Washington State University Athletics
Swimming Inks Four to National Letters of Intent
November 21, 2018 | Swimming
PULLMAN, Wash. – Four incoming student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to the Washington State swimming team, head coach Matt Leach announced earlier this week.
Erin Harnum is out of Columbine High School in Denver, Colo. and swims for the Foothills Swim Team. Harnum holds the Columbine High School record in the 100 back and two relays. As a member of the Foothills Swim Team, the Denver, Colo. native set the club record in the 100 and 200 back. Harnum earned All-State Qualifier and First-Team All-America all four years of high school. At the 2017 Colorado Swimming Senior Championships, Harnum placed fourth in the 200 IM. Academically, Harnum is a member of the National Honor Society and earned Academic All-America honors.
"Erin Harnum is a great addition to the growing Cougar family," said Leach. "Erin will strengthen our backstroke group, as she is a strong performer in the 100 and 200 back. She will help add depth to the 200 and 400 IM as well. Erin comes from a great club team and an amazing family. She is a Cougar through-and-through. As soon as she stepped on campus, our program, swimmers, and coaches wanted her to be a part of our family. I am confident Erin knew she would be a Cougar. Welcome to the family Erin, and go Cougs!"
Kate Laderoute is a backstroker from Oregon City Swim Club in West Linn, Ore. Laderoute placed first in the 100 back at the 2017 Futures competition. As a senior, the West Linn, Ore. native swam a sub-two minute 200 back at the 2018 Speedo Senior Sectionals. Laderoute also competed in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Winter Junior Nationals. Laderoute placed first in the 200 IM and second in the 100 back at the 2017 OSAA 6A State Championships. Academically, Laderoute is a member of the Spanish Honors Society and earned Academic All-America honors.
"I have been lucky to not only recruit Kate, but her older sister – so I knew the family well before we started recruiting Kate," said Leach. "Kate is an amazing person and teammate; and she will add to our family culture right away. Kate is not only a backstroker, but can compete in the IMs and a lot of different freestyle events. She comes in just off of our 200 backstroke record; so she will be able to add to our top end speed and depth in multiple events. Let's welcome Kate and the Laderoute famiy to the Cougars! Go Cougs!"
Michee van Rooyen is a freestyler out of South Africa. In 2014, van Rooyen placed second in the 1500 free at the Dutch Nationals and third in the 800 free at the FINA World Cup. Van Rooyen placed first in the 800 free at the Dutch Nationals in 2015 and 2016. As a freshman, the South Africa native placed first in the 800 free Scottsdale Invite. In 2016, van Rooyen won the 800 free at the KZN short course. As a junior, van Rooyen placed fourth in the 800 free and the 400 free at the Sectionals Portland and SA Short Course, respectively. As a senior, van Rooyen placed first in the 200, 400, and 800 free at the SVB Meisrerscchaft, and sixth in the 400 free at the 2018 SA Short Course. Van Rooyen competed in the 2018 South Africa National Junior Age Group Championships; placing first in the 200 free, second in the 400 free, and seventh in the 100 free. Academically, van Rooyen earned two distinctions in preliminary examinations.
"Michee van Rooyen was our first commitment to our program and staff," said Leach. "Michee is from a great club team and coach back in South Africa. We couldn't be happier to welcome her and her family to the Cougar family. She will an instant contribution in the mid- and long-distance freestyles, and has the capability to go down to the 100 free. Michee will be a great addition and teammate as we continue to develop our Cougar family culture. Welcome to the Cougar family Michee! Go Cougs!"
Mia Zahab is out of Nepean Kanata in Ottawa, Canada. As a Barracuda, Zahab was a finalist at the Senior Nationals and Junior Championships. The Ottawa, Canada native qualified for the Canadian Swim Time Trials and medaled at the Ontario Provincials in the 200 fly, 400 free, 800 free, 100 fly and 200 IM. Zahab was an Ontario Junior Finalist and IMX Champion. In the 2018 Swim Canada Junior Championships, Zahab placed fourth in the 200 fly and seventh in the 800 free. Academically, Zahab was earned honor roll honors.
"Mia Zahab is one of the most outgoing and happy people you will ever meet, and she will add to our family dynamic," said Leach. "Mia is a very versatile swimmer that can add depth to our fly group, strengthen our IM group, and can swim a variety of events – including breaststroke and distance freestyles. Her primary events are the 100 and 200 fly and 400 IM. Mia and her family have been great to get to know throughout the recruiting process, and we cannot wait to get her on campus. Welcome to the Cougar family Mia and the Zahab family. Go Cougs!"
