ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico swimming and diving team has added four student-athletes to its incoming 2019 class in Josie Carpenter, Caitlin Hecker, Kailee Puetz and Emma Spotts as announced by head swimming coach Dorsey Tierney-Walker.
Of the four, two will be transfers with two starting out their collegiate careers at UNM as incoming freshmen.
Carpenter comes to Albuquerque from Greeley West High School in Greeley, Colo., where she earned first team all-conference twice as well as second all-conference twice and was most recently named the 2018-19 Longs Peak Conference Swimmer of the Year.
During her high school career Carpenter achieved great success, having set school records in the 500- 200- and 100-backstroke. At the club level, the UNM signee has swam for Loveland Swim Club since the fifth grade.
On why she chose UNM, Carpenter stated, “everyone was so welcoming and kind and the campus was beautiful. Albuquerque reminded me of downtown Greeley and I really just felt at home.”
Hecker joins the UNM team after transferring from Los Angeles Valley College where she currently holds five school records in the 200 fly, 200 back, 200 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM.
In 2018, she made the championship finals in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 100 fly at the California Community College Athletic Association Swim and Dive Championships and was named Western State Conference Swimmer of the Year. In addition, she helped Golden Road Aquatics break a Masters National relay record in 2017.
During her time at UNM, Hecker plans to study geology.
Spotts joins the Lobos after spending the last two seasons at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. Originally from Littleton, Colo., Spotts swam the breaststroke and freestyle, setting a Butler school record in the 100- and 200-breaststroke in her freshman season with the 100 breaststroke occurring at the BIG EAST Championship. That same year, Spotts was also a member of two record-breaking relay teams, setting a new record in the 400 medley relay and the 200 medley relay. She also moved in to the top-10 all-time list at Butler in the 50 freestyle.
For her performance in the pool, Spotts was named the 2017-2018 Freshman of the Year.
Last season, Spotts was named the 2018-2019 MVP and earned a spot on the Big East All-Conference Team in the 100 breast after finishing runner-up at the conference meet.
During her high school career at Heritage High School, the newest Lobo earned All-American distinction in the 200 medley relay and placed third in the 100 breast at the CHSAA State Meet. In the 2017 season, she was named co-captain on the varsity team.
At the club level, Spotts swam for Highlands Ranch Aquatics for six years as well as the University of Denver Hilltoppers, where she was a Junior National qualifier in 2016 and a Futures A-Finalist.
Spotts intends to major in communication and journalism at UNM.
“I’m so excited to finish out my collegiate career at UNM,” Spotts said. “The team, coaching staff, and location are everything I could hope for and more. Go Lobos!”
From Idaho Falls, Idaho, Puetz will begin her college career at UNM after an extensive academic high school career at Idaho Falls High School.
While in high school, Puetz served as the Spanish Club President since her freshman year, was a member of the Honor Society and Key Club and carried a 4.19 GPA.
Beyond her studies, the UNM signee volunteered with the Idaho Special Olympics, coached junior high swimming since her sophomore year, was in the choir and competed in science fairs.
In the pool, the Idaho native finished first in the state for all individual events, the 100 breast, 200 IM, 4×50 medley relay and the 4×50 free.
The new Lobos bring the total number in the 2019 class to nine after signing five in December. They join the team with UNM coming off of its best score and best finish at the Mountain West Championships in March, with a fourth-place showing and 792.50 points.