Swimming Signees Finish Standout High School Careers

AMES, Iowa – The newest additions to the Iowa State swimming and diving program recently completed the final state championship meets of their high school careers. High finishes and low times popped up across the board for the four swimmers, showing more signs of promise for the future of a Cyclone program on the rise in the Big 12 ranks.

With their senior seasons wrapped up, let's take a look at how the four Cyclones-to-be faired in their high school careers.

Wyli Erlechman

A native of Naperville, Illinois, Erlechman attends Neuqua Valley High School and swims for coach Jason Niforatos. On the club front, Erlechman is a member of the Fox Valley Swim Team, coached by Dave Krotiak.

Erlechman, who excels in her dolphin kick, is a four-year qualifier for the IHSA State Championship, taking first place in the 200 medley relay in 2014 while swimming the butterfly split. A year later, she took sixth place in the 200 medley relay and 100 butterfly and this season claimed third in the 200 medley relay while handling the backstroke split.

In her club career, Erlechman has earned All-American recognition from the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) and has competed at the NSCA Championship the past three years.

Erlechman has earned a spot on her school's High Honor Roll throughout her high school career and is a recipient of the Dupage Valley Conference All-Academic Award.

"Right off of the bat I felt as though I meshed well with the team and felt very at home," Erlechman wrote on joining the Cyclones. "After speaking to many of the girls, my goals of improving throughout a college career seemed very achievable with this program. I am super excited to be a Cyclone!"

Martha Haas

Haas comes to the Cyclones via Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, where she swims for coach Dan Berve. Haas also competes for the Aquajets club team – where three current Cyclones also competed in their club days – and coach Kate Lundsten.

Haas holds school records in the 100 breaststroke and 200 medley relay, as well as Section 2AA records in the 100 breaststroke, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay. She earned Automatic All-American honors in the same three events for which she holds section records. Four consecutive years of All-State recognition and five varsity letters – one for each year of high school plus her eighth grade school year spent on the varsity team – also belong to Haas.

Academically, Haas has picked up Scholastic All-American honors twice and is a member of the school's 'A' Honor Roll.

"I think it is the perfect distance away from home. Additionally, I love the Midwest feel of the campus and felt at home right away," Haas wrote on becoming a Cyclone. "I love all the options Iowa State has to offer and no matter what I want to study, Iowa State has the resources to help me excel. The coaches and team welcomed me with open arms and I fit in so well with them immediately. I am so excited to join former Aquajet teammates as well!"

Kennedy Tranel

Tranel attends Mukwonago High School in her hometown of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, where she competes for coach Blaine Carlson. Carlson is also the coach of Tranel's club team, the Waukesha Express Swim Team.

In the pool, Tranel is a four-time WIAA state qualifier and four-time All-Conference honoree. Tranel bookended her high school career quite nicely, helping the team to a state championship in 2013 and being named the 2016 Conference Swimmer of the Meet in her senior season as a team captain. She is a two-time All-State honoree in the 200 and 500 freestyle races and earned All-America recognition in the 400 freestyle relay in 2014. She has also been an NCSA Junior National Qualifier the past three years.

In school, Tranel has worked her way onto the High Honor Roll through three years of high school, is a member of the National Honor Society and holds a 3.9 GPA. In 2014, she was named to the USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team.

"I chose Iowa State because it was exactly what I was looking for in a university and a swim team," Tranel wrote on choosing Iowa State. "Great school pride, great academic opportunities, positive team culture and dedicated coaching staff. The team and coaches made me feel so welcome and at home. I knew right away this was where I wanted to continue my education and swimming."

Grace Snyder

Snyder is the hometown hero of the class, hailing from Ames. She attends Ames High School, where she has been a varsity team captain and four-time letterwinner under coach Dan Flannery. Snyder also competes on the Ames Cyclone Aquatics Cluc (ACAC) team under coach Mike Peterson.

She has specialized in the butterfly in her high school career, but has also excelled in relay races. Snyder has swam on four state championship relay teams (200 medley relay twice, 200 free relay and 400 free relay once) and helped break two state records. Seven All-State and eight All-American accolades and 13 club records also decorate her resume.

In the classroom, Snyder has garnered four First-Team All-Conference awards, won an Academic All-State Award from the Iowa High School Swimming Coaches Association and has been named an Academic All-American by the NISCA. Snyder is also a member of the National Honor Society and a four-time member of the Honor Roll.

"From the moment I stepped on campus during my official visit I felt very connected to the team and coaches," Snyder wrote on choosing to swim at Iowa State. "Coach Duane [Sorenson] and Coach Kelly [Nordell] demonstrated that they truly care about each athlete in and out of the pool. Academically, ISU provides an excellent education as well as a beautiful campus! I am excited to be part of the Cyclone Family."

Iowa State assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Kelly Nordell said the signees' excellent finishes to their high school careers reaffirmed what she and head coach Duane Sorenson have seen in the next wave of Cyclones all along.

"Duane and I are very excited with the signing of these four women," Nordell said. "They are all talented in the pool and will have a positive impact on the team as freshmen. They also excel as students, but I really like the character and the tenacity they have demonstrated. They have all competed at the highest level and have been put in the heat of competition vying for individual and state championships, so they know what it is like to have to perform under pressure. Our current team is excited to welcome these four outstanding young women."

Iowa State University Athletics

Swimming Signees Finish Standout High School Careers

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