11 Georgia
Much like the women’s class, Georgia’s incoming men is small, efficient and well placed. Jack Bauerle explains, “All the athletes we singed will one day be bound for the NCAA Championships. All of them can help us at that level. All of them come from good club teams and have worked hard in the past. We are proud to bring them here and we look forward to having them.”
Berlin, Germany native Martin Grodzki, swam Chattanooga’s Baylor School where he developed into one of the nation’s five best distance swimmers. Having qualified for Olympic Trials in five different events, Andrew Gemmell is more versatile than Grodzki. Together the pair will extend the Bulldogs’ growing distance tradition built by Sebastien Rousseau and Troy Prinsloo. The biggest pickup for the Dog’s, however, is Tom Berri. The Israeli’s converted times put him at the top of the list of incoming breaststrokers. He replaces Neil Versfeld and, with Brett Roberson, makes breaststroke a strength for the dogs.
|
38 |
69.10 |
Grodzki, Martin |
Chattanooga, TN |
Baylor Swim Club |
|
45 |
67.46 |
Berri, Tom |
Haifa, Israel |
|
|
54 |
66.59 |
Gemmell, Andrew |
Wilmington, DE |
Delaware Swim Team |
|
185 |
55.58 |
Roberson, Brett |
Heritage, TN |
Baylor Swim Club |
|
303 |
48.32 |
Munger, Graham |
Atlanta, GA |
Dynamo Swim Club |
12 Northwestern University
At Maryland, Jarod Schroeder assembled impressive recruiting classes on both the men’s and women’s sides. That’s no small task for someone handicapped with the “interim” tag to their title. He was rewarded for his efforts with a “no thanks” from the Maryland administration when it came time to fill the position on a permanent basis. When one door closes though, another one opens and that door bright Schroeder back to the friendly confines of Northwestern’s Norris Aquatic center.
This year Schroeder assembled a smaller, but far more impressive class for the Wildcats. In this case, however, Schroeder can look forward to coaching them over the course of their career, and he’s got the head coaching title to prove it.
Charlie Rimkus highlights the best class the Wildcats have had in the post-Grevers, Alexandrov, Bubolz era. The Mission Viejo distance specialist eases the loss of Eric Nilsson to graduation. Tony Mattar transfers up from Indiana to give NU strength in the fly and IM while Jan Hanulik offers some speed and versatility in freestyle. The rest of the class are all up-and-comers. Nick Johnson is looking forward to the small swimmer-coach ratio offered by NU and Varun Shivakumar has an incredible feel for the water, and with some strength, should blossom for the new-look Wildcats.
|
37 |
69.50 |
Rimkus, Charlie |
Irvine, CA |
Mission Viejo Nadadores |
|
49 |
67.21 |
Mattar, Tony |
Lake Orion, MI |
Transfer: Indiana |
|
100 |
61.75 |
Hanulik, Jan |
Detroit, MI |
Oakland Live Y'ers |
|
120 |
59.74 |
Johnson, Nick |
Pennsylvania |
Tri-Hampton YMCA |
|
229 |
52.78 |
Ratajczyk, Alex |
Parlin, NJ |
Raritan Valley YMCA |
|
262 |
50.93 |
Shivakumar, Varun |
Hoffman Estates, IL |
Palatine Park District |
|
551 |
29.77 |
Staben, Cal |
Lexington, KY |
Wildcat Aquatics |
|
610 |
21.35 |
Calhoun, Jay |
13 Louisiana State
Excitement surrounds LSU’s incoming class. Not only are Adam Schmitt and staff excited at the prospect of their best incoming group, so too are the swimmers. To a man, each one expressed a passion for the school along with an appreciation of the competitiveness that marks the SEC. There were no bold predictions, just a deep yearning to be a part of the LSU family.
Name the place - Finland, Scotland, Maryland – and LSU recruiters were there. From Finland come the sprinters. Reijo Hyvenen and Andrei Tuomola arrive with loads of potential. Their explosive stars and powerful walls conjure an earlier time in the history of sprinting in Baton Rouge.
Meanwhile Craig Hamilton will have plenty of time to work on the local Creole vernacular vs. his native Scottish accent while covering the distance events. Sean Roddy is another big signee for the Tigers. He looked at Kentucky, Ohio State and George Washington before signing late with the Tigers. It didn’t take long, though for the NBAC breaststroker to see that LSU was the place for him. “I want to help LSU climb up the ladder in the SEC.”
