Nov. 30, 2010
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – University of New Mexico Swimming and Diving Head Coach Tracy Ljone announced the signing of two swimmers to National Letters of Intent.
They are set to join the team for the 2011-12 season.
Adding to the talent and depth of the Lobo swimming and diving team are Sarah Wiehe and Kassandra Cleto. The latter is the number one recruit in the state of New Mexico with many accomplishments during the course of her career.
Cleto, swims at Volcano Vista High School as well as for the Duke Aquatic club under coach Janet Huffman. She will be swimming backstroke, sprint and middle distance freestyle for the Lobos. Some of her accomplishments include:
District 4 champion in the 50, 100, 200 and 500 Free; as a freshman she placed second in the 50-yard free and fifth in the 100-yard free at the state championships. Her sophomore year Kleto finished second in the 200-yard free and fourth in the 100; as a junior she was second in the 200-yard free and fifth in the 500-yard free.
She made Western Zones in 2009 which were held in Oregon, and in 2010 in Hawaii placing fourth in the 100-yard freestyle. She also reached Sectionals in 2009 (Seattle) and 2010 (Texas).
Cleto is also a Kerr McKee/Chesapeake Elite Pro-Am in Oklahoma.
The second signee, Sarah Wiehe, is from Coralville, Iowa, and swims for West High School in Iowa City. She also swims for the Iowa City Eels under Coach Don Spellman. She will be swimming backstroke, sprint, and middle freestyle for the Lobos as well.
Weihe is a two-time USA Swimming Academic All-American, with one of them being with a 4.0 GPA.
She was first-team All-State in 2009 and second-team in 2010. She is a four-time four-event state qualifier, and a four-time varsity letter winner. Weihe received District and Regional Athlete of the Year awards in 2010, and the relay team she was a member of holds the school record in the 200-yard free relay, 400-yard free relay, and the medley relay.
Wiehe has qualified for the Speedo Sectional Championships since she was in 8th grade, and has also been a qualifier for the Grand Prix Series. She has reached an eighth place finish at the Indianapolis Mega Zones in the 200-yard backstroke.She has received the John R. Hughes Community Leadership award, and currently holds a GPA of 3.78.
Both incoming freshmen will add immediate impact and bring depth to an already talented and impressive New Mexico Team.
“We are thrilled to sign Sarah and Cassie,” said Ljone. “They are exactly what we were looking for and will add a lot in both the backstroke and freestyle. They will add points to the squad right away and will be very competitive in the MWC. We are excited to coach them and have them as part of the Lobo family next year.”