DENVER  – The University of Denver men's and women's swimming and diving programs have combined to add 11 student-athletes to their 2025-26 rosters during the signing period, head coach Alicia Hicken-Franklin announced on Monday.
 
"We are honored to officially welcome this class of swimmers and divers to our team," Franklin said. "These men and women will continue the strong history of success of our programs. The class adds strong character, a priority on academics and a great deal of top-level talent and strong depth on the performance side. They are an eager group who we will look to have an immediate impact on our program. They are proud to be Pioneers and we are proud to welcome them."
 
On the women's side, Franklin has added Tatum Brasfield (Hartland, Wisconsin), Julia Saxman (Germantown, Wisconsin), Isa Cardenas (Riverview, Florida), Samantha Synsvoll (Colorado Springs, Colorado), Beril Öztürk (Gaziantep, Turkey) and Sydney McCoy (Omaha, Nebraska).
 
Denver's men added Pierce Bickerton (Fort Collins, Colorado), Kurt Owens (Frisco, Texas), Gabe Jones (Ogden, Utah), Thomas Truter (Hilton, South Africa) and Kito Campbell (Kingston, Jamaica).
 
Full bios of the incoming student-athletes are below.
 
Denver Women's Swimming and Diving Signings
Tatum Brasfield – Freshman – Diving – Hartland, Wisconsin – Arrowhead H.S. – 5-2
BEFORE DENVER:
Finished fifth at the Wisconsin State Championship in her freshman season…Broke the school record for an 11-dive event with a 500.9 to finish third at state.
 
PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because of the environment, the people and the campus…Would like to become an art teacher after graduation…Enjoys playing the piano, the guitar, hiking and skiing.
 
Julia Saxman – Freshman – Fly – Germantown, Wisconsin – Germantown H.S. – 5-4
BEFORE DENVER:
Finished fourth in the 100 fly at the Wisconsin DI State High School championship as a sophomore and junior year…Won the 200 medley relay at the state championships in 2023…Won four club state titles and earned the second highest point total at the Wisconsin Long Course State Championship in 2024…Earned All-State honors in the 100 fly in both her sophomore and junior seasons and an All-America honor as the member of the Germantown 200 medley relay in 2024…Seven-time NCSA Junior National finalist in the past two years…Received swimming Scholastic All-American honors for club swimming in 2024.
 
PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because of the friendly team atmosphere, coaching staff and the unique campus setting…Enjoys cooking, reading and hiking…Member of the student council in all four years of high school, elevating to Vice President in her junior year and President in her senior year.
 
Isa Cardenas – Freshman – IM – Riverview, Florida – Riverview H.S. – 5-9
BEFORE DENVER:
Swam and placed at the Andalusian and Spanish Championships for the U.S. in her freshman and sophomore years…Won all of her events at the European Forces Swim League Championships in 2022 and 2023…Helped lead her team  to a third place finish in the country in 2024…Qualified for Open Water Zones and was part of a relay that finished third in 2024…Has won multiple MVP, team captain and spirit awards during her high school career.
 
PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because she loved the tight nit environment throughout college…Loved how welcoming the team and coaches were on his visit…Interested in the programs business program…Wants to work in a high performing business that contributes to the improvement and advancement of humanity…Also enjoys volleyball and volunteer work.
 
Samantha Synsvoll – Freshman – IM, Back – Colorado Springs, Colorado – Vanguard H.S. – 5-10
BEFORE DENVER:
Won the CHSAA High School State Championship in her junior year…Won 10 state championships in club swimming…Scholastic All-America…NISCA High School All-America…AP Scholar with Distinction.
 
PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because of the small school feel, the family atmosphere of the swim team and the beautiful campus…Hopes to attend law school and become an attorney and eventually work for a District Attorney's Office.
 
Beril Öztürk – Freshman – Breast – Gaziantep, Turkey – MBA School – 5-7
BEFORE DENVER:
ISF World School Championship selection in her senior year…Achieved four of her personal best times during her junior season…Graduated as Valedictorian in 2024.
 
PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because it had everything she wanted in a college…Enjoys spending time with cats and dogs at shelters…Wants to attend the 2028 Olympic Games…Intents to study psychology.
 
Sydney McCoy – Freshman – Dive – Omaha, Nebraska – Duchesne Academy of Sacred Heart – 5-5
BEFORE DENVER:
High school dive team captain…Club team captain for the Midwest Diving Academy…Finished 11^th at the Nebraska State Championships as a junior in 2024…Qualified and competed in AAU Red, White and Blue Nationals and the AAU Open Nationals on 1-meter, 3-meter and platform in 2024…Also lettered in track and field and cross country…Received her track and field team's sportsmanship award.
 
PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because in previous travels, she loved the area and the more she learned about the University she found it fit her academic and athletic interests…Would like to improve on both the physical and mental aspects of diving during her career at DU…Also coaches gymnastics with Metro Stars Gymnastics…Brother Max runs cross country and track at St. John's (Minn.) and her uncle played football for Nebraska.
 
Denver Men's Swimming and Diving Signings
Pierce Bickerton – Freshman – Free – Fort Collins, Colorado – Fossil Ridge H.S. – 6-2
BEFORE DENVER:
Qualified for Junior Nationals in 2022…Four-year swimming letterwinner…Swam club for the Fort Collins Area Swim Team.
 
PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because he wanted to study business and swim in a great program…Following graduation wants to start his own business…Enjoys skiing and biking.
 
