Maryland Adds Three Swimmers

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, December 5. ROGER Dent (Long Island, N.Y.), Michael Gray (Owings, Md.) and Matt Gruszecki (Harleysville, Pa.) have each signed National Letters of Intent committing to Maryland for next season. They join Nick Cordes (Cedar Falls, IA), Andy Mears (Sterling, Va.), Haywood Miller (Bethesda, Md.), Eric Moore (Acworth, GA), Myles Poster (Queensbury, N.Y.) and Chris Sanford (Westerville, Ohio) as the 2007-08 recruiting class.

"We are extremely excited and pleased to have this group of men at this level join our program for the fall," head coach Dave Durden said. "We addressed a lot needs by adding this group to our program. I feel as though that we not only signed great athletes, but also great people. This group will be such a great asset to our program not only for next year, but for the coming years of Maryland swimming."

Dent is a Junior National Qualifier in 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter individual medley, and 200-meter butterfly. Dent is also the record holder in the 400-meter IM at the Eastern Zone Long Course Meter Championship Meet with a time of 4:38.59. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was an honor roll and Excellence of Character Award Recipient his sophomore and junior years at Kellenberg Memorial High School.

"Roger has made some tremendous strides over the past couple of seasons and being under the tutelage of Dave Ferris at LIAC, he will make continued improvements this season," Durden said. "Roger's versatility is a wonderful asset in the collegiate environment. From the breaststrokes to the flys to the IMs, Roger adds a lot to our environment right off the bat."

Dent currently swims for the Long Island Aquatic Club in the 400-meter IM (best time 4:38.59), in the 200-meter IM (best time 2:11.74), 200-meter fly (best time 2:09.59), 100-meter fly (best time 58.71), 200-meter breaststroke (best time 2:33.04), and 100-meter breaststroke (best time 1:10.33).

"During my visit to the campus, I realized Maryland was a school that offered both an excellent academic reputation and a strong, dynamic swim program," Dent said. "I am especially excited to work with the swim coaches and hope to contribute to the team's future success in a big way."

Gray was named the TYR Age Group Swimmer of the Month by Swimming World Magazine in August 2006. He placed first in the 100-yard backstroke, third in the 50 freestyle, and fourth in the 100 free at the 2006 Speedo Eastern Zone Southern Regional meet at the Naval Academy. Gray was also named an All-Met Honorable Mention, Washington Post Southern Maryland Extra Swimmer of the Year, All-Conference First Team, and All-County First Team. In addition, Gray holds six out of eight high school records (50, 100, 200 freestyles, 100 fly, 100 back, 200 IM) at Northern High School where he was an All-Academic Second Team his sophomore and junior years.

"Watching Michael improve over the past year and talking with his club coach Erik Collins, I am excited to have Michael in our program starting next year," Durden said. "He is just coming into his own as an athlete. Also, with Michael being one of the top swimmers in Maryland, we are excited to keep him close to home."

Gray currently swims for Erik Collins at Maverick Swim Club in Largo, Maryland. He swims the 50 free (best time 21.45), 100 free (best time 47.46), 100 back (best time 52.26).

"I chose Maryland because it is close to home, it has a great engineering program, and Dave Durden wants to bring the Maryland men's program to the top of the ACC," Gray said.

Gruszecki was a member of the state-title winning team in the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays as a freshman. Gruszecki was elected the state MVP ("Mr. Waterpolo") as a senior. He was also a first team All-American in water polo as a senior and a second team All-American in water polo as a junior.

"Matt brings a lot of athleticism to our program in competing in both water polo and swimming during his high school career," Durden said. "He has great speed and we look forward to how Matt will impact our sprint events. He has the ability to impact our sprint relays immediately, so we are excited to welcome him to our program."

He will graduate from Souderton Area High School in the spring. Gruszecki is a sprint freestyler and swims the 50 free (best time 20.90, split 20.40) and the 100 Free (best time 46.20, split 46.10).

"Maryland is a great academic school and it has an amazing coaching staff," Guszecki said

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