VERMILLION, S.D. — South Dakota head swimming and diving coach Jason Mahowald is pleased to announce the addition of eight athletes to the 2016-17 roster. The additions include Charlton Mechling, Payton Nackoney, Sabrina Sabadeanu and Nathan Spencer to National Letters of Intent. The program also has commitments from Lauren Adler, Bryce Fehringer, Isaac Morris and William Summers.

"I am really excited about our early signing class," said Mahowald. "This group of swimmers and divers is not only talented but they are also outstanding students as well. I feel like we have addressed some key areas in this signing class. I think this class will make an immediate impact both in our top end as well as our team depth."

A native of Boulder, Colo., Adler swam varsity, was on the 5A state team, and lettered three years for Fairview High School. She chose to swim club for her senior season. Adler is a distance swimmer and her events and fastest times are in the 800-yard freestyle (9:57.58), 1,650-yard freestyle (18:22.11), 200-yard individual medley (2:15.20) and the 400-yard individual medley (4:45.08). For club, Adler is on the all-time top-10 list in the 1,000-yard freestyle, 1,650-yard freestyle, 200-yard fly and 400-yard individual medley. Adler also made the Honor Roll all four years of high school and will study English education at South Dakota.

Fehringer joins the swimming team from Kersey, Colo. In 2015, as a senior at Greeley West High School, Fehringer was the team captain and was named the City MVP of the Front Range League. As a Spartan, Fehringer was a four-time participant in the Colorado 5A state championships. At South Dakota, he will compete in freestyle events. Fehringer's career bests are 48.62 in the 100-yard freestyle and 1:46.66 in the 200-yard freestyle. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was named to the Colorado High School Athletics Association First-Team Academic All-State in 2015. Fehringer will study political science at USD.

Mechling comes to South Dakota from Glenwood Springs, Colo. As a captain and member of the Aspen Swim Club, Mechling swam in the Western Slope Conference. While swimming for Aspen, she broke and holds over 20 club records, was a Western Slope MVP, is a Colorado State Championship finalist and a Speedo Championship Series Sectionals qualifier and finalist. Mechling was also named to the Colorado Zone-Select Team and the Colorado All-Star Team. She is a part of the National Honor Society and is a Kiwanis Owl Award Recipient. Mechling received academic honors in AP biology, English and mathematics. She received academic honors in science, was on the Principal's Honor Roll and has a GPA of 4.0. She will study biology at South Dakota.

Hailing from Albuquerque, N.M., Morris comes to South Dakota and will compete in the one- and three-meter dives. At Valley High School, Morris was a two-time state champion, three-time district champion and a three-time metro champion. For club, Morris was a Regionals finalist in 2013 for the one-meter dive and in 2014-15 for both the one- and three-meter dives. In 2015, Morris was a Zones finalist, National qualifier and an AAU national finalist. For academics, Morris received the art department's Senior Achievement Award. He will study graphic design at USD in the fall.

A native of Penticton, British Columbia, Canada, Nackoney joins USD as a swimmer. While at Penticton Secondary, Nackoney helped the Dragons to a second-place finish in the Province in 2014. This year's team is still in season and is making a run at winning the Province this year. She graduated high school half a year early and will study psychology at South Dakota.  

Sabadeanu comes to South Dakota from Commerce City, Colo., and will compete in backstroke events and individual medleys. Sabadeanu lettered in swimming three years from 2013-15 at Golden Senior High School. As a Demon, she received the Colorado High School Athletics Association Certificate of Recognition in 2012-13. In 2015, she placed fourth overall in the 100-yard backstroke and eighth in the 200-yard individual medley. At Golden, Sabadeanu received the Applause Award in 2013 and 2014 for exceptional personal achievement, excellence of character, bettering the school climate through perseverance, hard work and concern for others. She will study medicine at USD in the fall.

Hailing from Bettendorf, Iowa, Spencer is a two-time district champion in the 200-yard freestyle. Spencer will compete in mid-distance at USD. At Bettendorf High School, Spencer was a four-time letterman, two-time team captain and is part of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that holds the current pool record. As a bulldog, Spencer is a two-time district record holder in the 200-yard freestyle. For club, he was the Iowa State 2015 Long Course High Point winner, a 2015 Futures of Champions qualifier and a 2015 Winter Junior Nationals qualifier. He plans to study graphic design at South Dakota.

A native of Lake Stevens, Wash., Summers is a three-time Washington State 4A Swim Championships qualifier in 2013-15 for the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard medley relay. At the swim championships, Summers was a top-16 finalist in both events. He is also part of the 200-yard medley relay that holds the school record. At Lake Stevens High School, Summers earned the Scholar Athlete Award from 2013-15. For club, he is a Pacific Northwest Swimming Championships qualifier, a finalist for the Age Group Regional and a finalist for the Senior Sectional. He plans on studying media and journalism at USD.

The swimming and diving teams are back in action on Friday and travel to Brookings, S.D., to take on in-state rival South Dakota State.