Little doubt he will.
|
23 |
71.01 |
Tuomola, Andrei |
Haarajoki, Finland |
|
|
39 |
69.06 |
Hamilton, Craig |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
|
|
103 |
61.49 |
Roddy, Sean |
Towson, MD |
North Baltimore Aquatic Club |
|
128 |
59.15 |
Wepasnick, Zack |
Brookeville, MD |
Rockville Montgomery Swim Club |
|
137 |
58.71 |
Hyvenen, Reijo |
Vantan, Finland |
|
|
284 |
49.55 |
Dasinger, Timmy |
Madison, MS |
Sunkist Swim Team |
|
288 |
49.30 |
Duggins, Lee |
Louisville, KY |
Lakeside Swim Team |
|
340 |
46.08 |
Kunkel, Nick |
Ft. Wright, KY |
NKY Clippers |
|
346 |
45.86 |
Mihic, Kevin |
Lombard, IL |
NWDupage YMCA / B.R. Ryall S T |
|
401 |
43.19 |
Davis, Brock |
Baton Rouge, LA |
14 Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s classes have been getting progressively better over the past several years and this year’s group is easily the best. Kevin Overholt is a top ten sprinter and while qualifying for the 50 and 100 as a freshman is no easy task, his name in the lineup gives the Irish relays a chance to get there. Chris Johnson and Mason Weber come in faster than any current Fighting Irish breaststroker and sprinter John McGinley offers a lot of promise. The Irish continued to milk the Hoosier state better than either of the state schools. In addition to Johnson Notre Dame landed Bill Bass. There’s really nothing the Chesterton native can’t do and when teamed with Jordan Berry, gives the Fighting Irish a developing IM combo.
As is, this class elevates Notre Dame from Big East bully to national player, but it was strengthened further by the signing of a New Orleans transfer after the CSCAA asked coaches to refrain from doing so. UNO was saved, but weakened by the pirating of a star swimmer. Don’t fault Tim Welsh, however. Recruiting is a competitive business, afterall. Plus, when reached for comment last week, the incoming backstroker couldn’t even identify his new head coach by name.
|
24 |
70.94 |
Overholt, Kevin |
Naperville, IL |
Fox Valley Swim Team |
|
85 |
62.86 |
Bass, Bill |
Chesterton, IN |
Duneland Swim Club |
|
122 |
59.53 |
McGinley, John |
King of Prussia, PA |
Suburban Swim Center |
|
124 |
59.49 |
Weber, Mason |
Marshall, MO |
Tsunami Swim Team of KC |
|
146 |
58.13 |
Petrovic, Petar |
Serbia |
Transfer: New Orleans |
|
166 |
56.78 |
Johnson, Christopher |
St. John, IN |
Lake Central Barracudas |
|
186 |
55.57 |
Berry, Jordan |
Fort Mill, SC |
SwimMAC |
|
277 |
49.97 |
Mullins, Wesley |
Hightstown, NJ |
Peddie Aquatic Association |
|
372 |
44.75 |
Gauger, Tylor |
Kokomo, IN |
15 Penn State
Though hired relatively late in the game, John Hargis and crew made quick work of recruiting by going out and signing an outstanding class. The Nittany Lions defended their home turf successfully while making strong inroads into the Midwest for some of their top recruits.
Assistant Dave Griffore, fresh off the head job at UW-Milwaukee took the lead in recruiting the Green Bay native Luke Bushman. “I knew him and admired what he had accomplished at UWM. He did a great job getting me to come and check out PSU.” Once there, thoughts of Indiana, Purdue, Michigan and Minnesota floated to the background.
“I was really excited to see what he [Hargis] brought to the table (an Auburn Swimming grad and Olympic Gold Medalist), the Y-National champion explained. “On my visit I saw that the whole team was very committed and that they were all very supportive of one another. Their unity was a huge factor for me.”
The Midwest inroads continue with the addition Chicago-area sprinter Graham Risley and distance specialist Ben Hengels. Most importantly, Hargis capitalized on the keystone state’s position as one of the top prep swimming states by signing four Pennsylvanians.