Erin Harnum is out of Columbine High School in Denver, Colo. and swims for the Foothills Swim Team. Harnum holds the Columbine High School record in the 100 back and two relays. As a member of the Foothills Swim Team, the Denver, Colo. native set the club record in the 100 and 200 back. Harnum earned All-State Qualifier and First-Team All-America all four years of high school. At the 2017 Colorado Swimming Senior Championships, Harnum placed fourth in the 200 IM. Academically, Harnum is a member of the National Honor Society and earned Academic All-America honors.
"Erin Harnum is a great addition to the growing Cougar family," said Leach. "Erin will strengthen our backstroke group, as she is a strong performer in the 100 and 200 back. She will help add depth to the 200 and 400 IM as well. Erin comes from a great club team and an amazing family. She is a Cougar through-and-through. As soon as she stepped on campus, our program, swimmers, and coaches wanted her to be a part of our family. I am confident Erin knew she would be a Cougar. Welcome to the family Erin, and go Cougs!"
Kate Laderoute is a backstroker from Oregon City Swim Club in West Linn, Ore. Laderoute placed first in the 100 back at the 2017 Futures competition. As a senior, the West Linn, Ore. native swam a sub-two minute 200 back at the 2018 Speedo Senior Sectionals. Laderoute also competed in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Winter Junior Nationals. Laderoute placed first in the 200 IM and second in the 100 back at the 2017 OSAA 6A State Championships. Academically, Laderoute is a member of the Spanish Honors Society and earned Academic All-America honors.
"I have been lucky to not only recruit Kate, but her older sister – so I knew the family well before we started recruiting Kate," said Leach. "Kate is an amazing person and teammate; and she will add to our family culture right away. Kate is not only a backstroker, but can compete in the IMs and a lot of different freestyle events. She comes in just off of our 200 backstroke record; so she will be able to add to our top end speed and depth in multiple events. Let's welcome Kate and the Laderoute famiy to the Cougars! Go Cougs!"
Michee van Rooyen is a freestyler out of South Africa. In 2014, van Rooyen placed second in the 1500 free at the Dutch Nationals and third in the 800 free at the FINA World Cup. Van Rooyen placed first in the 800 free at the Dutch Nationals in 2015 and 2016. As a freshman, the South Africa native placed first in the 800 free Scottsdale Invite. In 2016, van Rooyen won the 800 free at the KZN short course. As a junior, van Rooyen placed fourth in the 800 free and the 400 free at the Sectionals Portland and SA Short Course, respectively. As a senior, van Rooyen placed first in the 200, 400, and 800 free at the SVB Meisrerscchaft, and sixth in the 400 free at the 2018 SA Short Course. Van Rooyen competed in the 2018 South Africa National Junior Age Group Championships; placing first in the 200 free, second in the 400 free, and seventh in the 100 free. Academically, van Rooyen earned two distinctions in preliminary examinations.
"Michee van Rooyen was our first commitment to our program and staff," said Leach. "Michee is from a great club team and coach back in South Africa. We couldn't be happier to welcome her and her family to the Cougar family. She will an instant contribution in the mid- and long-distance freestyles, and has the capability to go down to the 100 free. Michee will be a great addition and teammate as we continue to develop our Cougar family culture. Welcome to the Cougar family Michee! Go Cougs!"
Mia Zahab is out of Nepean Kanata in Ottawa, Canada. As a Barracuda, Zahab was a finalist at the Senior Nationals and Junior Championships. The Ottawa, Canada native qualified for the Canadian Swim Time Trials and medaled at the Ontario Provincials in the 200 fly, 400 free, 800 free, 100 fly and 200 IM. Zahab was an Ontario Junior Finalist and IMX Champion. In the 2018 Swim Canada Junior Championships, Zahab placed fourth in the 200 fly and seventh in the 800 free. Academically, Zahab was earned honor roll honors.
"Mia Zahab is one of the most outgoing and happy people you will ever meet, and she will add to our family dynamic," said Leach. "Mia is a very versatile swimmer that can add depth to our fly group, strengthen our IM group, and can swim a variety of events – including breaststroke and distance freestyles. Her primary events are the 100 and 200 fly and 400 IM. Mia and her family have been great to get to know throughout the recruiting process, and we cannot wait to get her on campus. Welcome to the Cougar family Mia and the Zahab family. Go Cougs!"
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