GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— Colorado Mesa University triathlon coach
Jen Mathe has announced her 2025 recruiting class, which includes four incoming freshman and a transfer from collegiate powerhouse program Arizona State University.
The recruiting class represents four states and the Baltic nation of Estonia.
The American portion of the class is made of up
Sylvie Aardema Gagnon of Moseley, Virginia,
Macy Arch of San Antonio, Texas,
Ellayna Potter of Fort Collins, Colorado and
Kaia Merrill of Salt Lake City, Utah. Merrill spent the 2024-25 academic year on the ASU squad.
Alexandra Schipai hails from the Estonian capital city of Tallinn.
"I am excited about the broad range of experience our incoming athletes bring with them," Mathe said about the recruiting class.
"Sylvie has a lot of junior elite draft legal experience racing within the United States and has already raced with a lot of the athletes we will compete against all year. Alexandra brings international race experience with a very strong running background. Both Macy and Ellayna are excellent all-around athletes who have had great success in other sports, and I am eager to see how they can use those strengths in collegiate triathlon," Mathe continued.
"Kaia is coming to us as a transfer and has spent the past year training and racing with arguably the best Division I team in the country. That experience has taught her to be a strong competitor, and I think she can share that fire with the rest of our team."
"Beyond their athletic abilities, each of these young women are great people who are excited to join our triathlon family and work together to be the best that we can be as individuals as well as a team," Mathe added.
Complete biographies about each new Maverick can be found below.
Prep: Was home schooled… Joined the Endorphin Fitness triathlon training team in 2022 and started racing in the Junior Elite Triathlon series in 2024… Finished 33
rd at the 2024 USA Triathlon Junior Elite National Championships… Finished 25
th at the Jenny Lee Tri Cup… Was ranked 16
th in the Junior Girls (16-17) Age Group by USA Triathlon… Also finished 20
th at the NICA Eastern Mountain Bike Regionals.
Personal: Will major in business and psychology as a launching point for an aspiration of earning a master's degree in education… Wants to combine her entrepreneurial interests and curiosity about how people learn and how to best support developing minds through their school years… Daughter of Janet Aardema and Daniel Gagnon… Has three younger siblings— Joren, Elletta and Beckett… Enjoys all disciplines of cycling, crafting with fiber and wood, cooking, collaging and being outside… Started competitive swimming at the age of nine and started mountain biking at 13 before getting into triathlon.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU for the close relationships between students and professors, ecological diversity, and triathlon team."
Macy Arch (5-8, San Antonio, Texas/Cornerstone Christian Schools)
2025 graduate of Cornerstone Christian Schools… Was the Warriors' Cross Country/Track MVP… Won the Heart of the Warrior Award in 2024 and the Warrior Award in 2022… Received the Basketball Warrior Award in 2025 after averaging more than eight rebounds and four points per game in her 2024-25 senior season.
Personal: Plans to major in business or criminal justice… Daughter of Mike and Kimberly Arch… Has an older sister— Delaney Smith… Aspires to own her own business one day… Likes to hike, be outside, swim, play ping pong and pickleball, bake, bike, play basketball and loves to laugh.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU for the amazing opportunity to be a part of the triathlon team, as well as the academic programs they had. I also chose CMU because of the beautiful location and all the outdoor things they offer!"
Kaia Merrill (5-9, So., Salt Lake City, Utah/Arizona State/Skyline HS)
As a Freshman (2024-25 @ Arizona State): Competed in four NCAA races… Placed tenth in the Mt. Shasta Tinman in her first draft legal race… Was 58th at the Battle in the Fort (1:16.15), an event CMU competed in… Went on to compete at the Clermont Draft Legal Triathlon in Florida and the Texas Triathlon Festival in the spring of 2025… Posted a 3.69 GPA in her time at ASU.
Prep: 2024 graduate of Skyline High School… Lettered in cross country, track and swimming and was a part of the National Honor Society… Coached by Tom Potter and Deni Coulam… Was the captain of the Eagles' cross country season as a sophomore, junior and senior… Completed at the state track meet three times and at the state cross country meet as a senior.
Personal: Is majoring in exercise science… Aspires for a career in emergency medicine or a paramedic… Daughter of Jason and Summer Merrill… Has three younger siblings— Indie, Drake and Gavin… Hobbies are swimming, biking, running, hiking and hanging out with friends.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU because of its location in Colorado, school size, educational opportunities, and because it has an amazing triathlon program and team culture."
Prep: 2025 graduate of Fort Collins High School… Competed in nordic skiing for the Lambkins… Coached by Kyle Stietz… Helped the team to a second place finish at the Colorado High School Ski League Championships, the highest in team history.
Personal: Plans to major in business and exercise science… Hopes to find a career that allows her to use her knowledge in those areas to help athletes succeed, promote a healthy lifestyle and practice sustainability… Daughter of Joe Potter and Andrea Lauenstein… Has two older sisters— Madelynn & Claire… Enjoys outdoor activities, especially skiing, camping and backpacking.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU for the location, campus and triathlon team."
Prep: Graduating from Tallinna Mustamäe Gümnaasium in June… Has only been competing in triathlon for three years, but has been swimming since age 5 and competing in track & field since age 7… Placed eighth in the Elite Women's Division with a time of 1:06:17 at the Europe Triathlon Baltic Championships in August, 2024… That event was held in Lithuania… Had placed 14th in the 2023 event, held in Latvia… Finished seventh at the Estonian Super Sprint National Championships in July, 2024 with a time of 38:41… Placed 22nd at the 2023 Europe Triathlon Junior Cup in Panevezys, Lithuania with a time of 34:57… Has running times of 19:14:18 (5k) and 11:22:06 (Indoor 3K) to her credit and says running his favorite discipline, because it is where she feels the strongest and can make a difference in a race.
Personal: Plans to major in business with a minor in psychology.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU because it provides the perfect environment to grow as both an athlete and as a student. Joining this team is a dream come true, and I can't wait to give it my all alongside my teammates."