Those signings could create some dissention come December 20th. That’s when the Pittsburgh Steelers host Green Bay. As impressed as Bushman was, don’t expect him to switch alliances. “The Packers have been my team for a long time and I am not ready to give them the boot yet. I think the Steelers are going down!”
|
28 |
70.45 |
Bushman, Luke |
Green Bay, WI |
Green Bay YMCA |
|
83 |
63.01 |
Risley, Graham |
Riverside, IL |
Wheaton Swim Club, Inc. |
|
96 |
62.04 |
Walker, Ted |
Wyndmoor, PA |
Penn Charter Aquatic Club |
|
154 |
57.45 |
Folio, Dustin |
Selinsgrove, PA |
Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA |
|
208 |
54.30 |
Daniele, Greg |
Middletown |
Red Bank YMCA |
|
218 |
53.75 |
Hengels, Ben |
Glenbrook, IL |
|
|
266 |
50.77 |
Gomez, Jeffrey |
Morristown, NJ |
Cougar Aquatic Team |
|
288 |
49.39 |
Satanik, Wade |
Easton, PA |
Atlantis Aquatic Club |
|
420 |
41.76 |
Grennan, Jamie |
Milford, PA |
16 Missouri
Missouri continues to attract stronger and stronger classes in recent years. While the new Mizzou Aquatic Center certainly plays a role, so too does an increasingly opportunistic recruiting style. The Tigers are signing increasingly more-accomplished international swimmers, grabbing transfers searching for a new home (or in some cases, returning home), and tapping into the Chicago-area swimming community.
This class has a little bit of each. While Max Jaben’s quest to represent Israel in the Olympics didn’t work out Mizzou went out and signed one of Israel’s best young prospects in Yaniv Shnaider. Better still, the Tigers signed miler Vito Cammisano out of Jaben’s old club the Kansas City Blazers.
Mizzou got in on the Limestone sweepstakes by signing sprinter Anders Melin. He will get some assistance from Chicago-area sprinters Joe Hladik and Eric Blue.
|
40 |
68.79 |
Shnaider, Yaniv |
Israel |
|
|
52 |
66.93 |
Melin, Anders |
Karlstad, Sweden |
Transfer: Limestone |
|
215 |
53.87 |
Hladik, Joe |
La Grange, IL |
Lyons Swim Club |
|
268 |
50.56 |
Blue, Eric |
South Bend, IN |
Irish Aquatics |
|
302 |
48.34 |
Yslas, Blas |
Colorado |
Colorado Stars |
|
338 |
46.19 |
Sellers, Ryan |
Wichita, KS |
Wichita Swim Club |
|
415 |
41.91 |
Cammisano, Vito |
Rockhurst, MO |
Kansas City Blazers |
|
438 |
40.18 |
Livasy, Colin |
Riverside, MO |
17 West Virginia University
Vic Riggs looks to be hitting his stride as head coach at West Virginia. The departure of Pablo Marmolejo and Michael Walker would normally be a call for alarm, but there’s no such worry for the Mountaineers. Jared Goldthorpe and Hugh Simmonds will trade the Australian outback for the Mountain State. Goldthorpe, a backstroker with room to improve in middle-distance is NCAA-ready and Simmonds will certainly help the Mountaineer relays get there.
Assistant coach Damion Dennis proved his worth by pulling Jake Querciagrossa out of his hometown of Peoria, Illinois. Querciagrossa feels the future holds good things for WVU. “My goals for this next year are to be a finalist at Big East and make NCAA's in the 800 free relay.” Kyle Bandy will take some incentive into the Big East Championship. Brother Kevin will represent conference-rival Louisville. Tim O’Malley and Graham Kauffman complete a group that positions WVU to continue moving up.
|
20 |
71.58 |
Goldthorpe, Jared |
Australia |
|
|
94 |
62.06 |
Simmonds, Hugh |
Brisbane , Australia |
|
|
206 |
54.37 |
Querciagrossa, Jake |
Peoria, IL |
Peoria Area Water Wizards |
|
260 |
51.01 |
Bandy, Kyle |
Douglas, FL |
Coral Springs Swim Club |
|
328 |
46.92 |
O'Malley, Tim |
Riverside, CA |
FAST Swim Team |
|
347 |
45.84 |
Kauffman, Graham |
Greenville, SC |
YSSC |
18 Arizona
When Arizona signed transfers Erin Campbell and Whitney Lopus late in the game, it raised the Wildcats’ class about eight spots in our women’s rankings. There was no last-second savior in this class though it too contains a high-profile transfer in Limestone’s Craig Jordens.
