GRAND FORKS, N.D. - University of North Dakota head women's swimming and diving coach Steve Parsons announced today that Caitlin Quon and Charlotte "Lotte" de Wit have each signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Fighting Sioux for the 2012-13 season.
A senior from A.R. MacNeill High School in Richmond, British Columbia, Quon was a 2012 Canadian Olympic qualifier in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 500 free, and the 1,000 free and a member of Team BC which competed in the 2011 Western Canada Games. She has already qualified for seven events at this year's Canadian Senior Nationals and was a member of the Pacific Coast All-Star Team from 2005-09. The current BC 1,500 free (long course) record holder, she is a two-time UBC Dolphin Top Female Swimmer of the Year (ages 11-12, 2007; ages 13-14, 2008).
"Caitlin is a great addition to an already great class," Parsons said. "She has a wide range of ability, and can really swim anything from the 200 and up of any stroke and swim it well.
"I was really impressed with Caitlin during her recruiting trip and she is on board with the direction we want to head with the program. She has shown great promise in the classroom which is a bonus for our women's team. We truly feel fortunate to have Caitlin coming in this fall."
A senior from Collingwood School in West Vancouver, British Columbia, de Wit won the 50 back, 100 back and the 200 back at the 2011 Jersey Island Championships. She then closed out the 2011 season at the Natwest Island Games, taking the gold in the 400 medley relay, silver in the 200 free relay and the 200 medley relay, and bronze in the 100 back and the 200 back.
"Lotte visited campus this spring and really won the hearts of both the team and coaching staff," Parsons said. "She has a great personality and a strong commitment to both athletics and academics. These are all things that we as coaches look for on the recruiting trail.
"Lotte has great size and I feel strongly that our strength and dryland programs will really help her to develop further as an athlete. She is going to add depth to our backstroke group and her potential for success is great. We are all very excited to have Lotte on board."
NOTE: Lotte is pronounced "Law-tee"
- Go Sioux -
