There will be a lot of new faces in the water when the Idaho swim and dive team hits the pool against Boise State Friday and Saturday in Boise.
The Vandals welcomed 13 freshmen and one transfer to the team this season. Those 14 newcomers make up about half the team.
Four of the freshmen are from outside the country — Maryann Kok Cher Ling (Malaysia), Aileen Pannoucke (Belgium), Clothilde Peseux (France) and Sarah Hall (Canada). The rest of the freshman class comes from Idaho, California, Washington, Illinois, Florida, Indiana or Colorado.
Idaho coach Mark Sowa said he changed his recruiting focus a little by looking at other parts of the globe more for talent.
“We’ve always had at least one (international swimmer or diver) a year at different times and it is difficult because a lot of times we can’t bring them on campus,” Sowa said. “So the reason why I haven’t embraced it totally is because it was a bit of a risk because I really like to vet the kids that we bring out here.”
Sowa looks for a certain type of student-athlete.
“I want kids who want to be Vandals and then want to swim or dive here,” Sowa said. “I want them to be proud of the diploma that they hang on the wall.”
Since Sowa doesn’t fly all over the world to watch potential Idaho swimmers compete, he has to rely on video and what the swimmers’ coaches say about the athletes. Luckily, swimming is a sport in which a swimmer’s time can tell a lot about her talent.
“A 59 (seconds) is a 59 so at least there is a bit of a base line there and that’s a good thing,” Sowa said.
Sowa said many international swimmers and divers look for opportunities to swim and dive in the U.S.
College sports don’t exist in many parts of the world.
One of those swimmers is Idaho freshman Aileen Pannoucke from Deinze, Belgium.
Pannoucke said Sowa contacted her and he sounded really positive about the Idaho swim program and everything else related to the university so she decided to join the team. She said she had never been to the U.S. before.
“I was really stressed about the English and about college because I’ve never heard of (UI),” Pannoucke said. “I didn’t know what to expect, but yeah, it’s really awesome. I like it over here.”
Another freshman who is still adjusting to Moscow is swimmer Emily Kliewer from Orlando, Florida.
“In Orlando, there’s so much all the time going on so it’s really nice here,” Kliewer said. “It’s kind of slower and more relaxed and a lot friendlier.”
She said she likes the small-town atmosphere.
“I miss Orlando but I really do like a small town,” Kliewer said. “It’s really cute.”
Although Kliewer is from Florida, she has lived in cold weather before.
“When I was younger I lived in a lot of other places so I’ve been in cold weather,” Kliewer said. But it’s been a while and I don’t necessarily have as many [cold] weather clothes as I used to so I’m a little worried.”
Garrett Cabeza can be reached at [email protected]