Towson Signs Six

A talented class of six high school swimmers have signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Towson University and compete for the Tigers’ swimming and diving team, it has been announced by Coach Pat Mead.   
Kyra Adamson and Jillian Gamble of Voorhees, N.J., Kaitlin Burke of Baltimore, Md., Rachel Lund of Manassas, Va., Melanie Rowland of Vernon Hills, Ill. and Caroline Woody of Overland Park, Kan. will join the Tiger program for the 2010-11 season.
A thumbnail look at the Tigers’ incoming recruits:
 
Kyra Adamson – Eastern H.S./Voorhees, N.J.
USS Team: Jersey Wahoos
Top Times: 1650-Yard Freestyle - 17:11.88; 1000-Yard Freestyle - 10:23.19; 500-Yard Freestyle – 5:07.11
Coach Mead Says: “Kyra is a great addition to the Tigers. She swims for John Carrol with the Jersey Wahoos, which is the same coach I had growing up. Ironically, she learned how to swim at a young age from my mother and it is great that I will have the opportunity to coach her through the end of her swimming career. Her distance background will be a great asset to our team and I am confident she will excel with our training. By seeing her swim, her body position and feel for the water is what sold me on knowing how much potential she has.”
 
Kaitlin Burke – Loch Raven H.S./Baltimore, Md.
USS Team: Loyola Blakefield Aquatic Club
Top Times: 50-Yard Freestyle – 24.54; 100-Yard Freestyle – 52.79; 200-Yard Freestyle – 1:54.32
Coach Mead Says: “Kaitlin is one of those special additions to our team. I have known her and her family for six years. I had the opportunity to coach her for a number of years and I know the potential she brings to our team. She is going to add depth to our sprint and middle distance freestyle events and her versatility in the butterfly and backstroke events are two other untapped areas. The one advantage we have is that we know each other so well. Our ability to work with each other so well is going to give her a jump start to her college career.
 
Jillian Gamble – Eastern H.S./Voorhees, N.J.
USS Team: South Jersey Aquatic Club
Top Times: 50-Yard Freestyle – 24.23; 100-Yard Freestyle – 53.99; 200-Yard Freestyle – 1:57.56
Coach Mead Says: “Jillian is coached by Peter Holcroft, who was one of my former college swimmers at the University of Delaware. He also coached Aly Hunt, who was a standout for us. Having seen Jillian at a practice, her energy and enthusiasm for wanting to improve is what sets her apart in my mind. She has tremendous work habits and has natural speed and strength. Those two attributes along with her fierce competitive spirit is what makes her a great sprinter. I expect great things from her and know she will make an immediate impact on our team.”
 
Rachel Lund – Osburn Park H.S./Manassas, Va.
USS Team: Occoquan Swimming
Top Times: 100-Yard Freestyle – 54.59; 200-Yard Freestyle – 1:58.32; 500-Yard Freestyle – 5:11.43
Coach Mead Says: “Rachel’s versatility is going to help our team tremendously next year. During the recruiting process, it became very clear that she knew what she wanted in a college and a swim program. I am so excited that she found what she was looking for at Towson. Her honesty and desire to work hard is what is going to allow her to flourish in our program.”
 
Melanie Rowland – Vernon Hills H.S./Vernon Hills, Ill.
USS Team: CATS Aquatics
Top Times: 100-Yard Freestyle – 53.45; 100-Yard Butterfly – 57.78; 500-Yard Freestyle – 5:04.99
Coach Mead Says: “Melanie is an outstanding addition to our team. The most exciting aspect of Melanie is that I am not sure which area of our team she will impact the most. She is very versatile and has such a great outlook on trying new things that I think her potential is unlimited. She is very confident and very focused with what she wants to get out of her college experience. I am just thrilled that she chose Towson.”
 
Caroline Woody – Blue Valley Northwest H.S./Overland Park, Kan.
USS Team: Kansas City Blazers
Top Times: 100-Yard Breaststroke – 1:07.14; 200-Yard Breaststroke – 2:24.04; 200-Yard Individual Medley – 2:12.42
Coach Mead Says: “From the first time I spoke to Caroline, I knew she would be a great addition to our program. She is so focused and goal-oriented with everything she does. Her passion for swimming and wanting to improve is what stood out during her recruiting trip. She is as exceptional in the classroom as she is in the pool. She is a great addition to our breaststroke and individual medley groups and I believe she is going to develop into a great leader for our team.”