The Florida swimming and diving program announced the addition of four student-athletes to the 2014-15 freshman class. Andrew Brady, Chelsea Lawson, Paige Scheriger and Mark Szaranek will join the Gators next fall.
"I am real pleased with the group because it fills needs for both teams," Head Coach Gregg Troy said. "The two men and two women coming in for next year are all very talented. On the women's side, we added one of the world's best young backstrokers in Chelsea and a very raw and talented breaststroker in Paige. Both of them have a ton of potential. Mark is one of the best all-around young swimmers in the world, and compares to (current senior and 18-time All-American) Marcin Cieslak when he arrived on campus. Andrew is a high school All-American in the middle distance events and is also very good."
Szaranek is a Scottish age group champion and holder of seven Scottish national age group records, many of which once belonged to four-time All-American and current UF sophomore Dan Wallace. In 2013, Szaranek earned silver and bronze (200 IM-2:02.49) at the European Junior Championships in Poland and represented Great Britain at the World Junior Championships in Dubai. In 2012, Szaranek was a semifinalist at the 2012 British Olympic trials in the 200 IM (2:05.65). Szaranek also competed at the 2011 Youth Commonwealth games, winning silver and bronze.
In addition, Szaranek is the British Junior short course record holder in the 100 fly and the 200 IM, and is a member of the Scottish Senior Gold Squad. He boasts top times of 2:02.49 in the 200 IM, 4:30.73 in the 400 IM, 54.27 in the 100 fly, 2:03.73 in the 200 fly, 51.64 in the 100 free and 1:53.21 in the 200 free. Szaranek attended Auchmuty High School and trained with the Carnegie Swim Club under the tutelage of his father, John.
Lawson is the Scottish National Age Record holder for 17-year olds with a 2:15.38 in the 200 long course meter backstroke and is a member of the Scottish Senior Gold Squad. Her second best event is the 100 back, and her career low is a 1:04.03 from last year's National Youth Championships.
Furthermore, Lawson owns the Scottish 14-year old age group record in the 200m back long course and the 15-year old age group record in the 200m back short course. Lawson placed fifth in the 200m backstroke and sixth in the 100m backstroke at the British Youth Championships in 2011 and qualified for British Trials in 2012 in the 100m and 200m backstroke. Lawson trained with Szaranek at the Carnegie Swim Club
Brady was an automatic high school All-American in the 200 and 500 freestyle at Point Loma High School in San Diego, Calif. Brady competed in the 2013 US National Championship in the 400 freestyle. He trained with the North Coast Aquatics under Jeff Pease.
Brady owns career lows of 1:39.20 in the 200-yard freestyle and 4:24.71 in the 500-yard freestyle. In long course mete competition, Brady boasts career bests of 1:53.87 in the 200 free and 3:59.35 in the 400 free.
Scheriger hails from Hendersonville, Tenn., attended Pope John Paul H.S. and trained with Excel Aquatics. Scheriger competed at the 2013 USA Swimming Junior National Championships, registering times of 1:14.34 in the 100m breaststroke and 2:38.44 in the 200m breaststroke. Scheriger's best 100-yard breaststroke is a time of 1:05.07 and her top 200-yard breaststroke is a time of 2:17.76.
