The William & Mary men's swimming team will add five outstanding freshmen to the roster this fall, Director of Swimming Matt Crispino '02 announced today. The quintet of newcomers represent a total of 18 championship-level swims (12 A finals, six B finals) for the defending CAA Champion Tribe, who already bring back more finals appearances than any other conference team.
"We are excited for these five individuals to join the ranks of Tribe Swimming," said Crispino. "We were aiming to find a small, select group of very talented individuals who would make an immediate impact. I think we accomplished that with these five men. Each one should play an important role in the pool, and each one should add value to the program in the classroom and community."
Eric Grimes - 6-2, Free/IM
Louisville, Ky./duPont Manual
Lakeside Seahawks
500 Free - 4:29.75
1650 Free - 15:34.92
200 IM - 1:50.01
400 IM - 3:54.75
Prep: 2014 Prep All-American ... Won all three of his events at the Kentucky SCM championships in 2015, winning the 500 free, 200 IM, and 400 IM ... Holds state records on all three SCM free relays ... Also state record-holder in the 400 medley, 400 free, and 800 free relays on the 50m LCM course ... Helped Manual win the combined state championships all four years ... Junior National Finalist in 2014 ... Won the 400 free at the Southern Zone Championship in 2013 ... Special Olympics Volunteer ... Member of the French Club and the French Honor Society.
Personal: Son of Steve and Laurie Grimes ... Brother, Ben, swam at Amherst ... Sister, Ellie, is a junior swimmer at Pennsylvania ... Cousin, William Nisbet, is in his final year in the Public Policy program at W&M ... Enjoys running, triathlons, and archery ... Undecided as to his collegiate major.
Miacoll Gomez - 5-5, Fly/IM
Richmond, Va./Godwin
NOVA of Virginia
200 Fly - 1:48.90
100 Fly - 50.13
200 IM - 1:51.95
400 IM - 3:58.06
Prep: Junior National qualifier ... Swam in the Colombian National team program as a younger athlete ... Multiple top national age-group rankings, including 11th in the 200y fly and sixth nationally in the 100m and 200m fly in 2012 ... Was the high-point swimmer at the New Jersey Junior Olympics three straight years from 2010-12 ... Officer in the Spanish Club.
Personal: Son of Alcides Gomez and Clara Noriega ... Brother, Jonathan, was the MAAC Swimmer of the Championships in 2014 at St. Peter's and currently swims for SMU ... Plans to major in biology.
Joey Rento - 5-8, Free/Fly
Newport News, Va./Hampton Roads Academy
Coast Guard Blue Dolphins
100 Fly - 50.54
200 Fly - 1:50.21
200 Back - 1:50.45
500 Free - 4:37.30
Prep: Junior National qualifier ... Academic All-American as a senior ... Runner-up at the Virginia Independent Schools' Championships in the 100 fly as a junior ... First-team all-conference and state qualifier all four years ... Graduated cum laude ... Vice President of the Honor Council ... Member of the French Club ... Volunteer with Operation Smile.
Personal: Son of Richard Rento and Lisa Casanova ... Mother ran track at Brown ... Father swam and played water polo at Brown ... Sister, Nicole, also swam at Brown ... Enjoys watching movies, playing soccer, and military history ... Undecided as to his collegiate major.
Brooks Peterson - 5-11, Breast
Carrollton, Va./Smithfield
Southeastern Virginia Aquatics
100 Breast - 56.80
200 Breast - 2:03.10
200 IM - 1:55.15
Prep: Prep All-American ... Junior National Qualifier in both SCY and LCM ... USA Swimming Scholastic All-American ... Captain of the Smithfield team ... Volunteer with the Special Olympics ... Member of the BETA Club.
Personal: Son of Ron and Kathy Peterson ... Mother was an All-American field hockey player at Radford ... Father played baseball at Radford ... Grandfather, Ron Peterson, was an All-American fast-pitch softball player and was inducted into the Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame ... Grandfather, Lee Knupp, coached W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax to a pair of state championships and was inducted into the Washington, D.C., Baseball Hall of Fame ... Enjoys hiking, cooking, and surfing ... Undecided as to his collegiate major.
Ramzy Ali - 6-4, Free
Thalwil, Switzerland/Zurich International School
Limmat Sharks
50m Free (SCM) - 23.19
100m Free (SCM) - 53.04
Prep: Three-time MVP for Zurich Interational School ... Named honor roll in three of four years.
Personal: Son of Kevin Ali and Hanaa Emara ... Mother was a synchronized swimmer for Egypt ... Enjoys drumming, music composition, basketball, and soccer ... Tri-lingual, conversant in English, Arabic, and German ... Plans to major in business.
William & Mary Director of Swimming Matt Crispino '02 announced the addition of eight freshmen to the women's swimming roster today, welcoming the standouts to the 2015-16 squad. The Tribe adds 19 championship-quality swims (13 A-finalist, 6 B-finalist) to the pool as it seeks its second Colonial Athletic Association Championships this winter.
"We were hoping to attract a select group of student-athletes who are not only fast," said Crispino, "but also embody the core values that make Tribe Swimming special. I think you will see an immediate impact from the Class of 2019, and that impact will be felt across all strokes and all distances. The arrival of these eight women is an important step in the evolution of our program toward becoming a CAA championship contender with a strong national presence."
Maria Oceguera - 5-8, Free/Fly
New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle
Badger Swim Club
500 Free - 4:54.81
1000 Free - 10:01.90
1650 Free - 16:48.95
200 Fly - 2:01.62
Prep: Scholastic All-American ... Qualified for Speedo Junior Nationals in 2014 ... Set five records for New Rochelle High ... Senior Mets Women's champion ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
Personal: Daughter of Lourdes and Jose Oceguera ... Plans to major in biology.
