University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Sign Two Swimmers in Early Signing Period
12/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 2, 2010
HOUSTON - The University of Houston swimming and diving team recently announced the signing of two swimmers to National Letters of Intent.
Heather Coutts and Maddie Clark will swim for head coach Mark Taylor beginning with the 2011-12 season. Taylor spoke proudly about both of the new Cougars and discussed how he predicts their already successful careers will continue to improve upon arriving in Houston.
Heather Coutts
A four-time state champion from Jacksonville, Fla., Coutts will come to Houston as a highly touted recruit after a successful career at Bishop Kenny High School. Under head coach Kelly Long, Coutts set All-American time standards in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly at the 2010 2A State Finals in early November.
"We are thrilled and excited to have signed such an outstanding swimmer," Taylor said. "She's a Florida state champion in the 100-backstroke and was the runner-up (this season) in the 100-yard butterfly. She will definitely come in as one of our top swimmers."
Swimming for the final time as a high school senior, Coutts pushed her team to a state runner-Up finish after claiming the 100-yard backstroke title and second-place in the 100-yard butterfly. This followed up an explosive junior year where she earned 2A State Champion honors in the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard butterfly She was also a member of the 200-yard medley relay state championship team.
"We're looking forward to welcoming her spirit, her enthusiasm and her abilities," Taylor said.
A member of the Bolles School Sharks club team under coach Sergio Lopez, Coutts has registered personal bests that would already make her highly competitive amongst her future Cougar teammates. Her best times include: 57.29 (100-yard backstroke), 56.02 (100-yard butterfly), 2:05.27 (200-yard backstroke), 24.71 (50-yard freestyle) and 53.36 (100-yard freestyle).
Heather plans to major in biology. She is the daughter of Karin and Edmund Coutts.
Maddie Clark
Like Coutts, Clark is no stranger to high-level competition as she wrapped up her fourth-straight season as a state championship qualifier last month to close out her senior season at Badger High School under coach Glenn Biller.
"Maddie was also a top-8 finisher at the high school state championship in Wisconsin her senior year," Taylor said. "She is full of life and a very exciting (swimmer). We are thrilled that she decided to take the opportunity to become a Cougar."
The Bristol, Wisc., native capped off her bright high school career by winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events at the Greenfield Sectional in early November to earn another trip to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association State Championships.
Her fourth trip in as many years, Clark took seventh in the 50-yard freestyle (24.25) and ninth in the 100-yard freestyle (53.27), making her numbers also comparable to those of her future teammates at Houston. Aside from qualifying for state, Clark also qualified multiple times for the YMCA Nationals (2006-09), the Junior Nationals (2008-11) and the ConocoPhillips Short Course National Championships (2008-11).
"She's a sprinter so she's going to help in our short freestyle races," Taylor said. "She's going to be a super addition to our program. We're excited to get her here and start working with her."
A member of the Patriot Aquatics Swim Club team under coach Karl Milkereit, Clark's best times include: 24.17 (50-yard freestyle), 52.77 (100-yard freestyle), 1:03.23 (100-yard butterfly), 1:59.65 (200-yard freestyle).
Maddie plans to major in communications at Houston. She is the daughter of Grant and Tracy Clark.
