By: Ryan Hartwig (@RyanHartwig)
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The Green Bay swimming and diving program has added four women and two men to its 2012-13 roster, head coach Jim Merner announced on Thursday.

Inking National Letters of Intent (NLIs) to join the Phoenix in the spring signing period were Anna Gomez (Burlington, Wis.), Emily Gomez (Burlington, Wis.) and Marlee Kiander (Tomahawk, Wis.) on the women's side, and Connor Huff (Dubuque, Iowa) and Tanner Nordlund (Rice, Minn.) on the men's side. Also signing with the Green Bay women was Maddeline Clark (Bristol, Wis.), a transfer who spent her freshman year at the University of Houston. The group of six joins the six recruits added to the 2012-13 roster in December.

Below are comments from Merner and diving coach Tom Stover on each of the future Phoenix swimmers and divers.

Maddeline Clark • Bristol, Wis. (Lake Geneva Badger High School/University of Houston)  • Freestyle
Merner on Clark: "Maddeline's sprint freestyle ability is exactly what we were looking for in this recruiting class and I couldn't be happier that she is going to join us next season. As a high school senior in 2010, she was a top-eight performer at the Wisconsin state meet in the 50 freestyle. She is going to add excellent depth for us in the sprint races and also add speed to our relays."

Anna Gomez • Burlington, Wis. (Burlington High School) • Distance Freestyle
Merner on A. Gomez:  "I believe that the improvement Anna has made this past year is going to be even greater next year as she adds to what is already an excellent distance freestyle group at Green Bay. The experiences she's had as a Wisconsin state meet qualifier and on the Junior National scene this past year have laid the groundwork for a very successful swimming career with the Phoenix."

Emily Gomez • Burlington, Wis. (Burlington High School) • Backstroke
Merner on E. Gomez: "I am very excited about Emily's swimming future at Green Bay. She saw an incredible amount of improvement during her senior year of high school, and I'm confident in saying that she will be a major player within the Horizon League in her backstroke events next season. She is just starting to touch what she can accomplish. She is a Wisconsin state meet qualifier as well as Junior National Championships qualifier from this past season."

Marlee Kiander • Tomahawk, Wis. (Tomahawk High School) • Breaststroke
Merner on Kiander: "Marlee has improved greatly over her last two years of high school swimming without the club swimming background that so many others have had. She is a breaststroke specialist, but more importantly she is an athlete from a multi-sport background. I am very excited to have this Wisconsin state championship qualifier and scorer on our team next year."

Connor Huff • Dubuque, Iowa (Dubuque Senior High School) • Individual Medley, Breaststroke
Merner on Huff: "Connor is an excellent all-around swimmer who specializes in the IM and backstroke races. We wanted to add depth and quality in the IMs and we did that with this outstanding young man. He brings a wonderful high school swimming resume full of success and a club swimming background that showcases his versatility. He will be an integral part of our men's team's success in the future."

Tanner Nordlund • Rice, Minn. (Sartell High School) • Diving
Stover on Nordlund: "Tanner displayed great perseverance and exceptional athletic talent while earning his first state championship at the Single A Minnesota State Swimming and Diving Meet this past winter. In Tanner, we welcome a well-balanced, affable young man of high character and powerful athletic talent. He has shown steady improvement over the past few years and we expect that he will continue that growth as a member of the Green Bay diving team. Beyond diving, Tanner has demonstrated his athletic versatility as a pole vaulter where he is currently having a very successful season this spring."

Merner on Nordlund: "Coach Stover and I couldn't be happier that this Minnesota high school state champion will be joining us next fall. He completes an excellent diving recruiting class this year and helps to continue to position our diving squad as one of the best in the Horizon League. Tanner is very talented, and his abilities on the boards will be fun to watch."

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