West Virginia Adds 12

Coach Vic Riggs of the West Virginia swimming and diving team has announced the addition of five swimmers and one diver to the men’s squad during the first signing period.

“This class of student-athletes is one of the most talented and diverse we have had in the fall signing period,” Riggs says. “I feel this class is filled with great potential and each of these individuals contain the character and determination we have come to expect of student-athletes here at WVU. I am proud to have them join our family.”

Christopher Brill (Johannesburg, South Africa) and Nathan Cobbe (Langwarrin South, Victoria, Australia) each signed a grant-in-aid and will join the Mountaineers for the Spring 2012 semester, while Ross Glegg (Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England), James Hickey (Centerville, Ohio), Andrew Marsh (Bemus Point, N.Y.) and diver Christian Parker (Exeter, Pa.) each signed National Letters of Intent for the 2012-13 season.

Brill is currently attending Crawford College Sandton and swimming for Peter Williams of Waterborn Swimming. Brill qualified for the 2011 South African Short Course Championships and took 20th in the 100 breast (1:05.91) and 26th in the 100 free (52.54).

“Chris brings a positive attitude and excitement that I can’t wait to get into our program,” Riggs says. “His breast and IM events will be felt immediately upon his arrival. He will be an important part of our medley relays at both the dual meet and championship levels.”

A talented freestyle swimmer, Cobbe has been under the direction of Michael Bohl for St. Peter’s Lutheran College and St. Peter’s Western. In 2009, Cobbe was the Queensland 16&U Age Champion in the 400 free relay, while also earning the Victorian 16&U Age Champion title in the 100 free, 200 free and 400 free. He was also an age champion in 2006 (100 back), 2007 (100 back) and 2008 (100 free). As a 2010 team captain, Cobbe was a member of the 800 free relay team that set an Australian record for 18&U men.

“Nathan continues our strong Australian connection that has helped our program greatly,” Riggs says. “He is very talented and diverse swimmer, who can swim the 50 free to the 500 free events, along with the back, fly and 200 IM at a high level. I expect him to be an important part of our relays in the future.”

Glegg has been a two-time member of the City of Leeds 400 free relay team that has medaled at nationals. He is also a national finalist in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free and 400 free. At the 2011 British Gas ASA National Youth Championships, Glegg finished 11th in the 50 free, 14th in the 400 free, 16th in the 100 free and 18th in the 200 free.

“Ross is a very talented freestyler that will help our relays,” Riggs says. “He has the versatility to swim the sprints and the middle distance events which will add much needed depth to our program.”

Hickey currently attends Centerville High and is a two-time state championships qualifier, finishing 13th (1:57.79) in the 200 IM and 16th (53.58) in the 100 back in 2011. While swimming for the Dayton Raiders, Hickey has been a NCSA Junior National Swimming Championships qualifier and finished first in the 100 back (1:00.62) and 200 back (2:09.85) at the 2011 Ohio Senior Long Course Championships. Hickey also finished second in the 200 IM (2:16.19) at the meet.

“Jay brings a strong backstroke to our program as talented swimmer from the Dayton Raiders, coached by former WVU swimmer Gary Galbreath,” Riggs says. “I look for Jay to become part of our strong tradition of backstrokers here and am excited about his future.”

Marsh is a record holder in the 100 back, 100 free, 50 free, 200 free and 100 fly at Jamestown High, while also swimming for Scott Vanderzell of the Tonawanda Titans. Marsh is a three-time state championships qualifier and finished second in the 100 back (50.96) and fifth in the 100 free (46.44) at the 2011 championships. The three-time MVP was also a NICSA All-American in the 100 back in 2011. With Townawanda, Marsh has been named the most outstanding performer three times and finished seventh in the 50 back (23.48) at the 2011 NCSA Junior National Championships.

“Andrew is a talented sprinter that will only get better in college,” Riggs says. “He is a strong young man who is dedicated and willing to do what it takes to succeed. Having him join our sprint program will immediately help our relays and sprint events."

Parker comes to WVU as one of the top divers in Pennsylvania as a three-time state qualifier for Exeter Senior High. He finished sixth (497.00 points) and seven (428.40 points) at the 2010 and 2011 state championships, respectively. Parker is a six-time Berks County Swimming Association diving champion and holds the high school record for both the 6-dive and 11-dive programs. The 2011 NISCA All-American is also a two-time Central Penn League champion and two-time Central Penn League most valuable diver, as well as being named the 2011 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Winter Athlete of the Year. While diving for Todd Michael of Red Dragon, Parker finished seventh (420.95 points) on the 3-meter board at the 2011 USA Diving Age Group National Championships, while finishing 13th on the 3-meter (404.50 points) and 19th on the 1-meter (346.80 points) at the 2011 USA Diving Summer Junior Zone A Championships.

“Christian is a talented diver with the ability to develop into one of the top divers in the conference,” diving coach Michael Grapner says. “Christian will help set a high standard for the Mountaineer divers, both present and future.”




Coach Vic Riggs of the West Virginia swimming and diving team has announced the addition of five swimmers and one diver to the women’s squad during the first signing period.

