Iowa State swimming and diving head coach Matt Leach finalized the program’s 2026-27 roster Tuesday, announcing the addition of one transfer and three freshmen.
The group is highlighted by junior transfer Beatriz “Bibi” Comini Romero and freshmen Mariana Caldeira, Claire Dobrydney, and Jenna Polking.
Caldeira, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, flipped her commitment from Kentucky to join the Cyclones. A Junior Brazil National Champion in the 100-meter breaststroke, her personal bests in short-course meters
include 1:59.93 in the 200 freestyle, 4:13.26 in the 400 freestyle, and 31.76 in the 50 breaststroke. In long-course meters, she holds lifetime bests of 1:12.55 in the 100 breaststroke and 2:42.90 in the 200 breaststroke. Her converted short-course yard times are 50.88 in the 100 freestyle and 1:02.72 in the 100 breaststroke.
Comini Romero joins the roster after two seasons at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, where she was one of the program’s premier backstroke swimmers. The Belo Horizonte, Brazil, native ranks top-three in Little Rock history in the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.55. Her other personal bests include 2:03.11 in the 200 backstroke and 2:05.27 in the 200 individual medley. The daughter of Olympian Rogerio Romero, she also helped set a school record in the 800 freestyle relay.
Dobrydney, of Aldie, Virginia, was a two-time All-State performer at Paul VI Catholic High School. During her senior season, she finished as the state runner-up in the 100 freestyle (51.38) and 200 freestyle (1:50.26), with the latter earning All-American consideration. A distance specialist, her career bests also include 5:00.15 in the 500 freestyle, 10:33.02 in the 1,000 freestyle, and 17:28.16 in the 1,650 freestyle.
Polking comes to Ames from Elkhorn, Nebraska, where she was a four-year state qualifier for Elkhorn North High School. She concluded her high school career as a state champion in the 200 freestyle relay and the state runner-up in the 50 freestyle (23.41) and 100 freestyle (50.81).
