Swimming and Diving Adds Eight for 2026-27
Jul 1, 2026 | Women's Swimming and Diving
NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane swimming and diving team welcomes eight student-athletes into the fold for the 2026-27 season, the program recently announced.
"Our graduating seniors, especially Andrea Zeebe and Taylor Cekay, leave behind an incredible legacy, and while those are big shoes to fill, we believe this class is ready to create a wake of its own," said Tulane head coach Amanda Caldwell. "This group brings immediate impact across every event, and what excites us most is who they are. They are competitors who train with purpose, lead with heart, and genuinely care about the people around them. They embody what it means to be Wave Makers, and they're exactly the kind of young women who will help shape the future of our program."
Bios for Tulane's newcomers can be found below:
Emma Barr (Mooresville, North Carolina)
SwimMAC Carolina/Lake Norman High School
The four-time high school state qualifier led off her 200 medley relay and anchored the 200 free relay her senior year. Barr's current best times would have placed her in the C Final in the 200 Free and the 200 Fly and just missed the C final in the 400 IM. She is undecided/ business major.
Top Times
200 Free: 1:52.06 Y
400 IM: 4:33.91 Y Â
200 Fly: 2:09.08 Y
Kaylee Daniell (Charlotte, North Carolina)
SwimMAC Carolina/ Charlotte Country Day School
Daniell was on the first place 200 Free Relay her senior year at the NCISSA Division 1 State Championship. The high school captain also anchored the third place 200 Medley relay and finished fifth in the 100 free and sixth in the 50 free. Daniell current best times would have placed her in the C Final in the 100 Free and just missed the C final in the 200 Free. She was also North Carolina All-State for the past three years. She intends to major in Political Science.
Top TimesÂ
100 Free: 51.41 Y
200 Free: 1:52.28 Y
Audrey Deras (Clayton, North Carolina)
Marlins of Raleigh/Corinth Holders High School
Deras ranked ninth in the state of North Carolina and 126th nationally in the class of 2026. At Speedo Winter Junior Championships this winter, she finished third in the 200 breaststroke with a time that would have placed her third in the 2026 American Conference Championship. At the same meet she had a B final mark in the 100 breaststroke with a time that would have made the A final at the 2026 American Conference Championships. She has already demonstrated the ability to compete at a high level, qualifying for the U.S. Open Championships in December 2025 while also representing El Salvador in international competition through her dual citizenship. Deras intends to major in Legal Studies and Asian Business Studies.
Top Times
50 Breast: 29.25 SCY
100 Breast: 1:01.54 SCY
200 Breast: 2:10.88 SCY
Tamara Elekes (Veresegyhaz, Hungary)
Budapesti Vasutas Sport Club Zuglo/Â Budapest VI. Keruleti Kolcsey Ferenc Gimnazttjm
Elekes is a Top 250 national recruit from Hungary. Last year, in long course meters, she finished third in the 200 IM (2:22.39). Over the 2026 summer, she finished second at the Hungarian Youth Championship in both the 50 Free (27.30 L) and the 400 IM (4:58.27 L). Her converted best times would have placed her in the A Final for the 200 IM and 400 IM, and the C Final in the 100 Free at the 2026 American Conference Championships. Elekes intends to major in undecided/business.Â
Top TimesÂ
200 IM: 2:15.09 (SC)/ 2:17.55 (LC) 2:00.63
400 IM: 4:45.38 (SC)/ 4:50.81 (LC) 4:17.66
50 Free: 25.99 (SC)/ 26.99 (LC)Â 23.55
100 Free: 56.30 (SC)/ 57.79 (LC) 51.01
Maddie Emment (Haslemere, Great Britain)
Repton Swimming/Marshall University
The rising sophomore transfer joins the Green Wave after making a significant impact at Marshall University during her freshman season. At the 2026 American Conference Championships, she led off the 800 free relay (1:49.92) to aid the program finish fourth overall. She also took sixth in the 1650 free with a 16:55.26 and made the B finals in the 200 Free (1:49.63) and the 500 Free (4:56.49). Emment intends to major in Management with a certificate in Sports Management.
Top Times
100 Free: 51.52 (Y)
200 Free: 1:49.03 (Y)
500 Free: 4:51.51 (Y)
1650 Free: 16:48.51 (Y)
Lieve Geelen (Rye, New York)
Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club/ Rye High School
Geelen finished second in the 400 free (4:27.72 LC) and third in the 200 free (2:05.82 LC) in the summer of 2025 at the Connecticut Senior Championships (2:05.82 LC). Her best times would have placed her in the B Final at the 2026 American Conference Championships in the 500 free and 200 free. She is undecided on a potential major.
