville, Ind. (Zionsville/Carmel Swim Club)
Kitchel gives the Wolverines a versatile swimmer with impressive sprint times in all four strokes and a strong 200 IM time. She is a four-time individual state champion, winning the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard IM in both 2020 and 2021. Kitchel competed in the Junior National Championships in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and participated in Wave I of the US Olympic Trials of 2021.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 200 IM (1:57.69), 100 FL (52.93), 100 BR (1:01.7), 100 BK (54.90)
Christey Liang | Freestyle | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Strathcona/Edmonton Keyano Swim Club)
Liang joins the pipeline of Canadian swimmers to make their way to Ann Arbor, competing for Edmonton Keyano Swim Club since 2009. She brings ample experience in both the sprint and mid-distance freestyles, winning the 50, 200 and 400 freestyles at the Canadian Junior Championships in 2019. Liang competed in the world trials as a member of the Canadian Junior National Team in 2019.
TOP TIMES (LCY): 50 FR (26.50), 100 FR (56.75), 200 FR (2:02.85), 400 FR (4:27.96)
Ella Jo Piersma | Freestyle/Butterfly | Cincinnati, Ohio (Seven Hills/Mason Manta Rays)
Piersma continues the family tradition of swimming for the Wolverines, as both her father, John, and mother, Rachel (Gustin), competed for the Wolverines. Ella Jo has made a name for herself, winning Ohio state championship titles in the 100 and 200 freestyle in both 2020 and 2021. The Cincinnati native helped Seven Hills to team titles in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and has participated in the US Junior Nationals as well as the ISCA International Cup, 2021 Speedo Sectionals and 2021 Speedo Future Championships. Piersma has also collected numerous academic honors including a National Merit Commended Student in 2021.
TOP TIMES (SCY): 100 FR (50.39), 200 FR (1:49.16), 50 FR (23.28), 100 FL (55.42)
Kiarra Milligan | Diver | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Moreton Bay College)
Milligan is the lone diver of the class, coming to Ann Arbor by way of Australia. She has ample national and international experience, competing in the Australian Elite Junior Championships from 2014-19 as well as the 2019 Australian Domestic Grand Prix, FINA Diving Grand Prix (2019), and the 2020 and 2021 World Cup Trials. Diving Australia selected Milligan to the Dream 2428 squad, which identifies athletes with talent, integrity, high skill set, dedication, commitment and ultimately the potential to achieve excellence at the 2024 and/or 2028 Olympic Games.
TOP SCORES: 3-meter (293), 1-meter (243.75)
