Men's Recruiting: #5 - Virginia

Amid May’s flurry of hirings and firings was a 227-word press release that began, “Virginia head swimming coach Mark Bernardino has announced that Chip Kline has been promoted to associate head coach.” “Associate Head Coach” is the reward you get after landing a recruiting class that ensures your boss’ place in the top ten.”

That’s exactly what this class does for Head Coach Mark Bernardino and the Cavaliers.

It starts with Matt Houser. The Greenville, North Carolina native has times among the top twenty of this year’s incoming class in nine, count ‘em nine, different events. Like prep teammate Lauren Perdue, he spurned in-state North Carolina for the Cavaliers. While Perdue’s choice was an easy one (with parents and a sister there), Houser found himself deciding between Indiana, Georgia, and the Tarheels. In the end though, the decision wasn’t all that tough. Bernardino, Kline, and assistants Doak Finch and Katie Robinson have staked out the Eastern Seaboard and ensured that virtually every recruit between Philly and Gainesville has UVA on their list

Matt Murray’s signing shows that UVA isn’t afraid to go into Stanford’s backyard for top student-athletes. Kline made a tremendous impression when he made a brief trip to Cali to meet Murray’s family and watch the CIF Championships.

“That action really stood out to me and my family,” he explained. “Chip was very genuine and it felt like he was interested in me and not just how great of an asset I would be for the team.” It was a welcome change to some coaches who Murray felt treated recruiting as the business it is. “I felt very comfortable, relaxed and not pressured to take a trip.”

The Cavaliers add some versatility with the signings of Brady Fox, Thomas Casey, Justin Ashcraft and Nick Montes de Oca. Fox (backstroke) and Casey (breaststroke) should prove to be NCAA Qualifiers sooner rather than later. Ashcraft and Nathan Vredeveld are both excellent backstrokers, but may find a quicker path to the lineup in the IM and mile.

Chances are you haven’t heard much from the rest of the class, but chances are you will. Montes de Oca, who is already training in Charlottesville hasn’t lifted a weight yet. Michael Crawley is a sleeper whose lack of background gives him tremendous upside. Even Kevin Marsteller, the most accomplished of the group, has only scratched the surface of what he can do. “He came on at the end of the season and really surprised people with his performances at the Pennsylvania state championship meet,” explains Bernardino. “He has yet to really dedicate himself on a year-round basis strictly to swimming. We think he is going to improve in leaps and bounds during his collegiate years.”

Should the Cavaliers be able to capitalize on these guys, they could make a similar leap – into the top five. If so, UVA will have to come up with another title for Kline.

9	76.53	Houser, Matt	Greenville, NC	Greenville Swim Club
41	68.44	Murray, Matthew	Saratoga, CA	Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics
47	67.36	Fox, Brady	North Bethesda, MD	Rockville Montgomery Swim Club
61	65.63	Casey, Thomas	Suffield, CT	SoNoCo Swim Club
67	65.21	Marsteller, Kevin	York, PA	West Shore YMCA
99	61.76	Vredeveld, Nathan	Chattanooga, TN	Baylor Swim Club
127	59.16	Ashcraft, Justin	Charlotte, NC	Team Charlotte Swimming
163	56.95	Roop, Greg	Chattanooga, TN	Baylor Swim Club
188	55.36	Montes de Oca, Nicholas	Orange, VA	Battlefield Area Star Swimmers
345	45.89	Crawley, Michael	Richmond, VA	NOVA of Virginia