Swimcloud

Virginia Tech Signs 11

The nationally ranked Virginia Tech women’s swimming and diving team has announced the fall signing of six swimmers to National Letters of Intent for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Kameron Ansley comes to the Hokies from Osborn High School in northern Virginia, where she is an honors student.   Ansley, who swims for Coach Rick Benner and QDD, originally hails from Savannah, Ga., but followed her longtime coach from Osborn to finish her high school career and further her training opportunities. Ansley excels in the butterfly events and has achieved great national and international success in the pool. One of her most recent acomplishments was representing the USA on the National Junior Team during the Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet in Vancouver, B.C.  Ranked as a high four-star recruit by Swimming World, Ansley chose Tech over Tennessee, Virginia, Louisville, Ohio State and West Virginia.
Top Times
100 Fly: 54.99*
200 Fly: 1:59.45*
200 IM: 2:03.81*
* Times converted from LCM

“Kameron has a great passion and fire for the sport and has experienced great amounts of success on the international scene,” said head coach Ned Skinner. “We felt a great connection with Kameron from the beginning of the recruiting process, and her trip to Blacksburg put it over the edge. Her strong desire for success is something that we feel will help this program continue to grow.”

Brittany Boone, hailing from Ashburn, Va., joins Virginia Tech from Stone Bridge High School where she currently swims for Coach Jennifer House. Boone also competes for the Curl Burke Swim Club under the guidance of John Flanagan.  An Academic All-American, Boone is a national qualifier in the backstroke events and was a recent finalist in the NI Eastern Zone Champions Series. She follows a family heritage in choosing Virginia Tech as her father, Timothy Boone, played baseball for the Hokies. Boone chose Tech over Alabama and North Carolina.                           
Top Times
100 Back: 55.31*
200 Back: 1:59.20*
* Times converted from LCM

“We are really excited to have Brittany join our program as she is coming off an exceptional summer, and we feel she is just now coming into her own,” Skinner said. “She has great size and has trained well under Coach Flanagan, and we feel her maximized potential is around the corner. She has a fun personality and will fit in well with our women.”

Aubree Duncan comes to the Hokies from Woodstock, Ga., where she swims for Coach Mark Schilling and the Chattahoochee Gold. Duncan, a four-star recruit on Swimming World’s recruit rankings, attends Etowah High School and swims for Coach Tracey Bulger. Duncan is a high school All-American and is ranked nationally in the backstroke events. With an interest in biological sciences, Duncan’s list of achievements out of the pool are perhaps just as impressive as the list in the pool. She is a member of the National Beta Club, Junior Leadership Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is on the Scholastic All-American Team. Duncan selected the H2Okies over Maryland, Penn State, Arkansas and Louisville.
Top Times
100 Back: 55.87*
200 Back:  1:58.81*
* Times converted from LCM

“We are excited we have Aubree joining us next fall,” Skinner said. “Not only do we feel we have a great talent coming in to help us in the pool, but we feel Aubree’s strong character and values will immediately impact our program as well. She is a great person and we recognized this even more when she came on her recruiting trip. Aubree, with great guidance from Coach Schilling, exhibits a powerful force in the water and we are ready to take her swimming to the next level.”

Katarina Filova, a native of Bratislava, Slovakia, comes to the H2Okie program with thriving international success, having previously competed in the European Jr. Championships, Australian Championships, European Championships, World Grand Prix competitions and the World Championships. Filova recently excelled at the World Championships in Rome, taking 31st in the 100 freestyle and 24th in the 200 freestyle events. Filova has been a member of the Slovak National Team since 2004, has won several Slovak National titles, and is currently finishing up her studies at St. Paul’s Anglican High School in Brisbane, Australia.
Top Times                                                  
50 Free: 23.21*           
100 Free:  48.94*
200 Free: 1:44.98*
500 Free: 4:54.95*
100 Back: 56.22*
200 Back: 2:02.83*
* Times converted from LCM

“It is exciting to have Katarina join our program as she is experienced at the international level and will be an immediate threat at ACC’s and NCAA’s,” Skinner stated. “She has the fight in her to become one of the greatest individuals we have ever had here at Virginia Tech, and we are eager to get her going.”

Abby Houchin, hailing from Raleigh, N.C., joins the H2Okies from Enloe High School where she swims for Coach Vickie Peoples, while also competing for the YMCA of the Triangle under Chad Onken. A multiple YMCA National finalist, Houchin is an All-American and an Academic All-Conference member. Following the tradition of college swimming in her family, Houchin is a multiple-time team record holder and national qualifier. Houchin chose Tech over West Virginia, TCU and Georgia Tech.
Top Times                                                 
100 Breaststroke: 1:05.15
200 Breaststroke: 2:17.13

“Having another YOTA breaststroker join our program is very exciting,” Skinner said. “Abby has shown great improvement over the last couple of seasons, and we are thrilled about where she is heading, especially when she will be wearing a VT swim cap. Under the direction of Coach Onken, we know Abby will continue this path even before she gets to college. She carries herself with the utmost poise and has the passion to do what it takes to be great.”

Rachel Sepanski, hailing from Yorktown, Va., swims for the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins under coaches Jack Bierie and Steve Hennessy and attends Tabb High School. A multiple-time state finalist, Sepanski excels in the short-range freestyle events. She has been named “Star Athlete of the Week” twice in Virginia high school swimming and has garnered All-State honors as well. Sepanski decided on Virginia Tech over James Madison and William and Mary.
Top Times                                                  
50 Free: 23.70*
100 Free: 52.00
200 Free: 1:52.23
* Time converted from LCM

“We are very happy to have Rachel join our program next year as we feel she is a true diamond in the rough and her best is yet to come,” Skinner said. “Under the great coaching and leadership of Coach Bierie and Hennessy, Rachel has blossomed in the last two seasons. She will influence our program in the individual events as well as the relays. Rachel is a great athletes with loads of personality and we are ready for her to achieve greatness as a H2Okie.”