“This men’s and women’s class is one of the most talented and diverse we have had in the fall signing period,” Riggs says. “I feel this class is filled with great potential and each of these individuals contain the character and determination we have come to expect of student-athletes here at WVU. I am proud to have them join our family.”

Joining the women’s squad in 2012-13 by way of National Letters of Intent include Morgan Emter (Mason, Ohio), Kelsey Frantz (Englewood, Fla.), Natalie Johnsen (Upper St. Clair, Pa.), Courtney Miller (Buckhannon, W.Va.), Lucy Sanderson (Plymouth, England) and diver Lindsay Schmidt (Warrington, Pa.).

Emter joins the Mountaineers as a three-time Ohio state championships qualifier for Mason High, as well as a member of the Cincinnati Marlins. The three-time first team all-Greater Miami Conference member has been named an NISCA All-American in the 100 breast twice after finishing fourth (1:05.46) in 2010 and fifth (1:05.39) in 2011 at the state championships. While with the Marlins, Emter has qualified for the NCSA Junior National Swimming Championships, where she finished 20th (2:19.55) in the 100 breast in 2011.

“Morgan almost jumped through the phone when she told me she was going to be a Mountaineer,” Riggs says. “I look forward to her bringing that excitement along with her breaststroke talent to our program.”

Frantz attends Charlotte High and swims for Steve Brown of the Sarasota YMCA Sharks. As a sophomore, her only swimming season at Charlotte, Frantz took sixth at states in the 500 free (4:58) and she currently holds the 200 free (1:53.08) school record. For the Sharks in 2011, Frantz had a successful appearance at the YMCA Long Course Championships by finishing 11th in the 200 fly (2:20.37), 11th in the 400 free (4:31.02), 17th in the 200 free (2:09.52) and 23rd in the 100 free (1:00.18). In 2010, she swam in the Southern Zone Long Course Championships, placing second in the 400 free and 800 free, fifth in the 200 free and seventh in the 50 free. She also made appearances in 2008 and 2009. Frantz was selected to attend the Southern Zone Select Camp in Kentucky.

“Kelsey continues our streak of recruiting strong freestylers from Sarasota and Coach Brown,” Riggs says. “Along with her freestyle, she has a very strong butterfly. She is a very dedicated individual who I believe is going to thrive in the college environment and our program.”

Johnsen swims for Tom Donati with Upper St. Clair High and Upper St. Clair Swim Club. At the 2011 Pennsylvania state championships meet, Johnsen was a member of the 200 medley relay that finished in ninth place, while finishing fifth individually in the 100 fly (56.87). At the 2011 WPIAL Championships, Johnsen finished first in the 100 fly (57.22) and 15th in the 100 free (54.22).

“Natalie comes from a strong program coached by Tom Donati at Upper St. Clair,” Riggs says. “She is a very talented butterflier who we both feel will only get better in the future as she develops here at WVU.”

Arguably one of the top swimmers in West Virginia, Miller is in her fourth season swimming for Buckhannon Upshur High, while also swimming for her father, Dennis Miller, with the Randolph Area Y Swim Team. Miller is a three-year qualifier and two-time state champion in the 100 back, finishing with a state record time of 57.97 last season. Miller is a three-time West Virginia state high school All-Tournament team member and was named Big 10 Conference Swimmer of the Year last season. As a four-time YMCA All-American, Miller was also recently named a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. At the 2011 YMCA Short Course Championships, Miller placed second in the 50 back (30.56) and eighth in the 100 back (1:06.76). She also finished first in the 100 back at the West Virginia Long Course Championships and the West Virginia Short Course Championships in 2011.

“Courtney is a Mountaineer. She is from West Virginia and will bring those characteristics to our program,” Riggs says. “Being the state’s flagship university it is always important to me to have the states swimmers and divers keep their talent in the state. I'm glad she chose to do so. She is a talented backstroker who will come in and be a strong addition to our program.”

Schmidt will be following footsteps as her mother, Tami, was a Mountaineer diving in the 1980s. Schmidt is a two-time state diving qualifier for Central Bucks High, finishing third (442.35 points) on the 1-meter in 2011 and ninth (379.10 points) in 2010. Schmidt has also been a member of Blue Dolphin Diving for Candace Gottlieb and finished 19th on the 3-meter board (325.05 points) at the 2011 USA Diving Summer Junior A Championships.

“Lindsay’s background and experience in diving will help make WVU a strong contender in diving as she was born a Mountaineer,” diving coach Michael Grapner says. “She has high expectations of being admitted into the Honors College and fulfilling her duties as a Mountaineer diver in the classroom and on the boards. We are very lucky to have Lindsay join our team in the fall.”

Sanderson swims for Kelly College, the top ranked United Kingdom high school for swimming. She holds the London area record in the 100 fly and won the Edinburg International Championships in the 100 fly (1:03.22) and 200 fly (2:19.13). At the 2011 British Gas ASA National Youth Championships, Sanderson finished 23rd in the 100 fly and 63rd in the 200 fly.

“Lucy is coming to WVU with a wealth of international experience and will join a strong butterfly group,” Riggs says. “I’m looking for her to contribute immediately at both the dual meet and championship level.”