Tess Whineray, the swimming sensation hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, is making quite a splash in her Freshman year at Colorado State University. Before her journey with Colorado State, Tess had already established herself as a remarkable talent on the national stage, representing New Zealand at the prestigious Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii. Her accolades include being named Sportswoman of the Year at Western Springs College and securing state and national relay titles. In a testament to her exceptional skills, Tess recently secured four first-place finishes in two separate swim meets for Colorado State. On October 6th, against Wyoming, she clinched two top spots in the 100 Y Backstroke timed finals. Not stopping there, on the 13th and 14th of October, she continued her winning streak, taking first place in both 200 Y Backstroke timed finals against New Mexico and Air Force. Tess Whineray’s journey is one filled with promise and potential, and her recent successes are a testament to her bright future in collegiate swimming!

Joshua Gill, the talented cross-country athlete from Nelson, New Zealand, has brought his exceptional skills to Hill College, where he is currently in his Freshman year. Born in Liverpool and later relocating to New Zealand in 2017, Joshua quickly made a name for himself on the cross-country scene. He secured a string of impressive 1st place finishes in various meets across New Zealand, including the Tasman Cross Country Championships, South Island Cross Country Championships, and the New Zealand Cross Country Championships, among others. In September, Josh kicked off his season with Hill College in spectacular fashion at the Gerald Richey UTA Invitational, where he placed 7th in a 3.12-mile race, surpassing NCAA Division I athletes with an impressive time of 15:19.5. But the success stories don’t stop there, Josh and his teammates recently secured a 2nd place spot in the NJCAA Region V Champs, with Joshua Gill individually claiming the 4th spot in the 8k run!

Joshua Gill can be seen here holding the NJCAA Region V runner-up trophy

James Slessor, the promising swimming athlete from Auckland, New Zealand, is now in his sophomore year, making waves at Youngstown State University. Even during high school, James was already a standout, earning the title of National Champion in his age group for the 50m and 100m breaststroke. His collegiate career began in the fall of 2022, and he swiftly established himself as a powerhouse for the program during his freshman year. James’s remarkable talent shone as he set school records in the 50 breast (25.63) and the 100 breast (54.59). He’s also an integral member of the record-breaking 200m relay medley team, which achieved a stunning time of 1:29.57, and the 400m medley relay, recording an impressive 3:16.66. The highlight of this paragraph is James’s recent success in Youngstown State’s swim meet against Niagara, where he and his relay teammates secured 1st place in the 200m relay. Individually, James claimed the 2nd spot in both the 100 and 200m breaststroke events. James Slessor’s journey continues to be marked by excellence, and he’s undoubtedly a key contributor to Youngstown State’s swimming program.


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