George Washington head swimming and diving coach James Winchester has added seven student-athletes to the incoming Class of 2020 for the men’s squad.
Winchester adds a total of nine newcomers ahead of his second season at the helm after Shawn Lemarie (Naples, Florida/T2 Aquatics) - CollegeSwimming.com's 24th-ranked Florida recruit and 276th overall recruit - and Andrew Cho (Palo Alto, California/Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics) - CollegeSwimming.com's 36th-ranked California recruit and 210th overall recruit - were announced in December during the early signing period.
“We are very excited to welcome these nine additions to our program for the 2016-17 season,” said Winchester. “The potential of this class cannot be underestimated and has the opportunity to elevate our position in the conference immediately. Each of the nine newcomers has the opportunity to score at the A-10 Championships as freshmen, and will add to a talented returning group.”
Mitch Barrow
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
High School: Saint Ignatius College Preparatory
Club Team: North Bay Aquatics
Club Coaches: Don Swartz and Ken DeMont
Accomplishments: NCSA Junior National qualifier in the 100 and 200 backstroke and 100 butterfly…2015 CCS Scholastic Champion for SI Men’s Swimming and Diving…Two-time Scarsdale Swim and Dive Male MVP…2014 MCAL Champion for Redwood Men’s Swimming and Diving…Nu-Finmen Dr. Martin Luther King High Point recipient…213th-ranked recruit in California by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 200 Backstroke (1:52.59), 100 Backstroke (52.54), 100 Butterfly (52.59), 200 IM (1:59.89)
Why I chose George Washington: Simply put, the opportunity to study what I love in the capital of the free world is a once in a lifetime opportunity. GW offers me the chance to grow not only academically and athletically, but more importantly, to discover what's going to bring fulfillment to my life after college. I can't wait to call GW home!
Chose GW over: Johns Hopkins University, Santa Clara University, Colgate University
Coach Winchester on Barrow: “Living in California but originally from Australia, Mitch is going to bring a strong dynamic personality to our program. When I met Mitch and his family, I knew he would be a great fit for GW, and with scoring times in the backstrokes, will make an impact early.”
Alex Cronin
Hometown: Jupiter, Florida
High School: Jupiter High School
Club Team: Jupiter Dragons Swim Team
Club Coach: Kiril Zahariev
Accomplishments: All-American in 500 freestyle…Placed third in 500 free at 2015 Florida High School State Championships…Posted four high school records…Named Scholastic All-American..22nd-ranked recruit in Florida, 264th-ranked recruit overall by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 1,650 Freestyle, 200 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle
Why I chose George Washington: George Washington has an amazing combination of athletics and academics. The coaching staff is fantastic and very enthusiastic. When I visited, the team made me feel so welcome. Washington, D.C., is a great city and GW has so many connections and opportunities for internships that will help prepare me for my career after college.
Chose GW over: Xavier, New York University, Villanova
Coach Winchester on Cronin: “When Alex left campus, our men’s team felt very strongly that we needed to get Alex in GW colors. When he committed, I was ecstatic. I love Alex’s drive to improve, and with times right on our school records, Alex will have an opportunity to leave his legacy here at GW.”
Max Forstenhaeusler
Hometown: Moegglingen, Germany
High School: Wirtschaftsgymnasium Schwaebisch Gmuend
Club Team: Schwimmverein Schwaebisch Gmuend
Club Coach: Patrick Engel
Accomplishments: Represented Germany at the First European Games in Baku 2015 and helped the 4x1 freestyle relay team take fifth…2014 German National Age Group Champion in 200 IM…B-finalist at LCM and SCM National Championships…South German Age Group Champion in 100 free, 100 butterfly and 200 IM…2015 Regional Champion (Baden-Wuerttemberg) in 50m fly and 200m IM…2015 Regional age group Champion in 50m, 100m, and 200m fly, in the 100m breast, the 200m and 400m free and 200 IM...129th-ranked overall recruit by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 100 Butterfly, 200 Butterfly, 200 IM, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle
Why I chose George Washington: I chose GW because I think for me it has the perfect combination of academics and athletics.
