Cougars add 15 newcomers to 2026 swim and dive teams

Student-athletes from around the country signed with the programs Thursday.

Author Carter Bentley
Cougars add 15 newcomers to 2026 swim and dive teamsCougars add 15 newcomers to 2026 swim and dive teams
Abby Shelton/BYU

PROVO, Utah — BYU swim and dive programs announced the signing of 15 new athletes for its 2026 rosters on Thursday.

"We’re eager to welcome our 2026 fall class of commits to BYU," head coach Tamber McAllister said. "This is an exceptional group of individuals—driven, competitive, and full of heart. Each one brings something unique to our program, and we’re confident they’ll elevate our team culture and performance. We can’t wait to see how they grow, contribute and help us take BYU Swimming and Diving to the next level."

The student-athletes hail from all around the country, including Arizona, California, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

The men’s program welcomes Grayden Barker, Jimmy Beeson, Colin Eliason, Grant Kellis, Blake Madsen, Sam Weaver and Gavin Willyerd.

The women’s program welcomes Chesney Bonner, Abbey Gardner, Emilie Griffin, Sydney Ho, Annabelle Martin, Noel Olsen, Lauren Nielsen and Summer Thresher.

GRAYDEN BARKER

GRAYDEN BARKER

Prosper, TX | Walnut Grove High School | Texas Ford Aquatics

  • Specializes in Freestyle and Butterfly 
  • 2025 state champ in 500 Freestyle (4:26.31)
  • 2025 state champ in 100 Butterfly (48.69)
  • No. 8 recruit in Texas (Swimcloud)

 

Jimmy Beeson

Jimmy Beeson

Greer, SC | Greer Middle College | Y-Spartaquatics

  • Specializes in Freestyle and Butterfly
  • 2025 state champ and state record holder in 50 Freestyle (20.47)
  • 2025 state champ and state record holder in 100 Butterfly (48.20)
  • No. 1 recruit in South Carolina (Swimcloud) 
CHESNEY BONNER

CHESNEY BONNER

St. George, Ut | Desert Hills High School | Southern Utah Swimming Association

  • Specializes in Butterfly, Backstroke and Freestyle
  • 2025 state champ in 100 Butterfly (55.80)
  • 2025 state champ in 100 Backstroke (56.29)
  • No. 2 recuit in Utah (Swimcloud)
COLIN ELIASON

COLIN ELIASON

Mechanicsville, VA | Hanover High School | Hanover Aquatics Inc.

  • Specializes in Backstroke and Freestyle
  • 3rd in 100 Backstroke at 2025 state championship
  • Set personal best in the 200 Freestyle at 2025 state championship (1:45.84)
  • No. 65 recruit in Virginia (Swimcloud)
ABBEY GARDNER

ABBEY GARDNER

Mesa, AZ | Red Mountain High School 

  • Specializes in 1-meter 
  • 2025 State champ in 1-meter (464.00)
  • 3rd in 1-meter at 2024 state championship (437.65)
  • 2nd in 1-meter at 2023 state championship (408.80)
EMILIE GRIFFIN

EMILIE GRIFFIN

Mesa, AZ | Mountain View High School | Mesa Aquatic Club

  • Specializes in Freestyle and Breaststroke
  • 2025 state champ in 100 Freestyle (51.29)
  • 4th in 100 Breaststroke at 2025 state championship (1:04.12)
  • No. 7 recruit in Arizona (Swimcloud)
SYDNEY HO

SYDNEY HO

Paradise Valley, AZ | Chaparral High School | Phoenix Swim Club

  • Specializes in Freestyle
  • Sister of current BYU mens swimmer Jonah Ho
  • 2nd in 200 Freestyle at 2024 state championship (1:52.68)
  • 3rd in 500 Freestyle at 2024 state championship (5:04.59)
  • No. 8 recruit in Arizona (Swimcloud) 
GRANT KELLIS

GRANT KELLIS

Queen Creek, AZ | Higley High School | Gold Medal Swim Club

  • Specializes in Freestyle and Backstroke
  • 2025 state champ in 200 Freestyle (1:38.18)
  • 4th in 500 Freestyle at 2025 state championship (4:31.21)
  • No. 8 recruit in Arizona (Swimcloud)
BLAKE MADSEN

BLAKE MADSEN

Chantilly, VA | Chantilly High School | Nations Capital Swim Club 

  • Specializes in Breaststroke and Individual Medley
  • 2025 state champ in 400 Free Relay (47.60 - Leadoff)
  • 2nd in 100 Breaststroke at 2025 state championship (55.48)
  • No. 20 recurit in Virginia (Swimcloud)
ANNABELLE MARTIN

ANNABELLE MARTIN

New Hill, NC | Apex Friendship High School | TAC Titans

  • Specializes in Breaststroke, Individual Medley and Distance Events
  • 2025 North Carolina All-Star Swimmer
  • 2025 USA Speedo Junior National Championship qualifier 
  • No. 14 recruit in North Carolina (Swimcloud)
LAUREN NIELSEN

LAUREN NIELSEN

Roseville, CA | Roseville High School | Wolverine Aquatics 

  • Specializes in Individual Medley and Butterfly
  • Foothill Valley League MVP 2024-25
  • 3rd in 200 IM at CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championship (2:05.80)
  • No. 64 recruit in California (Swimcloud)
NOEL OLSEN

NOEL OLSEN

Clovis, CA | Clovis East High School

  • Specializes in 1-meter
  • 1st at 2025 CIF Central Section D1 Championship (500.50)
  • 1st at 2024 CIF Central Section D1 Championship (468.45)
  • 1st at 2025 Clovis West Invitational (479.15)
SUMMER THRESHER

SUMMER THRESHER

Chico, CA | Chico High School

  • Specializes in Backstroke
  • 4th in 50 Backstroke at 2025 Speedio Junior National Championship (28.70)
  • 1st in 50 Backstroke (28.95), 100 Backstroke (1:02.62) and 200 Backstroke (2:16.89) at 2025 USA Swimming Futures Championship - Sacramento 
  • No. 18 recruit in California (Swimcloud)
SAM WEAVER

SAM WEAVER

Cedar Falls, IA | Cedar Falls High School | Panther Aquatics Club

  • Specializes in Breaststroke and Freestyle
  • District athlete of the year in junior year
  • First in 50 Breaststroke (28.77) and 100 Breaststroke (1:04.61) at 2025 USA Swimming Iowa Long Course Championship 
  • No. 7 recruit in Iowa (Swimcloud)
GAVIN WILLYERD

GAVIN WILLYERD

Mesa, AZ | Mountain View High School | Mesa Aquatic Club

  • Specializes in Freestyle
  • 2025 State champ in 500 Freestyle (4:26.72)
  • 2025 State champ in 200 Free Relay (21.32 - Leadoff)
  • No. 3 recruit in Arizona (Swimcloud)