Top TimesÂ
200 Free: 1:50.78 Y
500 Free: 4:56.50 Y
Fiona Keilly (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Dive Calgary/Â Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School
A five-time national qualifying athlete for both junior and senior nationals. She specializes in High Diving having won bronze medals in the past two World Aquatics Junior High Diving Championships (12m 2024, 15m 2026). She was the 2025 Coastal Classic Champion, twelve-time Alberta provisional medalist, and national finalist. She intends to major in Philosophy
Franchesca Sanchez (Chicago, Illinois)
Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club/Saint Ignatius College Prep
Sanchez finished second in the 100 fly (54.47) at the IHSA Girls State Championships her senior year. The three-time high school state qualifier has made great improvements over her high school season poised to make an impact in Green Wave relays. Her best times would have placed her in the B final at the 2026 American Conference Championship in both the 50 free and 100 fly. She intends to major is undecided/business.
Top Times
50 Fly: 25.11 Y
100 Fly: 54.47 Y
50 Free: 23.24 Y
"We're thrilled to welcome these talented student-athletes to our program," Caldwell added. "Their diverse backgrounds, competitive drive, and character will undoubtedly elevate our team and continue the tradition of excellence at Tulane."
_______________________________
The Green Wave finished fifth overall at the 2026 American Conference Championships with 905.50 points, earning an event victory and five medals. Lise Coetzee claimed the 200 Free title and finished second in the 500 Free. Varvara Gkiouzepa Petropoulou was runner-up in the 200 Butterfly, and Eliza Lennox placed third in the 100 Free. The relay team of Coetzee, Andrea Zeebe, Phoebe Johnson, and Rafaela Sumida finished third in the 800 Free Relay.
Additionally, Libby Brewer was named the league's Freshman Diver of the Year and competed at NCAA Zones. Tulane also had 11 athletes qualify and compete at the 2026 CSCAA National Invitational Championships in Danielle Barberie, Coetzee, Nicole Fant, Paula Gaya Bisquerra, Petropoulou, Ebba Holgersson, Johnson, Mary Kate Kupsky, Lennox, Gwen Shahboz, and Marin Shimkus., and four earned spots on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Division I Swimming & Diving Team in Petropoulou, Olcaytu Hatipoglu, Johnson, and Zeebe.
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming football and volleyball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane Swimming and Diving on social media @GreenWaveSwim on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.Â
Â
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes, and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
                                      - TulaneGreenWave -
Â
"Our graduating seniors, especially Andrea Zeebe and Taylor Cekay, leave behind an incredible legacy, and while those are big shoes to fill, we believe this class is ready to create a wake of its own," said Tulane head coach Amanda Caldwell. "This group brings immediate impact across every event, and what excites us most is who they are. They are competitors who train with purpose, lead with heart, and genuinely care about the people around them. They embody what it means to be Wave Makers, and they're exactly the kind of young women who will help shape the future of our program."
Bios for Tulane's newcomers can be found below:
Emma Barr (Mooresville, North Carolina)
SwimMAC Carolina/Lake Norman High School
The four-time high school state qualifier led off her 200 medley relay and anchored the 200 free relay her senior year. Barr's current best times would have placed her in the C Final in the 200 Free and the 200 Fly and just missed the C final in the 400 IM. She is undecided/ business major.
Top Times
200 Free: 1:52.06 Y
400 IM: 4:33.91 Y Â
200 Fly: 2:09.08 Y
Kaylee Daniell (Charlotte, North Carolina)
SwimMAC Carolina/ Charlotte Country Day School
Daniell was on the first place 200 Free Relay her senior year at the NCISSA Division 1 State Championship. The high school captain also anchored the third place 200 Medley relay and finished fifth in the 100 free and sixth in the 50 free. Daniell current best times would have placed her in the C Final in the 100 Free and just missed the C final in the 200 Free. She was also North Carolina All-State for the past three years. She intends to major in Political Science.
Top TimesÂ
100 Free: 51.41 Y
200 Free: 1:52.28 Y
Audrey Deras (Clayton, North Carolina)
Marlins of Raleigh/Corinth Holders High School
Deras ranked ninth in the state of North Carolina and 126th nationally in the class of 2026. At Speedo Winter Junior Championships this winter, she finished third in the 200 breaststroke with a time that would have placed her third in the 2026 American Conference Championship. At the same meet she had a B final mark in the 100 breaststroke with a time that would have made the A final at the 2026 American Conference Championships. She has already demonstrated the ability to compete at a high level, qualifying for the U.S. Open Championships in December 2025 while also representing El Salvador in international competition through her dual citizenship. Deras intends to major in Legal Studies and Asian Business Studies.
