CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's and women's swimming & diving programs have signed ten total members to the 2025-26 squad under the direction of Head Coach Nick Wertz.
 
New members of the men's team include Landon Sutter, Colby Murphy, Carson Letchworth, Eli Ehret and Leander Stuart. The women's team will see Alina Cotlet, Aleah Daugherty, Avery Young, Ashyn Rickel and Ann-Katherine Burns join the roster.
 
Sutter is from Galion, Ohio and attended Colonel Crawford High School. He holds two school records for the Eagles and was named All-Ohio as a three-time Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) state qualifier. He was an All-Academic student-athlete and intends on majoring in computer science with a minor in cyber security.
 
Murphy competed in sprint events at Lake Howell High School in Orlando, Florida and was a team captain of the swim and water polo teams. He was ranked ninth in the state as a goalie in water polo with 191 saves and helped the swim team reach regionals. Murphy looks to enter into the Malone Business Department as a finance major.
 
Letchworth was homeschooled but competed for Ravenna High School as a swimmer. He holds multiple records for the program as a state qualifier in 2024 as well as a junior nationals participant and Speedo sectionals. In the classroom, Letchworth graduated with honors and will enter into the welding program with a business degree.
 
Ehret is a local swimmer from Massillon, Ohio and Canton Central Catholic High School. He reached districts within the OHSAA and had tremendous academics in French. Ehret aims to become an educator, specifically with a minor in French.
 
Stuart is a native of Granbury, Texas and Granbury High School. His specialty is the 500 Yard Freestyle, where he was a four-time district finalist and three-time regional finalist. Stuart was named regional runner-up in all four high school swim seasons.
 
Cotlet competed in the middle distance and breaststroke events for the Dover Tornadoes. She was a 2024 OHSAA district qualifier as a two-time letter winner, scholar athlete and team leader. Cotlet was named to the honor roll in all four high school seasons, a member of the National Honor Society and won the AP Capstone Award. She will join Malone's nursing department.
 
Daugherty attended Orrville High School and as a member of the swim team, competed in the middle distance and distance freestyle events. She is a one-time state qualifier and four-time district qualifier and holds the 500 freestyle record at Orrville. She won four varsity letters and four academic letters, was a six-time scholar athlete award winner and was Academic All-Ohioan. She will major in nursing as an honors student as a Pioneer.
 
Young was also an attendee of Granbury High School and had a pair of top-25 finishes in the state as a part of the 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay. The team were 5A District Champions and Regional runners-up. Some of her honors included Academic All-State, WFAA Scholar Athlete of the Week, National First Generation Recognition and National Small Town Recognition. She intends to study biology.
 
Rickel is from Crestline, Ohio and graduated from Colonel Crawford High School. She competed in sprints and freestyle events and had success at the state level. Rickel was a state qualifier in all four high school seasons and was district champion in 2022. She received one First Team All-Ohio honor and six Second Team All-Ohio awards. Along with her success in the poll, she also brings in several impressive academic accolades including class valedictorian, honors degree, Academic All-Ohioan and Presidential Award of Excellence. She will major in early childhood education and minor in creative writing.
 
Burns swam the 100 breaststroke as a homeschool student in Blue Mill, Maine. She was named to the Maine All-State team and Penobscot Valley Conference (PVC) All-Conference. Burns was the PVC Performer of the Meet and placed first in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 200 individual medley at the State Class B Championship Meet. She holds the team record in the 100 breaststroke as well. Burns was a member of the NHSCA Academic All-American Team, Maine State Swimming and Diving All-Star Academic Team and received the NISCA All American Academic Award. She will enter the pre-occupational therapy track.
 
The swim season gets underway on October 11 with the Oberlin Invitational.