Jordens’ 19.64 in the 50 free is second only to fellow Limestone expatriate and Minnesota-bound Goran Maljat. What makes Jordens’ and the rest of the Limestone transfers especially valuable is the fact that their times have been swum in yards. No conversions necessary. Carl Mickelson and Jon Denton-Schneider, will team with returners Jack Brown, Marcus Titus and Andrew Callahan to form one of the deepest breaststroke groups around.
With relative few points lost from this year’s NCAA team, Arizona didn’t need to get a great class, but with the graduations that lie ahead, you can expect the Wildcats to be pursuing the nation’s best with more aggressiveness, and more available scholarship money in the coming year.
|
11 |
74.50 |
Jordens, Craig |
Cape Town, RSA |
Transfer: Limestone |
|
86 |
62.67 |
Mickelson, Carl |
Chandler, AZ |
RIO |
|
197 |
54.87 |
Denton-Schneider, Jon |
San Rafael, CA |
North Bay Aquatics |
|
335 |
46.45 |
Keane, Brian |
Hanson, MA |
Kingfish Swimming |
|
414 |
42.18 |
Hojnacki, Zachary |
Chandler, AZ |
RIO |
19 CSU-Bakersfield
In Omaha last summer, while orchestrating a practice of 90+ kids, Bob Steele turned and asked, “Have you heard of this guy Chris Hansen?”
“You mean the guy on NBC’s ‘To Catch a Predator?’”
“Oh God, I hope its not the same guy – they just hired him at Bakersfield.” The legendary coach, who had orchestrated a few NCAA titles for the Roadrunners wanted to give the new coach a call.
It turns out that Hansen is as effective at snaring swimmers as his televised alter-ego is at catching predators. The timing couldn’t be better considering the Roadrunners will complete their transition to Division I after this season. Transfers Matt Parsonage, Chad McKenzie and Keenan Natyzak will all become major C-USA players, as should Brazilian Joao Foresto. Hansen was equally successful in luring in the locals with a trio of Bakersfield kids coming on board in the fall. None of the three has the versatility of the big catches, but each has an event or two that will make a difference.
|
46 |
67.42 |
Parsonage, Matt |
Durban, RSA |
Limestone College Transfer |
|
90 |
62.42 |
McKenzie, Chad |
Limestone College Transfer | |
|
147 |
58.04 |
Natyzak, Keenan |
Camas, WA |
Transfer: Washington/ Texas A&M |
|
180 |
55.82 |
Foresto, Joao |
Sao Paolo, Brazil |
Clovis Swim Club |
|
244 |
52.31 |
Priest, Jake |
Las Vegas, NV |
|
|
389 |
43.91 |
Wickensheimer, Dan |
Bakersfield, CA |
Bakersfield Swim Club |
|
448 |
39.31 |
Miller, Kevin |
Granite Bay, CA |
California Capital Aquatics |
|
520 |
32.93 |
Silvius, Mark |
Bakersfield, CA |
Bakersfield Swim Club |
|
528 |
32.43 |
Elmore, Vance |
Bakersfield, CA |
|
|
559 |
28.47 |
Wurm, Mitchell |
Mesa, AZ |
|
|
644 |
7.30 |
Cavazos, Emilio |
Fresno, CA |
Paradise Piranhas Swim |
With only three seniors graduating, the Hokies had to be parsimonious in their scholarship allocations this year. That typically means lots of in-state kids and maybe a couple of outstanding kinds from out of state or out of country. That’s exactly how Ned Skinner and his staff played it this year – pulling in some outstanding kids in-state (more even than #5 Virginia) and nabbing a couple of big time additions.
Karl Botha is a flyer in the mold of former ACC standout and British Olympian Stephen Parry. He will give the Hokies a shot at bringing multiple athletes to the March meet. Greg Mahon has similar possibilities. Mahon is a PIAA Champion in the 100 fly and 200 IM and multiple-time Y-Nat finalist. His decision to attend Blacksburg was a double-bonus as he was also considering ACC rivals Maryland and Florida State.
