Completed Event: Men's Swimming & Diving versus NCAA Championships on March 28, 2026 ,
Final Score
Men's Swimming & Diving
vs NCAA Championships
The University of Utah Athletics
Six Women Added To 2002-03 Recruiting Class
6/12/2002 12:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
June 12, 2002
SALT LAKE CITY - Head swimming coach Michael Litzinger announced today that six student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend the University of Utah this fall. Joining early signees Amy Barefield (Bozeman, Mont.) and Meghan Fleisch (Salt Lake City), the newest recruits will bring the Utes' incoming class to eight strong. The spring signing group includes three Canadian National qualifiers and three state champions.
Meghan Demchuk hails from Regina, Saskatchewan, and will compete in the fly and individual medley for the Utes. Demchuk swims for the Regina Optimist Swim Club and was a Canadian National finalist in the 50 fly, 100 fly and 200 IM. She will major in exercise and sport science at Utah.
"Meghan will be a great help to our team, especially in the relays. She gives us the sprint flyer we have been lacking to make a run at relay titles and has the range to go in the longer events, which will help us in dual meets," notes Litzinger.
Ariane Kich comes to Utah from Guelph, Ontario. Swimming for former U.S. Olympic coach Bud McAllister and the Region of Waterloo Swim Club, Kich's top events are the 100 and 200 breaststroke. Kich gained national level experience as a silver medalist in the 100 breast at the 2001 Canadian Junior Nationals, and most recently finished ninth in the 200 event at the 2002 Domino's Swim Classic Grand Prix. She will major in mass communications.
Litzinger added, "I am excited about Ariane bringing her great work ethic and energy to Utah. She is a tough competitor and will be a factor in our run toward a Mountain West championship."
Kendall Smith was the Utah state high school champion in the 100 back in 2001 and the runner-up in 2002. Smith, from American Fork, brings versatility to the Utes as a backstroker, flyer and sprint freestyler. The biology major will utilize her skills in the relay events.
"Kendall is a powerful athlete with her best swimming ahead of her," confides Litzinger. "I am most impressed with her sense of team. She is willing to do whatever it takes, swim any event and ready to play many roles for us this coming season."
Leah Jensen is the third Canadian and second athlete from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to join the Utes. Jensen was a Canadian National qualifier in the backstrokes, but is relatively new to the sport on the national level. Prior to swimming full time, Leah was a top level triathlete for the Canadian Junior National Team. She placed second overall at the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Junior Championships.
"Leah is an extremely tough trainer who is just discovering how good she can be as a swimmer," says Litzinger. "After a few years of concentrating only on triathalons, she now has devoted her time to swimming and has come up with some national level performances. I am pleased to have Leah join us."
Chelan McCurry, from Highland, Utah, also joins the Utes. McCurry captained Lone Peak High School this past year to the Utah state championship. Swimming sprint freestyle, Chelan helped her 400 free relay to a state title and was a finalist in the 50-yard individual event. She will major in biology at Utah.
"Chelan is another athlete who has great ability and will contribute heavily to our team," adds Litzinger. "She has great speed, and with a little more explosiveness can be a factor in our sprinting."
Amber Walker was a 2002 Alaska state high school finalist in the 50 and 100 freestyle events while attending East High School in Anchorage. Swimming for the Northern Lights Swim Club, Walker also competed in the 2001 and 2002 Speedo Champions Series.
"Amber rounds out our sprint group," says Litzinger. "She has great athleticism and feel for the water. I really think that she can be a great college swimmer."
Hear It From Harlan with Utah Diving's Holly Waxman
Monday, April 22
Jaek Horner becomes the FIRST Ute on record to earn Pac-12 Swimmer of the Week two weeks in a row!
Wednesday, February 21
Good Luck to Swimming and Diving at the Pac-12 Championships
Tuesday, February 21
Utah Swimming and Diving Beats BYU in Dual Meet
Tuesday, January 24