Kurt Owens – Freshman – Free and Back – Frisco, Texas – Rick Reedy H.S. – 6-4
BEFORE DENVER:
First Team All-Texas in the 200 Free (2023, 2024), 100 back (2023, 2024), 200 IM (2024)…Second Team All-Texas in the 200 Free (2022), 100 Back (2022), 200 Free Relay (2022, 2024), 400 Free Relay (2022, 2024), 200 IM (2022), 100 Free (2024)…Three-time high school swim team MVP…Two-time club team spirit award winner (2022, 2023), two-time high school team captain (2024, 2025).
 
PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver for its beautiful campus, its decorated business school and the culture of the swim program.
 
Gabe Jones – Freshman – IM, Fly, Back – Ogden, Utah – St. Joseph H.S. – 6-1
BEFORE DENVER:
First in all of his individual events on his high school swim team in both his junior and senior years…Placed in the top three at multiple state, zone and national meets in high pre-collegiate career.
 
PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because he loved everything he heard about the program and it seemed like a place he wanted to be…Wants to go to the Olympic Trials and qualify for NCAAs…Also enjoys track and football.
 
Thomas Truter – Freshman – Breast – Hilton, South Africa - Maritzburg College – 6-0
BEFORE DENVER:
Finished sixth at Junior Worlds in the 100 breast and 15^th in the 50 breast (2023)…Set her personal best in the 200 breast at Nationals in 2024…Broke the 100yd breaststroke record for her high school in 2023…Sportsman of the Year Award Winner at his high school in 2023…2023 Team Captain.
 
PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver for its academic facilities and the team's training program that will help improve him as a swimmer…Hopes to one day make the Olympic Swimming Team for South Africa and be as competitive as he can be in college swimming.
 
Kito Campbell – Junior – Breaststroke – Kingston, Jamaica – Indian River State College – 5-10
BEFORE DENVER:
National record holder in the 50m breaststroke for his 2023 club team….National record in the 100m breaststroke for his club team…2022 World Championship representative for Jamaica.

PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because it offered a unique combination academic excellence, vibrant campus life and strong support of experiential learning…Excited to live in a city known for diverse culture and economic opportunities…Wants to become a data analyst who can work remotely from anywhere in the world.

SIGNINGS AFTER INITIAL RELEASE:
Trip Gregory – Freshman –Dive – Norman Park, Georgia – Colquitt County H.S. – 5-11
BEFORE DENVER:
Finished in the top three at the Georgia State Championship in each of his first three high school seasons…Finished second at AAU nationals and qualified for USA Nationals…Has earned a myriad of academic honors, keeping a 4.0 GPA throughout all of high school.  

PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because he could see himself growing as a better person and a better diver under Coach D'Addario…Wants to become a sports psychologist with a private practice…Also enjoys bowling, golf, fishing and hanging out with friends.

Olivia Barbieri – Freshman –Sprint Free – Nashville, Tennessee – University School of Nashville – 5-8
BEFORE DENVER:
Holds high school records in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay and the 400 free relay…Earned her high school's Clutch Performer award in her junior year.

PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because she loved the team environment and how welcoming everyone was on her visit…Enjoys the beautiful campus, and ultimately feels she can thrive academically, socially and academically at DU…Also enjoy golfing, hiking, walking her dog and being with friends.

Cota Clise – Freshman – IM/Breast – Puyallup, Washington – Puyallup H.S. – 6-1
BEFORE DENVER:
Finished second at the Washington High School State Championships in the 100 breast…Broke multiple school and club records in relays and individual races…Three-time Scholastic All-American…Named the most improved swimmer on his club team in his junior year.

PERSONAL:
Chose the University of Denver because of the level of academic and athletic programs…Fell in love with the swim team and coaches throughout the recruiting process…Wants to compete in his sport at the highest level and obtain financial freedom in the future to support a family…Enjoys hiking and playing games.

Bayden Todd – Freshman – Sprint Free/Fly – Littleton, Colorado – Columbine H.S. – 5-10
BEFORE DENVER:
Summer junior qualifier in the 50 free (2024) and Winter junior qualifier in the 100 free (2024)…Top 10 finisher in the 100 free and 50 free at the high school state championships (2024)…Top-3 in the 200 medley and 400 free relay at the championships (2024)….Four-time academic/athletic honor roll…three-time high school team captain…Two-time All-American Scholar… Two-time First Team All-Colorado swimmer.

PERSONAL:
Chose DU because it was the perfect fit for him academically and athletically…Has been around the school for most of his life and really loves the community and the atmosphere it brings…Both of his parents are DU alums…Father played college soccer at DU, and was drafted into Major League Soccer…Mother dove for the DU team… Athletically he wants to be a major contributor for the team and be able to compete at NCAA Championships…Academically he wants to get his bachelor's degree and get a successful job in business.

Anaïs Montibert – Freshman - Sprint Free – Lyon, France - Lycée Condorcet – 5'9
BEFORE DENVER:
Qualified for her first French Senior National Championships in 2024…Qualified for her first European Junior Championships with the French National Team.
 
PERSONAL:
Chose Denver for its strong academic reputation, and its supporting learning environment. Was attracted to DU's diverse community and the many opportunities for international students. Also enjoyed the city and its access to nature…Wants to gain experience at DU to reach the highest level possible, with the goal of qualifying for the Olympic Games…Also enjoys listening to music, practicing judo, reading and spending time with friends and family…Works with her church community club…Wants to study material engineering.
 
UP NEXT:
Both programs will have just over a month off before resuming their seasons at the 2024 Minnesota Invite from December 4-7.  

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