After that the class looks like a who’s who of Virginia swimming. The Hokies captured six of the state’s top twenty recruits with only three escaping to ACC competitors.
|
32 |
69.87 |
Botha, Karl |
Millfield, UK |
|
|
118 |
60.21 |
Mahon, Gregory |
Medford, NJ |
|
|
130 |
59.06 |
Skipper, Adam |
Yorktown, VA |
Coast Guard Blue Dolphins |
|
169 |
56.38 |
Hallock, Michael |
Vienna, VA |
|
|
170 |
56.31 |
Sheranek, Tom |
Richmond, VA |
NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc |
|
215 |
53.89 |
Lutterbein, Alex |
Manakin-Sabot, VA |
NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc |
|
240 |
52.53 |
Wilcox, Mason |
Menchville, VA |
Coast Guard Blue Dolphins |
|
245 |
52.17 |
Carr, Trevor |
Woodford, VA |
Rappahannock Y Swim Team |
|
411 |
42.33 |
Munster, Ben |
College Station, TX |
Aggie Swim Club |
21 South Carolina
When searching for words to describe South Carolina head coach McGee Moody, it was impossible to better those of incoming freshman Alex Fitton: “The enthusiasm he has for swimming and the team makes you want to be a part of it. I think a positive coach yields a positive team Coach Moody has the team going in the right direction.”
He’s right-on, and so too are the Gamecocks. Moody picks up two top-100 recruits in Max Heinze (sprint free and fly) - one of many schools adding Division II transfers - and Michael Flach (free and fly). Collin Kaden should really be included in that group as well considering he’s in the top twenty of both the 200 IM and 200 breaststroke. Ross Brooks and Matt Columbus provide a boost in the distance while Fitton can do just that - fit - in - wherever needed.
|
68 |
64.97 |
Heinze, Max |
Berlin, Germany |
Ouachita Baptist University |
|
91 |
62.38 |
Flach, Michael |
Annandale, VA |
The Fish |
|
104 |
61.39 |
Kaden, Collin |
Humble, TX |
Eagle Swim Association |
|
184 |
55.58 |
Columbus, Matt |
Cincinnati, OH |
Cincinnati Marlins |
|
226 |
52.79 |
Fitton, Alex |
Monmouth Beach, NJ |
Red Bank Ymca |
|
282 |
49.74 |
Ross, Brooks |
Richmond, VA |
NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc |
|
296 |
48.79 |
Cave, Bobby |
London, UK |
Hatfield Swim Club |
|
373 |
44.74 |
Seiler, Andrew |
Phoenixville, PA |
“Some of my best coaches have been women.” Says incoming freestyler Grayson Repp. “I have heard great things about her and I believe it is a great thing for the sport of swimming to have a female coach in the elite men`s program”
Caleb Veazey sees no reason she can't do well. “I have heard only good things [to say about Tierney]. My coach [Dallas Mustangs coach Mook Rhodenbaugh] respects her greatly and she coached one of my age group coaches.
No doubt it’s a new era in ASU (and collegiate) swimming when a woman runs a big time men’s program, but Veazey first considered ASU because of its immediate past and future needs. “I saw Arizona State swim at SMU. I saw CJ Nuess, realized that he would be graduating and that they wanted me to be the next him.” That was enough for the budding distance/IM star to choose the Sun Devils over Texas and a good way for Tierney to begin her era in Tucson.
|
64 |
65.51 |
Akesson, Jesper |
Sweden |
Transfer: Wayne State University |
|
66 |
65.24 |
Veazey, Caleb |
Dallas, TX |
Dallas Mustangs |
|
165 |
56.89 |
Repp, Grayson |
Victoria, AB |
Island Swimming |
|
239 |
52.54 |
Brown, Jacob |
Flower Mound, TX |
Dallas Mustangs |
|
362 |
45.19 |
Wasko, Joseph |
Anderson, CA |
Redding Swim Team |
|
417 |
41.80 |
Niccolucci, Sean |
Missoula, MT |
Missoula Aquatic |
Jake Reynolds and Reese Shirley Shirley is an Olympic Trials-level backstroker while Reynolds, who also played soccer in high school, has a bigger upside to him. Another swimmer with connections is Bolles’ Oscar Aldabe, whose parents swam under Don Gambrill and the Crimson Tide. "His parents created a tremendous legacy with the Crimson Tide in the `80s, says McIllquham. “More than that though, Oscar is an extremely talented and versatile swimmer who will make an impact of his own right away.
