Truman State Adds 21 to 2012 Class

On the heels of two first-year head coaches classes were announced comes a third.  Truman head swimming coach Ed Pretre has announced the signing of 21 high school seniors as part of the 2012 incoming freshman class.  It is an important class for the Bulldogs who are trying to rebuild following Mark Gole's mid-season departure as head coach in 2010. 
 
Pretre, who just completed his first season at Truman, believes this class – comprised of 12 men and nine women – will serve as a key step in helping Truman return to top-tier status at the NCAA Division II men’s and women’s championships once again.
 
“We are very excited about the athletes we have coming in,” Pretre said. “Not only have they excelled in the pool, but they have excelled in the classroom and as leaders within their communities.”
 
On the women’s side, six of the nine incoming women posted times in high school that would have qualified as 2012 NCAA “B” cut times, while all nine recorded at least one time that would have placed in the top eight in last season’s New South Intercollegiate Swim Championships. Highlighting the women’s class is Adrian Rudd (Danville, Ky.), who enters with 57.00 100-fly and 2:05 200-fly marks, while Evyn Spencer (O’Fallon, Mo.), Kristin Van Oost (Elgin, Ill.), Taylor Voelker (St. Louis), Ashley Shanel (St. Charles, Ill.), Brynn Guardado (Kansas City), Shannon Rempe (Ballwin, Mo.), Meghan Senne (Lincoln, Neb.), and Melanie Wilkes (Manchester, Mo.) round out the class.
 
Meanwhile, the Truman men will add a dozen swimmers to its roster, headlined by Columbia, Mo.-native Levi Hanks, who posted a 1:41 200-free and a 4:36 500-free in high school. Also joining the Bulldog program are Alec Morgan (Wildwood, Mo.), Patrick Fountain (St. Peters, Mo.), Nick Barabolak (Elmhurst, Ill.), Josh Daminato (Wildwood, Mo.), Ben DeVilbiss (Lee’s Summit, Mo.), George Dowdy (Wildwood, Mo.), Nick Giffen (Morton Grove, Ill.), Conner John (Columbia, Mo.), Alex Pfiffner (Dubuque, Iowa), Tim Senholtz (St. George, Utah), and Nick Ramm (Omaha, Neb.).
 
The Bulldog men’s and women’s swimming programs will begin their respective 2012-13 regular seasons in mid-September with the Purple and White intrasquad meet.