Coach Winchester on Forstenhaeusler: “Max is one of the top sprinters in the class of 2016, and is a game-changer for our program. With times faster than our school records, Max will influence our relays and freestyle records for years to come. Outside of the pool, Max is a high attaining student, and I know he will be incredibly successful in both arenas here at GW.”
Kyle Hrabovsky
Hometown: Sewickley, Pennsylvania
High School: Quaker Valley
Club Team: Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club
Club Coach: Tom Donati
Accomplishments: 2015 PIAA team state champion…2016 PIAA 100 breaststroke runner-up…Five-time district champion…Broke 200 freestyle relay and 100 breaststroke district records…USA Swimming Futures qualifier…83rd-ranked recruit in Pennsylvania by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke, 50 Freestyle, 50 Breaststroke, 200 IM
Why I chose GW: I chose George Washington because it is a phenomenal academic institution that has a lot to offer me in the classroom as well as in the pool. I can't wait to see what the future holds! Go Colonials!
Chose GW over: Kenyon College, George Mason, Loyola (Maryland)
Coach Winchester on Hrabovsky: “Kyle is going to add some key depth to our breaststroke group, and will be able to help early in the dual meet season in those events. Kyle has been making some great progressions in his times, and his personality will add to the culture of our team.”
Karan Mahadev
Hometown: Manchester, United Kingdom
High School: Altrincham Grammar School (UK), Bolles School (FL)
Club Team: Bolles School Sharks
Club Coach: Jon Sakovich
Accomplishments: US National High School Championship Team…British Gas National Championships qualifier…Cheshire and Lancashire County Medal winner.
Best events: 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke, 200IM
Why I chose George Washington: George Washington is a rare amalgamation of extraordinary education, insightful opportunities and a great team!
Chose GW over: Babson College, Indiana University, NYU
Coach Winchester on Mahadev: “Karan is another breaststroker who will be able to contribute early. A teammate of GW commit Vladimir Paredesand a product of the Bolles School program, Karan will be a great fit for GW in the classroom and in the pool.”
Vladimir Paredes
Hometown: Guayaquil, Ecuador
High School: The Bolles School
Club Team: Bolles School Sharks
Club Coach: Jon Sakovich
Accomplishments: 2015 World Junior Championship Team…2015 Junior South American Games Team…National Champion in 2013, 2014, and 2015…2013 Junior South American Team and placed fifth in the 200 Freestyle…681st-ranked recruit by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 200 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle
Why I chose George Washington: I like the business environment and the topics that are discussed around campus! I also believe D.C. will be the perfect city to develop myself in my college years.
Chose GW over: Villanova University, Loyola Maryland
Coach Winchester on Paredes: “Coming from the Bolles School program, Vlad will be a great fit for us. With international experience representing his country at the FINA Junior World Championships, we look forward to developing Vlad toward his international ambitions at the World Championship and Olympic level.”
Emils Pone
Hometown: Jurmala, Latvia
High School: Riga State Gymnasium No. 1
Club Team: BJSS Ridznene - ZIEP
Club Coaches: Galina Broka, Jelena Solovjova
Accomplishments: Member of National Junior Team…Qualifier for European Junior Championships 2014…Medalist at Baltic States Championships…Latvian Junior Champion…Latvian Champion…Latvian record holder in 4x50 freestyle relay and 4x100 medley relay…506th-ranked recruit by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 50 Butterfly, 100 Butterfly, 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke, 200 IM
Why I chose George Washington: I chose George Washington because it offers one of the nation’s best combinations of academics and Division I athletics while being located in the capital of the United States. It is a dream that has come true for me!
Chose GW over: Valparaiso University
Coach Winchester on Pone: “We are very excited to welcome Emils to our program. With international experience, Emils has some high goals for his time here at GW. Emils will be challenging for relay spots early on, and should make a great impact at the A-10 level."
“[Assistant] Coach Jonsson has worked incredibly hard to put together this class, and I am incredibly appreciative of his hard work,” said Winchester. “To land four of the top-300 recruits is a significant achievement, and puts us in a position to have one of the best classes in the nation. This class has a lot of potential to put us in a position to be a contender within the Atlantic 10, and our staff looks forward to developing these student-athletes inside and outside of the pool.”
