#8 Virginia

You expect to see certain teams in the top ten year after year after year.  Most have NCAA titles in their history or come from the dominant conferences.  Well the Cavaliers have just landed their second-consecutive class.  While not as deep as last year's #3 class, Virginia continued to mine the region better than anyone, picking up three top-50 recruits.

Mark Bernardino is understandably pleased with the class, explaining, "We feel we successfully addressed some of our most important needs."  He describes the group as having "lots of personality and a strong work ethic in the pool not to mention a terrific caliber of student."

Teresa Crippen's decision to go to Florida might have stung, but it with three top-20 backstrokers and the versatility coming in, it doesn't hurt.  Like last year the Cavs recruited up talent in nearly every event.  Lauren Smart (back and fly), Joanna Thomas (400 IM/1650), Erika Stewart (back), Alyssa Vavra (IM/brst) and Jenny Stewart (back) are all top-15 in different events.  With the departures of seniors Jess Lewis and Stephanie Glover, the Cav's class seems a little thin.  Stewart is more than adequate in that department but it shows that Bernardino and crew have faith in their rising Sophomores.

An opposing coach’s view: “Joanna Thomas is really, and I mean really, good.  Between UNC and UVA its getting awfully tough to pull kids out of there."

24	Stewart, Erika	Marlins of Raleigh
	Raleigh, NC	Jordan HS
39	Smart, Lauren	Team Charlotte
	Charlotte, NC	Country Day
41	Vavra, Allysa	Atlantis Aquatics
	Lansford, PA	Panther Valley HS
76	Thomas, Joanna	GCIT Swimming
	Linwood, NJ	Mainland Regional
161	Lewis, Jenny	PACK Swim Team of Pittsford
	Pittsford, NY	Pittsford Sutherland