Completed Event: Swimming and Diving versus Big 12 Duals on January 16, 2026 , , 5th, 781 points
Final
Swimming and Diving
Big 12 Duals
5th, 781 points
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Iowa State University Athletics
Two Swimmers, One Diver Ink With Cyclones
04.21.2016 | Swimming and Diving
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State swimming and diving coaches announced Thursday three new members of the team's 2016 signing class. The additions to last fall's class include two swimmers and a diver.
Kami Pankratz, a medley swimmer, competes for the Kansas City Blazers club under coach Gardner Howland. The Overland Park, Kansas, native attends Blue Valley West High School, where she swam her freshman year and broke a pair of school records en route to earning 6A Second-Team All-State honors.
In the previous three years, Pankratz has been a finalist at the Region VIII Speedo Sectionals. Pankratz is a member of National Honor Society, has been on the Principle Honors Roll four-straight years and is on track to graduate with a 4.0 GPA.
“Kami is going to add a lot of depth because she's a very versatile swimmer,” head coach Duane Sorenson said. “She's a 400 IMer [and] 200 IMer. When you swim those events you can go many different directions so we're going to see how she best fits in with the team, but she's got a great work ethic. Her club coach thinks very highly of her and thinks she's got a great future at the college level.”
Ali Basel, who hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, is the first swimmer from her country to join the Cyclones in over a decade. Basel attends St. Stithians Girls' College, where she swims for coach Natasha Panzera. Basel also competes for the Waterborn club team under coach Peter Williams.
In the classroom, Basel has acquired Grade 12 Academic Colours and the level of “Excellence” in Information Technology and Life Orientation. Basel is a captain on her school team and helped lead the team to its first victory in 10 years at its annual premier gala. Outside of her school team, Basel was a finalist at the 2016 Senior SA Nationals, has represented her province at Senior SA Nationals since 2013 and was the cumulative points winner for all meets in her province in the 2011-12 season.
“Ali is also an IMer and so she's going to be versatile as well,” Sorenson said. “We think she has a lot of potential in her backstroke because we see a lot of good things she does there. She's a very strong swimmer in the water and holds the water very well. We're really looking forward to having her be part of the program.”
A native of Lockridge, Iowa, Katherine Mueller is the lone diver in Iowa State's 2016 class and comes via Fairfield High School, where she dove for coaches Hannah Weiland and Tony Kramer. Mueller was also coached by Brad Virkler as a member of the Iowa Diving Club. Mueller broke Fairfield High School records in six-dive and 11-dive sets and is a four-time state qualifier, finishing as high as third place.
Mueller has been a leader on her team throughout her career. In her first year she earned Rookie of the Year honors, followed by the Coaches Award sophomore year. In her junior season, Mueller was named a team captain. Mueller has also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-State recognition while making the school Honor Roll, being named a Top-Ten Scholar and holding a 3.99 GPA.
“She's going to bring in some excitement. I think she's excited to come to Iowa State and we're excited to have her,” diving coach Jeff Warrick said. “I always love it when a good Iowa diver wants to stay and come to Iowa State. She's going to bring that freshness that all incoming freshman do and I think she'll push the rest of them as well.”
Iowa State Swimming and Diving 2016 Signees
Ali Basel – Johannesburg, South Africa
Kat Jones – Magnolia, Texas
Katherine Mueller – Lockridge, Iowa
Kami Pankratz – Overland Park, Kansas
Emma Ruehle – Plymouth, Minnesota
Jessica Storer – Lincoln, Nebraska
Keely Soellner – Galva, Iowa
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