BATON ROUGE – The LSU Swimming and Diving Team announced the signing of seven athletes for the class of 2020 who will compete for the women’s team for the coming years.
The class includes Jessica Pryne (Cornwall, NY.), Hannah Bellina (Houston, Texas), Madelyn Howell (Madison, Miss.), Jadyn Jannasch (Frisco, Texas), Reagan Osborne (Fairfax Station, Va.), Sydney Roycraft (The Woodlands, Texas), and Allison Tomsuden (Marriotsville, Maryland).
“I am proud of the signing class we have here in the fall,” said LSU head swim coach Dave Geyer. “The student athletes that have committed to swim here at LSU have really strong club backgrounds and all have massive potential in the sport in the collegiate setting. Myself and the staff are working really hard to put additional quality into the class as the signing period stays open. With this class, we were to build upon our family here in many ways, bringing people back home, with siblings in place, and keeping talent in the state. This class will not only contribute in the water but they have a tremendously strong academic background as well.”
Jessica Pryne will make the trip to Baton Rouge all the way from Cornwall, New York. Pryne is an IM and middle distance specialist who currently swims for NYS Aquatics and Cornwall Central High School. Pryne will look to strengthen the women’s team who is loaded with underclassmen already making an impact. She is a Summer Junior National Qualifier in the 200- IM and a Winter Junior National Qualifier in the 400 IM, 200 Back, and the 500 Free.
“Jessica is going to be a great utility swimmer for us in dual meets,” said Geyer. “She can race the 200 and up, backstroke, butterfly and IM. It will be fun to get her into the college setting and start to narrow in on some events a little more and see where that development takes her.”
Hannah Bellina will make the quick trip from Houston to swim for the Tigers. Bellina is a two-time finalist at the Texas 6A High School State Championships this past February while at Pealand High School. Bellina qualified for the 2019 Futures Meet in the 50 and 100 Freestyle as well as the 2019 Winter Juniors Meet. Bellina is also a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. She qualified for Summer Junior Nationals in the 400 IM, the 200 Back, and the 500 Free.
“Hannah comes from a great club program outside of Houston and I’ve been watching her grow and compete over the past couple of years,” said Geyer. “We knew that she and her family have a huge love for LSU and Louisiana as a whole so we are excited to have that type of passion join us. Hannah will add greatly to our depth in the individual medley but was a big pickup for us on the butterfly with some of our seniors that specialize in that being done this year. She also has the ability to contribute in relays for us in the future.”
Sprinter Madelyn Howell will trade her Madison High School suit in Madison, Mississippi for the purple and gold at LSU. Howell is a 14-time Mississippi High School Athletic Association state champion and MHSAA state record holder in the 50 Freestyle.
“Coming from right next door in Mississippi, Maddie brings some needed depth in sprint freestyle for our program,” Geyer said. “We feel that with her background in swimming there is potential for some huge development for her in the college setting and we are excited to get her specializing in her main events even more.”
In what will be another sibling connection for the Tigers, Jadyn Jannasch will join forces with her brother Jack, a sophomore on this year’s squad, for the next two seasons. Jannasch is a four-time UIL Texas 5A State Championship qualifier. She is also a NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. Jannasch qualified for the U.S. Open in the 400 and 800 Free and the Summer Junior Nationals in the 100 Breast.
“Jadyn comes from a really strong club program in the Dallas area where we know she will have the base and training background to put the work in here at LSU,” said Geyer. “Having the ability to move forward to specialize more in the breaststroke events should lead to things for her and again helps fill in some gaps with our graduating class.”
Regan Osborne represented Lake Braddock High School at the Virginia High School 6A State Championships, earning All-American Consideration honors for her relay performances in both 2018 and 2019. Osborne is a two-time Honorable Mention All-Met Squad and twice earned All-District honors.
“Reagan was born with purple and gold in her blood and we are happy to have her continuing on in that legacy here at LSU,” said Geyer. “Reagan will also bring some added depth to our sprint freestyle group and hope to see some significant improvement from her in the college setting.”
Sydeney Roycraft, from The Woodlands High School, specializes in backstroke and freestyle events. At the 2019 Texas UIL State Championships, she placed seventh in the 100 Back. Roycraft swims year round with Magnolia Aquatic Club and qualified for the Winter Juniors in the 100 and 200 Back and the 100 Free. Roycraft is a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.
“Sydney is more of a backstroke specialist coming in which will be great with some of our depth in our junior class to have a year overlapping with them for training partners and development,” said Geyer.”
Allison Tomsuden swims for Liberty High School as well as for North Baltimore Aquatic Club and specializes in distance freestyle. Last summer, she earned her first Winter Juniors cut while swimming personal best times in the 50, 400, and 1500 Freestyle. She also qualified for the Summer Junior Nationals in the 800 Free.
“Allison comes from a great club program and a great coach with Paul Yetter,” said Geyer. “She will help us out in the middle to distance freestyle events that she enjoys competing in. She had a great summer this year and we are excited to see how that transitions over to short course her senior year before she arrives on campus.”
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