Washington State's 2026-2027 Transfer Class: A Deep Dive
The addition of five transfers for the upcoming season is a significant development for Washington State's swimming program. While the names might not be as recognizable as some of the program's past stars, these swimmers bring unique strengths and potential to the table. Let's take a closer look at each of these new additions and what they could mean for the team.
Backstroke Depth
The backstroke group is a key area of focus for Washington State, and the addition of Adalynn Ascher and Addison Cerney is a smart move. Ascher, coming from Cal State East Bay, showed promise in the 100 and 200 backstrokes at the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference Championships, finishing 4th and 20th respectively. Cerney, from CSU Bakersfield, also had a strong showing at the Big West Championships, placing 5th and 9th in the 200 and 100 backstrokes, respectively. Both swimmers were swimming at their personal best times, indicating a strong foundation to build upon.
Filling the Breach Left by Lundgren
The graduation of NCAA All-American Emily Lundgren leaves a void in the team's breaststroke and individual medley events. Gracelyn Cox and Kodi Wiman are the swimmers tasked with filling this gap. Cox, from UNC Asheville, had a standout performance at the ASUN Championships, swimming to a lifetime best 1:03.28 in the 100 breast and a season best 2:19.96 in the 200 breast, finishing 8th in the latter. Wiman, from New Mexico State, also showed promise at the MPSF Championships, placing 3rd in the 100 breast, 4th in the 200 breast, and 7th in the 200 IM. Their performances suggest a strong potential to step up and fill the breach left by Lundgren.
Impressive Performances at ACC Championships
Natalie Holmes, from Boston College, had a standout performance at the ACC Championships, swimming to season bests in the 200 IM, 400 IM, and 100 free. Her times of 2:07.41, 4:31.34, and 52.37 are impressive, and her lifetime bests of 2:05.57 and 4:26.00 in the 200 IM and 400 IM respectively, suggest a strong swimmer who could potentially challenge for top spots in these events.
The Future of Washington State Swimming
The addition of these five transfers is a significant development for Washington State's swimming program. While the names might not be as recognizable as some of the program's past stars, these swimmers bring unique strengths and potential to the table. The team now has a strong foundation to build upon, and with the right coaching and development, these swimmers could potentially lead the team to new heights in the upcoming season.
In my opinion, the addition of these five transfers is a smart move by Washington State. The team now has a strong foundation to build upon, and with the right coaching and development, these swimmers could potentially lead the team to new heights in the upcoming season. The backstroke group is a key area of focus, and the addition of Ascher and Cerney is a smart move. The team now has a strong foundation to build upon, and with the right coaching and development, these swimmers could potentially lead the team to new heights in the upcoming season.
