SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Peterson Family Head Coach Mike Norment has begun building the future for Notre Dame swimming and diving, as the program has signed 11 student-athletes in the 2026 class over the last few weeks.
Ellie Bina — Saint Paul, Minn. (Mounds View)
Minnesota rank: No. 5; 2026 rank: No. 213
Bina is coming off a 500 free state championship and best time in mid-November for Mounds View, and she also placed fourth in the 200 free. The Minnesota native is trending up after qualifying for Winter Junior Nationals with best times in the 1000 and 1650 free last March as a member of North Suburban Aquatic Club.
Top SCY Times —
- 200 free — 1:51.23
- 500 free — 4:55.44
- 1000 free — 10:03.69
- 1650 free — 16:43.32
Catie Brenneman — Elkhart, Ind. (Concord)
Indiana rank: No. 4; 2026 rank: No. 198
The sister of current Irish senior Grace Brenneman, Catie Brenneman is another local product for Notre Dame. She swims for Concord Swim Club and is a Winter Junior Championships qualifier. Brenneman finished 22nd in the 200 free and 23rd in the 100 free at the meet last December.
Top SCY Times —
- 100 free — 50.15
- 200 free — 1:48.37
- 500 free — 4:56.20
James Darcy — Malverne, N.Y. (Chaminade)
New York rank: No. 4; 2026 rank: No. 128
A mid-distance and distance freestyler, Darcy swims for the Long Island Aquatic Club and has improved in recent months. Cousin of current Irish junior Lily Anne Darcy, Darcy went best times in the 200 and 500 free just before Thanksgiving. His 1000 and mile best times have come in the last calendar year, too.
Top SCY Times —
- 500 free — 4:24.67
- 1000 free — 9:06.55
- 1650 free — 15:20.96
Averie Hager — San Antonio, Texas (Great Hearts Monte Vista)
Texas rank: No. 2; 2026 rank: No. 92
Hager had a huge junior year for Great Hearts Monte Vista, winning the 50 free and 100 fly at the Texas 4A State Championships in February and setting two new 4A records. She swims for Streamline Aquatics and was a member of the mixed 400 free National Age Group setting relay in April. At the 2025 Summer Junior Nationals, Hager earned five top-30 finishes.
Top SCY Times —
- 50 free — 22.83
- 100 free — 49.82
- 200 free — 1:48.63
- 100 fly — 53.44
- 200 fly — 1:59.03
Jaylee Hager — San Antonio, Texas (Great Hearts Monte Vista)
Texas rank: No. 5, 2026 rank: No. 119
The other half of the Hager duo making the move to South Bend next year, Jaylee Hager is a sprint freestyle and backstroke specialist. She also swims for Streamline Aquatics, where she was a member of the mixed 400 free National Age Group setting relay in April. Hager placed 16th in the 50 back at the Junior National Championships last summer, and she has won the 200 free and 100 free state titles for Great Hearts Monte Vista High School.
Top SCY Times —
- 50 free — 23.26
- 100 free — 49.90
- 200 free — 1:47.59
- 100 back — 55.43
- 200 back — 2:00.25
Brayden Jones — Prosper, Texas (Prosper)
Texas rank: No. 9; 2026 rank: No. 268
Another Texas product, Jones is a versatile sprinter and backstroker. He went best times in both the 100 free and 200 back in March, and his best 100 back came within the last year as well. He swims for Texas Ford Aquatics.
Top SCY Times —
- 50 free — 20.17
- 100 free — 45.22
- 100 back — 48.43
- 200 back — 1:47.12
Lizzy Lanak — Orange, Calif (Mater Dei)
The lone diver in the class for the Irish, Lanak dives for the famed Mission Viejo Nadadores. At the 2025 USA Diving Junior National Championships, Lanak placed 26th in the 1-meter with a final score of 290.60.
Grant Lilly — San Antonio, Texas (Ronald Reagan)
Texas rank: No. 4; 2026 rank: No. 81
Lilly brings an extensive list of accolades to South Bend, including having been a state champion in the 500 free, an eight-time state finalist and a Reagan Aquatics Team record holder in seven events. Lilly is also an Eagle Scout and a member of the National Honor Society.
Top SCY Times —
- 200 free — 1:37.41
- 500 free — 4:20.09
- 1000 free — 9:04.07
Finn Martin — Newton, Iowa (Newton)
Iowa rank: No. 3; 2026 rank: No. 188
Martin specializes in the sprint events for the Iowa Flyers Swim Club. Last February, he won the 50 and 100 free at the IHSAA Boys State Championship and he followed that by winning both events at the IASI Short Course Championships.
Top SCY Times —
- 50 free — 20.19
- 100 free — 44.30
- 100 fly — 51.53
Ryan Quinn — Haddon Township, N.J. (Hadden Township)
New Jersey rank: No. 1; 2026 rank: No. 97
The top men’s recruit out of New Jersey this cycle, Quinn swims for South Jersey Aquatic Club. Last winter, Quinn was a top-16 finisher at the Speedo Winter Junior National Championships, taking 10th in the 200 fly and 11th in the 100 fly. He also posted best times in the 50 and 100 free plus the 100 back in November, notching a Winter Junior Nationals cut in the 100 back.
Top SCY Times —
- 100 fly — 47.45
- 200 fly — 1:45.52
- 100 back — 48.70
Camryn Tilger — Medford, N.J. (Shawnee)
New Jersey rank: No. 4; 2026 rank: No. 195
Tilger swims for the famed Jersey Wahoos outside of Philadelphia and competed at the Speedo Junior National Championships last summer. She won both the 100 fly and 200 IM at the Middle Atlantic Senior Championship in March.
Top SCY Times —
- 200 fly — 1:58.51
- 200 IM — 2:02.15
- 400 IM — 4:22.03