State Colleges Report | Prep recruit Kukors makes splash for UW

They call them program-changers — top-level recruits who turn the entire direction of a program and carry it to the top.

For new swimming coach Whitney Hite, barely two months into his tenure at Washington, his first recruit is on track to be exactly that, a program-changer.

Ariana Kukors of Auburn will enter the Washington swimming program next fall with four personal-best times that are faster than current UW records. She has qualified for the Olympic trials in seven events and ranks third and fourth in the world in the 200 and 400 individual medleys.

"She is one of the top swimmers in the world, let alone this country," Hite said. "We're really excited to have her as part of this program. She'll make a big splash nationally and internationally and will bring some great recognition to this university."

By adding Kukors to the roster, Hite has pushed Washington right back onto the map in the hopes of becoming a national contender.

"I think it is important to give the in-state kids a viable option to a nationally competitive program," Hite said. "All four of our recruits this year are kids from the Seattle area. I hope people do serve notice because it is important to see that this is a new chapter in Husky swimming and we are going to be better."

Kukors, who has won three national championships and is a two-time National A Team member, has a chance to be the face of the program. Hite has injected some enthusiasm back into the program, exactly what new coaches are brought in to do.

Pick of the week


Women's basketball

The scoop: The Evergreen State College at Seattle University, Tuesday, 7 p.m., Connolly Center. After playing its first four games away from home, the Seattle U. women's basketball team opens its home schedule.

"We're just trying to be better than we've ever been," he said. "The kids are excited. It is a big splash. It's about time that fans had something to cheer about and get excited about. This is a young lady that will be very successful.

"Someone told me that this is the biggest thing to happen to Husky swimming in about three decades."

Other UW sports

Volleyball: Junior Christal Morrison (Puyallup) was named the CVU.com National Player of the Week and Pac-10 Player of the Week, and the Huskies are tied for first in the Pac-10 with Stanford with two matches to go, including a head-to-head matchup against the Cardinal on Friday at 7 p.m. in Stanford, Calif.

Cross country: Senior Travis Boyd (Kamiak of Mukilteo) leads a school-record 18 Huskies on the Pac-10 All-Academic team, the most in the conference for the ninth time in the past 16 years. Boyd was one of five UW second-team selections and added the honor to the six first-team all-academic honors he has won in cross country and track.

Seattle Pacific

Men's basketball: Junior Rob Will (O'Dea) broke Great Northwest Athletic Conference, school and Brougham Pavilion records for blocked shots with nine in SPU's opening game. Will made the all-tournament team at the Sodexho Tip-Off, along with junior JoJay Jackson (Fairfield, Calif.).

Women's basketball: After tearing her right Achilles, coach Julie van Beek was absent from the bench for the first three games. Assistant Michelle Skyles directed the team. Senior Rachel Strand (King's of Shoreline) and junior Jackie Hollands (Oregon City, Ore.) both made the Sodexho Tip-Off all-tournament team.

Seattle U.

Men's basketball: With 19 assists last weekend, senior guard Ryan Webb (Mountlake Terrace) moved into fifth place on Seattle U.'s career assists list with 384.

Women's basketball: Despite splitting its two games over the weekend, Seattle continued to show its defensive prowess, forcing 60 turnovers combined in the victory over Notre Dame de Namur and the defeat against Cal State Los Angeles.

Washington State

Women's basketball: With nine rebounds against Sacramento State last week, Kate Benz (Portland) has 719, becoming the fourth player in WSU history with 700 or more. The 6-foot-2 Benz, who is nine rebounds from No. 3 Jenni Ruff (1993-96), also is No. 17 among WSU's career scorers with 840.

Women's swimming: The Cougars lost the Apple Cup in football, but defeated the Huskies at WSU's Gibb Pool, their first victory over the Huskies in that sport since 2001. Erin McCleave (Rutherglen, Australia) set pool records in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyles.

Women's soccer: Juniors Natalie Elkind and Anna Miller led seven WSU players on the Pac-10 All-Academic team. The duo made the second team.

Western Washington

Men's basketball: Western takes a 28-game regular-season win streak into the WWU Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Classic this weekend. The Vikings meet Northwest University on Friday at 7 p.m. and Grand Canyon on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Women's basketball: Western (1-1) plays host to the Lynda Goodrich Classic this weekend, meeting Pacific Lutheran on Friday at 5 p.m. and Northwest Missouri State on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Volleyball: Junior libero Courtney Schneider (Snohomish) led NCAA II national statistics in digs per game with 7.65 and finished with a total of 666, breaking her school and GNAC records set last year. She was named to two all-America teams, being a first-team Daktronics choice and a third-team AVCA selection.

Other colleges

Eastern Washington: Senior Brittney Page (Nelson, B.C.) and sophomore Addie Webster (Portland) were selected to the All-Big Sky Tournament team after the Eagles placed second. Eastern (20-9) won 13 of its past 15 contests to win 20 matches for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons.

Evergreen: Freshman Adam Moore (Everett) scored 32 in a men's basketball defeat against Portland State on Monday, and had 20 points and eight rebounds in a victory over Pacific on Friday.

Northwest U.: Nate Yokers (Tyee of SeaTac), a transfer from Edmonds Community College, has hit 13 of 18 three-pointers, 72.2 percent. The Eagles men's basketball team (5-2) is shooting 46.9 percent on threes and averaging 98.1 points a game, outscoring their opponents by an average of 26.1 points.

Pacific Lutheran: Jessie Donovan (Mount Vernon) was the Northwest Conference Women's Swimmer of the Week after posting the NWC's fastest time this season in the 100 backstroke and leading the Lutes past Linfield and Pacific last weekend.

Saint Martin's: John Riak (Timberline of Lacey) finished 31st at the NCAA II men's cross-country championship Friday in 30:25. The native of the Sudan set a personal record by 1:45.

Whitman: Freshman Eric Molnar (Mount Si of Snoqualmie ) won both the 200 individual medley and 200 backstroke in a 111-70 dual-meet victory over Willamette last Saturday. Molnar has won six races in his first four college duals.

Community colleges: Whatcom beat Bellevue 1-0 for the NWAACC soccer title Sunday and Mount Hood took the volleyball crown. Sophomore forward Paul Brockman (Snohomish) had 16 points and 11 rebounds in each of BCC's first two men's basketball victories, and Steve Wiseley (Lake Washington of Kirkland) scored 18 and 16.

Sports information directors

contributed to this notebook.