Head Swimming and Diving Coach Dave Molesworth has released the names of some of the new student-athletes who will be joining the Cougars for the 09-10 season. “This is a smaller class, but probably the most talented one in our five year existence,” said Molesworth.
Kasey Sands (Red Wing, Minn.), Red Wing High School
Parents: Jim and Jeanna Sands.
Sands comes to the Cougars as the most decorated high school athlete to join the swim team since its inception. In 1999, she won High Point honors at the Long Course State Championships. At Red Wing HS, she earned all-conference honors for three years, all-state for two years, and was elected Most Valuable Swimmer on the team for four years. Sands has won the True Team State Championship for the 100 butterfly twice, and has been a section champion twice in both the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
Academically, Sands graduated from Red Wing with distinction, and received a Morris Academic Scholarship. Her other interest include track and field (four high school letters), community service, and mission trips. She plans on majoring in psychology with a minor in philosophy.
“Kasey will bring a wealth of knowledge to our program that the other swimmers can learn from, and she will make an instant impact on both the team and the record board” says Molesworth.
Rachel Harder (Red Wing, Minn.), Red Wing High School
Parents: Gary and Beth Harder.
A teammate of Sands, Harder earned many honors during her career at Red Wing HS. She made all-conference and all-state teams for three years, while competing in the state meet all four years. She holds the Red Wing record in the 200 medley relay. Her efforts helped her team bring home a third place finish at the True Team State meet and a first place at sectionals.
Harder is undecided in her major but leaning toward education or psychology.
About Harder, Molesworth says, “Rachel is another huge addition to our team both in and out of the water. Some of personal best times are better than our school records, so I’m looking for her to make a big splash.”
Aurora Thares (Marshall, Minn.), Marshall High School
Parents: Steve and Merrial Thares
As a younger swimmer, Thares excelled so much in the water that she spent six years on the varsity high school team. She specializes in longer distance events such as the 500 meter freestyle and the 400 IM.
Out of the water, Thares earned her Ranger Award through Ranger Scouting and a Gold Award from the Girls Scouts. She hopes to have a career working in sports rehabilitation.
“Aurora is our first swimmer who is more of a distance specialist. She will fill a lot of gaps in the logner swims. She also has a great amount of enthusiasm that will help feed the team throughout the season,” says Molesworth.
Megan Domine (Mahtomedi, Minn.), Mahtomedi High School
Parents: Steve and Rhonda Domine
At Mahtomedi HS, Domine earned all-conference honorable mention and made the finals of her sectional meet, qualifying for the state meet as an alternate.
Domine excels in the classroom as well as a member of the National Honor Society and member of the school band. She is a biology major at UMM.
“Megan will be a great asset to our team with her knowledge and fire for swimming. I am looking forward to seeing her do great things this season,” says Molesworth.
Katie Kestner (Phoenix, Ariz.), Greenway High School
Parents: Thomas and Susan Kestner
A two-sport student-athlete, Kestner is currently a member of the UMM women’s soccer team. She will return to the water this winter after a high school career in which she was a member of three relays that qualified for the Arizona state meet.
Kestner is leaning toward psychology as a major at UMM.
Of Kestner, Molesworth says, “Katie will bring some different insight to our team coming from a different part of the country and a state that has a rich swimming tradition.”