Morgan Smith - 5-7, Free/IM
Verona, N.J./Montclair Kimberley Academy
Cougar Aquatic Team
500 Free - 4:51.95
1000 Free - 10:01.91
1650 Free - 16:44.70
400 IM - 4:25.50
Prep: Scholastic All-American ... NISCA Prep All-American ... Junior National Qualifier ... Winter National Qualifier ... Swam for Team USA juniors at the 2013 World Maccabiah Games, taking seven medals ... All-state in the 500 free each of the past three years ... N.J. State Championships record-holder in the 500 free ... Named the County Swimmer of the Year as a senior ... Earned cum laude honors on the National Latin Exam in 2013, improving to magna cum laude in 2014 ... Member of the varsity math team each of the last two years.
Personal: Daughter of Robynne and Kevin Smith ... Mother swam for Syracuse ... Enjoys photography and baking ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Annie Miller - 5-9, Free
Houston, Texas/Duschesne Academy
Dads Club Swim Team
50 Free - 22.82
100 Free - 51.18
100 Fly - 57.43
Prep: 2016 Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 50m free ... USA Swimming Senior National and Junior National qualifier in the 50 free ... NCSA Junior National qualifier in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly ... Finalist in the 50 free ... Scholastic All-American ... Texas Private School's Swimmer of the Year in 2015 ... State champion in the 50 free each of the last two years and in the 100 free as a senior as well ... National Honor Society ... Vice President of the Student Government as a sophomore and as a junior.
Personal: Daughter of Carol and Chris Miller ... Sister, Jaimie, is a junior on the W&M swim team ... Enjoys baking, photography, and traveling ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Claire Williams - 5-5, Breast/IM
Apex, N.C./Apex
YMCA of the Triangle Area
100 Breast - 1:02.86
200 Breast - 2:15.91
200 IM - 2:07.06
Prep: U.S. Open qualifier in the 200 breast ... Junior National qualifier in both breaststrokes ... Scholastic All-American ... Finalist at the YMCA Short Course Nationals all four years of high school in both breaststrokes ... Finalist at the North Carolina 4A state championships ... National Honor Society ... President of the Spanish National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Paige and Thomas Williams ... Sister, Kathryn, swims for Davidson ... Enjoys sketching and painting ... Plans to major in psychology or Spanish.
Emily Schroeder - 5-9, Free
West Windsor, N.J./Peddie
Peddie Aquatics Association
200 Free - 1:50.63
100 Free - 51.70
50 Free - 23.91
Prep: Scholastic All-American ... Junior National qualifier ... NISCA Prep All-American ... Named all-state all four years ... As a senior, took third in the 100 free and won the 200 free relay at the Eastern Interscholastic Swimming Championships ... Named to the Honor Roll seven out of eight terms, including four on the High Honor Roll ... Volunteer with the Special Olympics.
Personal: Daughter of Eva Marie and Brian Schroeder ... Enjoys baking, college football, and spending time with family and friends ... Plans to major in business.
Brooke Bruno - 5-7, Breast/IM
Media, Pa./The Shipley School
Suburban Seahawks
200 Breast - 2:20.37
100 Breast - 1:06.08
200 IM - 2:07.55
Prep: Scholastic All-American ... Junior National qualifier ... Winter National qualifier ... Set the league record for Shipley in the 200 IM, 100 breast, and 100 fly ... DECA team state qualifier in 2013 and 2014.
Personal: Daughter of Danielle Mackey ... Mother swam at Villanova ... Enjoys naps, singing in the shower, movies, and eating ice cream ... Plans to major in business.
Nina Lesser - 5-2, Free
Centerport, N.Y./Harborfields
Hauppauge Swim Club
50 Free - 23.98
100 Free - 53.42
Prep: Scholastic All-American ... Junior Nationals qualifier ... State qualifier all four years ... Named all-state in three events each of her last three years ... County champion in the 50 free as a junior and a senior ... Seven in the state in the 50 free in 2015 ... National Merit Scholar Commended ... AP Scholar with Distinction ... National Honor Society ... National Music Honor Society ... National Italian Honor Society ... Treasurer of the Environmental Club ... President of the Italian Club ... Played both the clarinet and the bass drum in all three of Harborfields' bands (marching, symphony, and wind ensemble) ... Volunteer with the Italian National Olympic Committee.
Personal: Daughter of Cathy and Arnold Lesser ... Father wrestled for Columbia ... Enjoys scuba diving, travel, music, and reading ... Plans to double-major in environmental and marine sciences.
Katie Sell - 5-7, Back/Fly
Fredericksburg, Va./Mountain View
Nation's Capital Swim Club
100 Fly - 57.12
100 Back - 57.77
200 Back - 2:07.05
Prep: Monroe Scholar at W&M ... Scholastic All-American ... Junior National qualifier ... Championship finalist at the Virginia 5A state championships in the 100 back each of the last two years ... Also a championship finalist in the 100 fly as a junior ... Represented Virginia at the USA Swimming Eastern Zona Diversity Summit Conference ... National Merit Scholar Commended ... National Hispanic Recognition Scholar ... National Honor Society ... President of the Spanish Honor Society ... President of the Teen Alliance for Safe Swimming.
Personal: Daughter of Anna Yonker-Sell and Scott Sell ... Enjoys traveling, snorkeling, reading, and spending time with friends ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
