McKendree University head swimming and diving coach Jimmy Tierney has announced the initial signees for the 2016-17 inaugural season for the men's swimming and diving programs. A total of eight student-athletes make up the inaugural group of signees for the Bearcats.
"I am extremely honored and privileged to announce the first ever men's signing class for swimming and diving at McKendree University." stated Tierney, "We made a conscious effort to target student-athletes with great character who also have tremendous leadership qualities to help develop this team into a very respected and admired program. The group we have assembled so far will allow us to make great strides forward in building a championship program. I am very impressed with their talents and potential in the pool and in the classroom. These future Bearcats will represent this community very well as student-athletes as well as good citizens. I can't wait to get in the pool with these motivated athletes to start our journey in the NCAA swimming world. These young men will join our fall signee for the women in Sydney Rey. We hope to add more to both programs in the coming weeks."
Tyler Hayes (Hometown: Lubbock, TX)
Coronado High School
Backstroke and IM
Personal Records:
100 Back -- 53.41
200 Back -- 1:53.87
200 IM -- 1:58.55
400 IM -- 4:10.01
500 Free -- 4:51.96
100 Fly -- 53.63
Coach Tierney on Hayes: "Tyler just completed a very historically successful high school career in Lubbock, TX, winning numerous district and conference championships. He comes from a swimming family as both parents, April and Trey, have had a hand in his development as versatile and talented swimmer. We will be utilize Tyler in multiple events but primarily backstroke, free, and IM."
Peyton Shafto (Hometown: Granite Bay, CA)
Granite Bay High School
Sprinter
Personal Records:
50 Free -- 21.53
100 Fly -- 51.43
100 Free -- 47.45
200 Free -- 1:47.77
Coach Tierney on Shafto: "Peyton was the first male to commit to us so he holds a special place in Bearcat history. He will be a tremendous fit for our school and swim team. Peyton will provide us excellent speed in both free and fly, and be an asset on several of our relays. He is a member of the Sierra Marlins Swim Team in California under Scott Shea."
Kyle Shahenian (Hometown: Surprise, AZ)
Dysart High School
Distance Freestyle, IM
Personal Records:
500 Free -- 5:09.92
200 Free -- 1:55.45
100 Breast -- 1:11.23
Coach Tierney on Shahenian: "Kyle was one of our first visitors to McKendree this past fall that believed in the vision that we were selling about the future of Bearcat swimming. He easily fit into the community and quickly decided that he wanted to join our inaugural team. Kyle is a very versatile swimmer who will compete in a variety of events, primarily free, fly, and IM. He competes for the Westside Silver Dolphins in Goodyear, AZ."
Cole Morgan (Hometown: George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands)
Cayman International School
Backstroke, Sprint Free, IM
Personal Records:
50scm Free -- 24.37
100scm Free -- 53.13
100scy Back -- 52.75
200scm Back -- 1:55.32
200scm IM -- 2:10.45
Coach Tierney on Morgan: "It is tremendously exciting for the Bearcat world to welcome Kyle as our first Caribbean swimmer. He is a Canadian citizen who has lived and competed in the Canary Islands for most of his career. He will bring exceptional talent and strength to our program in back, free, and IM events. Cole is a backstroke silver medalist in the CARIFTA swimming championships and coached by David Pursley (of the famous Pursley coaching tree)."
Luca Simonetti (Hometown: Sassari, Sardinia, Italy)
Liceo Scientifico Gulielmo Marconi Sassari
Short Course
Personal Records:
50 Free -- 23.60
100 Free -- 50.09
200 Free -- 1:49.40 (Sardinian Senior Record)
400 Free -- 3:58.32
800 Free -- 8:14.98
1500 Free -- 16:11.26
50 Fly -- 25.63
100 Fly -- 56.15
Coach Tierney on Simonetti: "Luca brings a wonderfully bright personality and a tremendous set of skills as a swimmer to Lebanon. Luca has competed at numerous Italian Championships and owns numerous Sardinian records. He will primarily compete for the Bearcats in the 50-500 free as well as 100 fly. We hope this is just the beginning of bringing future star talents from European countries to Bearcat Country."
Cole Scully (Hometown: Hastings, MN)
Hastings High School
Sprinter
Personal Records:
50 Free -- 21.90
100 Free -- 48.90
Coach Tierney on Scully: "Cole is another wonderful fit for McKendree University as a student and an athlete. As a high school swimmer, he has earned numerous honors in his state both in the pool and in the classroom. He also hails from the Hastings Area Swim Team in Minnesota and will primarily race for the Bearcats in the spring free and relays events."
Zach Breeding (Hometown: Midland, TX)
Midland High School
Breaststroke
Personal Record:
100 Breast -- 58.64
Coach Tierney on Breeding: "We are thrilled to win out on another Texan with Zach. He is an up and coming talent in breaststroke who emerged as a finalist this year in the highly competitive Texas State High School Championships. Zach is an excellent student who will bring great leadership qualities to the Bearcats. He competes for the City of Midland Swim Team under Bob Kizer."
Cannon Talley (Hometown: Lubbock, TX)
Coronado High School
Freestyle
Coach Tierney on Talley: "We completed the dynamic Lubbock, TX duo with the addition of Cannon. He seemed like a great fit for McKendree from the first time he stepped foot our campus. There is no doubt Cannon has his best swimming ahead of him and will contribute mightily in the 50-200 free and 100-200 back events. He also is a member of the Lubbock Swim Club under the Team Hayes coaching umbrella."
The McKendree University swimming and diving program will compete as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in NCAA Division II next year. The Bearcats' home meets will be held at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex, a new facility under construction in O'Fallon, Ill., which will serve as the home for the University's swimming and diving teams, water polo programs and ice hockey squads.
