Pittsburgh Announces Six Signees

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, May 18. PITTSBURGH announced the signing of six student-athletes for the 2007-08 season. The six newcomers include four athletes for the women's team in Laura Barnes, Emily DeStefano, Sarah Looney and Alexandra Stoddart, and two swimmers on the men's side in Andrzej Dubiel and Alex McLaren.

"The incoming 2007-08 class will be the most talent-rich group we have seen in more than a decade," said Knoles, who will begin his 18th year as the head coach at Pitt this fall. "This will position us to aggressively pursue our goal of being one of the top teams in the east in Division I swimming and diving."

Barnes (Pickering Ontario, Canada/Dunbarton) is a breaststroke specialist and the first of four additions to the women's squad. Consistently ranked among the top Canadian breaststrokers in her age group, Barnes was recently selected as a member of the Canadian Junior National Team and competed on the Canadian Junior Pan-Pacific Team. As the younger sister of current Pitt breaststroke standout Warren Barnes, she will give the Panthers needed depth in the breaststroke events.

"Laura has the drive and talent to be successful at the highest national and international levels in swimming. Her race experience at those levels will give the Panthers a `go-to' person in the breaststroke," said Knoles.

DeStefano (Flourtown, Pa./Springfield) joins Pitt as a sprint freestyle specialist. During her senior year, she turned in the third fastest time in the 100 free at the Pennsylvania State Class AA State Championships and led her team to a fourth-place finish.

"Emily had a successful PIAA State meet this year," Knoles stated. "Her solid performances in the sprint free this year aided by our outstanding strength and sprint programs next season should allow Emily to be a contributor at the Big East Conference level."

A multi-event swimmer, Looney (Buford, Ga./North Gwinnett) has the ability to cover a full compliment of races in dual meets. Her two best events are the 200 free and 100 fly. Looney swam on her high school team's winning 200 medley relay in the Georgia State Championship meet, where her team finished fourth overall.

"Sarah combines top-notch scholarship with a successful exuberance for swimming," said Knoles. "Her versatility in the pool will give us someone we can count on for scoring in a number of events at the conference level."

The final recruit for the women's team is Stoddart (Oreland, Pa./Springfield), who comes to Pitt with considerable success in the backstroke events. The 2007 runner-up in the 100 backstroke at the PIAA State meet, she improved from fourth place just a year earlier. Stoddart achieved All-America status in the 100 backstroke in back-to-back-to-back seasons.

"Alex's strength and raw talent will play well in the college scene," said Knoles. "We expect to see Alexandra's success go beyond the Big East Conference level."

"These outstanding young ladies along with our fall signees, Katie Cutrell (Ligonier, Pa., distance free and back), Cookie McIntyre (York, Pa., IM, breast and fly), Danielle Scott (Bethlehem, Pa., IM, back, sprint free), Caitlin Trant (Pittsburgh, Pa., sprint free), and Kristen McMullan (West Chester, Pa., sprint free) and incoming divers Mallory Mullady, Morgan Speece, and Kate Farling will form one of the deepest and most talented freshman classes in Pitt history," Knoles said. "We look forward to watching them grow and compete in the Big East Conference over the next four years.

The men's squad added Dubiel (Dzierzoniew, Poland/School of Sports Championship) as one of the top backstroke swimmers in Poland. He has been a member of the Polish National Junior team and is now a member of the Polish National team. Dubiel is a Polish National Junior record holder and a silver medalist at the 2005 European Junior Championships as a member of the 400 medley relay.

"We're excited to sign Andrzej," said Knoles. "He will help us to remain competitive in the backstroke events. As an already successful international swimmer, he should be able to help the Panthers in our push to get back on top of the conference."

Pitt's second spring recruit is McLaren (Sidney, British Columbia, Canada/Stelly's Secondary School), who specializes in the 100 and 200 backstrokes and is developing well in the 100 fly. As a member of the Canadian Junior National Team, he competed at the 2007 Junior Pan Pacific Championships. McLaren was a finalist in the 200 backstroke and consolation finalist in the 100 backstroke at the 2007 Canadian Spring National Championships.

"Alex has the hard-driving, no-nonsense, goal-oriented attitude I like in athletes," said Knoles. "He was a great catch for Pitt and his already proven success in the backstroke will be expanded to include the butterfly and sprint freestyle events as well."

"Dubiel and McLaren join an incoming class consisting of Dan Connealy (Phoenix, Ariz. – 50, 100 & 200 free), Andrew Geissler (Westmont, N.J. – 100 & 200 fly, 500 free), Charley Hauser (Latrobe, Pa. – diving), Matt Hershey (Mechanicsburg, Pa. – 50 & 100 free, 100 back), Zane McLain (Red Lion, Pa. – diving), Zack Phillips (Glen Rock, Pa. – 500, 1000 & 1650 free, 400 IM), Matt Scherer (Pittsburgh, Pa. – 50, 100 & 200 free) and Clayton Weakley (Harrisburg, Pa. – 50 & 100 free).

"This recruiting class will be augmented by quite a few walk-on athletes who will have an immediate impact on the chemistry of our team," said Knoles.

Special thanks to Pittsburgh for contributing this report.

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