The Virginia Tech men’s swimming and diving team has signed four swimmers and one diver, to compliment the six female newcomers, to National Letters of Intent for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Emmett Dignan, hailing from Mystic, Conn., comes to Blacksburg from Robert E. Fitch High School where he trains under Coach Ken Berg, and also swims for the Rams Swimming Club under coaches Keri Cunningham and Drew Finneran. Dignan, a New England Oustanding Swimmer of the Year Finalist, has been an ECC state champion in multiple events. Dignan is a Junior National Finalist and has been ranked in the top-5 in New England in five events and is a high school All-American. He chose Virginia Tech over Maryland, Princeton, Ohio State and Purdue.

Top Times
100 Breaststroke: 56.83
200 Breaststroke: 2:02.56
100 Backstroke:51.75
200 Backstroke: 1:52.48
200 IM: 1:53.90
50 Freestyle: 21.26

“Emmett will be a great addition to our program and we are elated to have him join us next fall,” said head coach Ned Skinner. “We knew we had to recruit heavily for the breaststroke as we are losing our top two breaststrokers to graduation and Emmett is a perfect fit for our program. He has great size and a beautiful stroke. We are eager for him to develop further under our training and the use of our resources.”

Ryan Hawkins, a native of Charlotte, N.C., will join Virginia Tech from the Carolina Diving Academy where he trains under Coach Aaron Hintz. Hawkins is a multiple-time finalist at the Junior National level on all three levels (one meter, three meter and platform), and has also been a finalist on multiple levels at the Senior Nationals as well. In the 2009 Speedo Junior National Diving Championships, Hawkins placed in the top-5 on all three levels. Hawkins chose Virginia Tech over Ohio State, Kentucky and Georgia.

“I have watched Ryan progress through the sport since he was a beginner and his acrobatic ability is perhaps some of the best I have ever seen,” said head diving coach Ron Piemonte. “There isn’t anything he can’t do. He is strong and fast, which makes him capable of doing the most difficult somersaulting and twisting dives easily. In my opinion, Ryan is perhaps one of the most well-balanced (springboard and platform) recruits this year, and his impact on our diving program will be huge.”

Garrett Hehn, coming to Blacksburg from Murrysville, Pa., competes at Franklin Regional Sr. High School where he trains under Coach Vic Santoro and the Fox Chapel Killer Whales club team, where he is coached by Todd Clark. Hehn was a multiple-time finalist at the WPIAL Championships and PIAA Championships. A high school All-American, Hehn is the school record holder in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle events, as well as a share holder in the freestyle relay events. Hehn picked Blacksburg as his future home over Maryland, Northwestern, Princeton and Purdue.                               

Top Times
50 Freestyle: 20.91
100 Freestyle: 45.73
200 Freestyle: 1:40.41
500 Freestyle: 4:34. 45
1000 Freestyle: 9:38.96
100 Butterfly: 50.34
400 IM: 4:00.99

“We were very excited when Garrett told us he was coming to Virginia Tech,” Skinner said. “We have enjoyed recruiting him all along, but his trip to Blacksburg reinforced our interest. He will play an important role next year as a versatile threat in many areas. Garrett carries himself in a very professional manner and we feel he will mold into an outstanding leader. His range in the freestyle was a big factor in our recruiting of Garrett, and he will play an immediate role on our team, both individually and in the relay events.”

Nathan Hoisington, from Leawood, Kan., joins the H2Okies from Blue Valley North High School and the Kansas City Blazers club team. Under well-known coaches Pete Malone and Derek Burg, Hoisington has been a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, and was the 2007 and 2008 East Kansas League High School Champion in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has also made the Principal’s Honor Roll during his entire high school career to date. Hoisington is a high school All-American and picked Virginia Tech over Clemson, Georgia Tech and Minnesota.

Top Times
100 Breaststroke: 56.86*
200 Breaststroke: 2:06.12*
200 IM: 1:50.32*
400 IM: 3:57.49*
* Times converted from LCM

“We have never had a swimmer or diver on our program from Kansas, so welcoming Nathan is exciting” Skinner said. “He is a very intelligent and intuitive individual who fell in love with Virginia Tech on his visit, and we love that about him. He is already a Hokie true and true and will help fill our IM and breaststroke needs. Nathan’s improvement over the last couple of years under coaches Pete Malone and Derek Burg sets him up perfectly for college swimming. Adding power and strength to his routine, we are ready for Nathan to take off.”

Daniel Loftus joins the H2Okies from Newport News, Va., where he attends Menchville High School and swims for Coach Catherine Dowdy. Loftus also swims for the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins for coaches Jack Bierie and Steve Hennessy. He is the defending regional champion in the 100 breaststroke and is also a Junior National qualifier and school record holder for Menchville High School. Loftus chose to be a H2Okie over NC State and Connecticut.

Top Times
100 Breaststroke: 58.72
200 Breaststroke: 2:04.26
200 IM: 1:51.61

“Danny is another great person from the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins program and a pupil of Jack and Steve,” Skinner added. “We are looking forward to having him join us in the fall as he will join Nathan Hoisington in adding a new presence in the IM and breaststroke events. One aspect that we really like about Danny is his passion for racing. Since we are a racing-based program in all areas, we feel Danny will fit in very well within our program with his good size. For him, the sky is the limit.”

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