UMass Men Signs Two

UMass men's swimming coach Russ Yarworth has announced the signings of Derek Hursch and Chris Inglis to National Letters of Intent. Hursch, from Rochelle Park, N.J., and Inglis, from Mashpee, Mass., are both strong freestylers and IMers that will join the 11-time Atlantic 10 champion Minutemen for the 2010-11 season.

Derek Hursch

Hursch is a four-time Bergen County High School Champion and holds two county records, in the 200 free and 500 free. He made Junior National cuts in the 200 meter free and the 400 meter free. Hursch also made the US Open cut in the 800 meter free.

Hursch holds personal best times of 46.74 in the 100 free, 1:39.96 in the 200 free, 4:31.44 in the 500 free, 9:15.81 in the 1000 free, 1:52.90 in the 200 IM, and 4:03.30 in the 400 IM.

"Derek will have an immediate impact on the program and on the Atlantic 10 Conference," Yarworth said. "He already has US Open cuts and is able to swim any event from distance freestyle to the IM's. He is a tremendously talented young man who will be a team leader in and out of the pool for the next four years."

Chris Inglis

Inglis will come to UMass as a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American in 2008-09 and a USA Swimming Winter Juniot National Qualifier in 2009. He placed third in the New England 15-19 age group championships. Inglis later placed sixth at the July 2009 New England Open Championships.

Inglis holds personal best times of 1:43.00 in the 200 free, 4:36.87 in the 500 free, 9:35.33 in the 1000 free, 59.84 in the 100 breast, 2:10.93 in the 200 breast, 1:54.76 in the 200 IM, and 4:08.18 in the 400 IM.

"Chris is a great prospect for us," Yarworth said. "An awesome all-around swimmer with a 4.0 high school GPA, he is coming here to major in engineering and help us continue to be a power in the Atlantic 10."

The Minutemen continue their 2009-10 season on Friday when they begin three days of competition at the Terrier Invitational hosted by Boston University.