In addition to monopolizing the talent from in-state, Alabama kept a stranglehold on Romanian swimmers. Sprinter Vlad Caciuc and flyer Alex Coci will call Tuscaloosa home, as will Greek flyer Anestis Arampatzis.
"What makes this class so good is that it's top quality from top to bottom," McIlquham said. "Walking in the door, these are guys who are going to make an immediate impact for our program at the highest levels."
|
81 |
63.54 |
Arampatzis, Anestis |
Athens, Greece |
|
|
150 |
57.37 |
Reynolds, Jake |
Prattville, AL |
Montgomery YMCA |
|
168 |
56.26 |
Shirey, Reese |
Muscle Shoals, AL |
Baylor Swim Club |
|
194 |
54.58 |
Lowe, Brandon |
San Diego, CA |
College Area Swim Team |
|
203 |
54.14 |
Caciuc, Vlad |
Bogdan Voda, Romania |
|
|
228 |
52.55 |
Aldabe, Oscar |
Jacksonville, FL |
|
|
237 |
51.9 |
Coci, Alex |
Bai Mare, Romania |
|
|
503 |
32.36 |
Sosna, Josh |
Chattanooga, TN |
24 California-Santa Barbara
UCSB did just about everything necessary to extend their string of Big West Championships. The departure of breaststroker/sprinter Jeff Sudbury leaves a big hole in sprints and breaststroke, but Greg Wilson and his staff seem to have pieced together a class that should fill in nicely while also strengthening the rest of the lineup. Better still, they did with an exclusively in-state class.
Ryan Hanni and Brandon Shilling headline the group. Both are top-100 recruits capable of contributing right away. Hanni is a top-tier sprinter that will compete for free relay spots upon arrival while Shilling and Max Horrell will bolster an impressive butterfly group.
Breaststroker Walter Gault transfers in from Santa Rosa. He won’t replace Sudwell’s speed, but ensure competition for that second leg of the medley relays. Sprinter Mike Matchett and backstroker Zack Humphreys round out a class that’s strong on speed.
|
63 |
65.60 |
Hanni, Ryan |
Los Altos, CA |
Los Altos Mountain View |
|
84 |
62.95 |
Shilling, Brandon |
San Jose, CA |
Santa Clara Swim Club |
|
177 |
55.96 |
Horrell, Max |
Analy, CA |
Marin Pirates |
|
331 |
46.84 |
Gault, Walter |
Petaluma, CA |
|
|
456 |
38.97 |
Matchett, Michael |
Dana Hills, CA |
|
|
558 |
29.02 |
Humphreys, Zack |
Grass Valley, CA |
25 Louisville
After gaining on their Big East competition the past several years, the Cardinals lose a lot of points. This year’s class won’t replace them and doesn’t match Notre Dame or West Virginia, but is enough to keep them moving up. Alex Burtch and Michael Pryor are excellent mid-distance/distance pickups. Matt Schlytter gives Louisville a much-needed sprinter.
They get a versatile breaststroker in Michael Haefner who opted for the Cards over Denver, Missouri, Tennessee and Indiana. Backstroker Kevin Bandy rounds out a small, but well-rounded class.
"Overall, we feel very good about this class not only for their athletic abilities, but more importantly for their character," said U of L head coach Arthur Albiero. "That has always been priority one for our program and this group certainly brings great expectations for the future of Cardinal Swimming. They all have a burning desire to get better and we look forward to working with them."
|
88 |
62.61 |
Burtch, Alex |
Concord, IN |
Concord Swim Club |
|
107 |
61.08 |
Haefner, Michael |
Bentonville, AR |
AquaHawgs |
|
116 |
60.57 |
Schlytter, Matt |
Pointe Verda, FL |
Bolles School Sharks |
|
123 |
59.49 |
Pryor, Michael |
Jaffrey, NH |
Greenwood Memorial Swim Club |
|
198 |
54.69 |
Bandy, Kevin |
Douglas, FL |
Coral Springs Swim Club |