Miami Swimming and Diving Broadcasts Six Transfers to Roster

OXFORD, Ohio – Miami University swimming and diving head coach Samantha Pitter has introduced the addition of six switch student-athletes to her program forward of the 2025-26 season.

“We are thrilled to have so many talented transfers join our program this fall,” mentioned Pitter. “Not only are they great additions to the pool, but they are committed to the development of our team culture and helping us continue on the tradition of graduating champions here at Miami.”

Sarah Pophal, Hendrik Bechtel, Noam Kulbak, Michal Piela, Jacob Ratkovich and Pablo Silva will be a part of the RedHawks this fall. Each of those athletes has the potential to make important affect on the MVC and MAC Championships in February.

Sarah Pophal, Swimmer, Cleveland, Ohio (Hawken High School/Purdue)

Prior to Miami:

• Holds private bests within the 500 (4:53.77) and the 1650 (17:04.21) free that might have positioned her within the prime eight of each occasions on the 2025 MAC Championships
• Team captain as a senior in highschool
• Division 2 Ohio State Champ within the 500 free throughout her junior and senior yr of highschool
• All-American within the 500 free as a junior and senior in highschool

Hendrik Bechtel, Cologne, North-Rhine Westfalia, Germany (Wirtschaftsgymnasium Südstadt/Missouri-St. Louis)
Prior to Miami:

• His greatest occasions within the 200 (1:39.74), 500 (4:25.91) and 1650 (15:37.86) freestyle would have positioned twelfth, second and third respectively on the 2025 MVC Championships
• Holds the college file at Missouri-St. Louis within the 500 free and 1000 free
• German National Championship finalist and medalist as a senior in highschool

Noam Kulbak, Diver, Highland Park, Ill. (Highland Park High School/Louisville)
Prior to Miami:

• Noam is the 2024 Illinois State Diving Champion
• Team captain as a senior in highschool
• Junior National Championship Semi-Finalist
• Highland Park High School 6 & 11 dive file holder

Michal Piela, Swimmer, Oswiecim, Poland (Chemik/Pittsburgh)
Prior to Miami:

• Comes in with occasions that might have received the 400 IM (3:43.75) and 500 free (4:21.32) on the 2025 MVC Championships
• Also recorded occasions that might put him as a top-three finisher in three different occasions starting from the 200 IM (1:45.25), 200 Fly (1:45.16) and 1650 free (15:36.02)
• 11 Time Polish National Champion and the 2022 European Junior Champion within the 400 IM

Jacob Ratkovich, Swimmer, Magnolia, Texas (Magnolia West High School/Cincinnati)
Prior to Miami:

• Jacob comes within the with one of many prime 100 fly occasions (48.78) on the crew and can add a lot wanted depth to dash freestyle occasions
• Holds data at Magnolia West High School within the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay and 400 free relay

Pablo Silva, Swimmer, Henrico, Virginia (Godwin High School/Virginia Tech)
Prior to Miami:

• His greatest occasions within the 100 (54.78) and 200 (1:57.07) yard breaststroke would have positioned him as a top-eight finisher on the 2025 MVC championships (his 200 breast greatest would have received the convention final yr)
• Pablo would have been a top-12 finisher within the 200 IM (1:48.72) on the 2025 MVC championships
• Holds highschool data within the 100 breast and 200 IM