Top Times
50 Breast: 29.25 SCY
100 Breast: 1:01.54 SCY
200 Breast: 2:10.88 SCY
Tamara Elekes (Veresegyhaz, Hungary)
Budapesti Vasutas Sport Club Zuglo/Â Budapest VI. Keruleti Kolcsey Ferenc Gimnazttjm
Elekes is a Top 250 national recruit from Hungary. Last year, in long course meters, she finished third in the 200 IM (2:22.39). Over the 2026 summer, she finished second at the Hungarian Youth Championship in both the 50 Free (27.30 L) and the 400 IM (4:58.27 L). Her converted best times would have placed her in the A Final for the 200 IM and 400 IM, and the C Final in the 100 Free at the 2026 American Conference Championships. Elekes intends to major in undecided/business.Â
Top TimesÂ
200 IM: 2:15.09 (SC)/ 2:17.55 (LC) 2:00.63
400 IM: 4:45.38 (SC)/ 4:50.81 (LC) 4:17.66
50 Free: 25.99 (SC)/ 26.99 (LC)Â 23.55
100 Free: 56.30 (SC)/ 57.79 (LC) 51.01
Maddie Emment (Haslemere, Great Britain)
Repton Swimming/Marshall University
The rising sophomore transfer joins the Green Wave after making a significant impact at Marshall University during her freshman season. At the 2026 American Conference Championships, she led off the 800 free relay (1:49.92) to aid the program finish fourth overall. She also took sixth in the 1650 free with a 16:55.26 and made the B finals in the 200 Free (1:49.63) and the 500 Free (4:56.49). Emment intends to major in Management with a certificate in Sports Management.
Top Times
100 Free: 51.52 (Y)
200 Free: 1:49.03 (Y)
500 Free: 4:51.51 (Y)
1650 Free: 16:48.51 (Y)
Lieve Geelen (Rye, New York)
Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club/ Rye High School
Geelen finished second in the 400 free (4:27.72 LC) and third in the 200 free (2:05.82 LC) in the summer of 2025 at the Connecticut Senior Championships (2:05.82 LC). Her best times would have placed her in the B Final at the 2026 American Conference Championships in the 500 free and 200 free. She is undecided on a potential major.
Top TimesÂ
200 Free: 1:50.78 Y
500 Free: 4:56.50 Y
Fiona Keilly (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Dive Calgary/Â Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School
A five-time national qualifying athlete for both junior and senior nationals. She specializes in High Diving having won bronze medals in the past two World Aquatics Junior High Diving Championships (12m 2024, 15m 2026). She was the 2025 Coastal Classic Champion, twelve-time Alberta provisional medalist, and national finalist. She intends to major in Philosophy
Franchesca Sanchez (Chicago, Illinois)
Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club/Saint Ignatius College Prep
Sanchez finished second in the 100 fly (54.47) at the IHSA Girls State Championships her senior year. The three-time high school state qualifier has made great improvements over her high school season poised to make an impact in Green Wave relays. Her best times would have placed her in the B final at the 2026 American Conference Championship in both the 50 free and 100 fly. She intends to major is undecided/business.
Top Times
50 Fly: 25.11 Y
100 Fly: 54.47 Y
50 Free: 23.24 Y
"We're thrilled to welcome these talented student-athletes to our program," Caldwell added. "Their diverse backgrounds, competitive drive, and character will undoubtedly elevate our team and continue the tradition of excellence at Tulane."
_______________________________
The Green Wave finished fifth overall at the 2026 American Conference Championships with 905.50 points, earning an event victory and five medals. Lise Coetzee claimed the 200 Free title and finished second in the 500 Free. Varvara Gkiouzepa Petropoulou was runner-up in the 200 Butterfly, and Eliza Lennox placed third in the 100 Free. The relay team of Coetzee, Andrea Zeebe, Phoebe Johnson, and Rafaela Sumida finished third in the 800 Free Relay.
Additionally, Libby Brewer was named the league's Freshman Diver of the Year and competed at NCAA Zones. Tulane also had 11 athletes qualify and compete at the 2026 CSCAA National Invitational Championships in Danielle Barberie, Coetzee, Nicole Fant, Paula Gaya Bisquerra, Petropoulou, Ebba Holgersson, Johnson, Mary Kate Kupsky, Lennox, Gwen Shahboz, and Marin Shimkus., and four earned spots on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Division I Swimming & Diving Team in Petropoulou, Olcaytu Hatipoglu, Johnson, and Zeebe.
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming football and volleyball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane Swimming and Diving on social media @GreenWaveSwim on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.Â
Â
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes, and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
                                      - TulaneGreenWave -
Â
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