NCAA Men: Division III Recruiting Roundup

By Brian Savard

LAKE PLACID, New York, May 25. THIS is the time of year where recruiting roundups are aplenty for Division I schools. While Division III recruiting likely will not strum up water cooler talk, the accolades of the swimmers coming into these schools are impressive nonetheless.

Swimming World Magazine takes a look at the incoming freshmen at some of the nation's up-and-coming Division III programs, as well as some programs that annually bring in talented recruiting classes. However, due to NCAA compliance concerncs, many of the coaches contacted declined to participate in this recruiting article.

Amherst

Amherst's Class of 2011 boasts four freestyle swimmers, three of whom swim middle-distance events. Alex Fraser (Willowbrook, Ill.) leads the pack of incoming freshmen. Fraser clocked times of 1:41.40 in his 200 freestyle and 4:36 in his 500 freestyle in meets leading up to the Illinois State Championships. Fraser looks to contribute immediately with times that fall near NCAA qualifying standards.

Ryan Colby (Birdsboro, Pa.) also swims longer-distance freestyle events, coming in with times of 4:42 in his 500 freestyle and 9:50 for his 1000 freestyle. Colby also will contribute immediately to Amherst's distance group as a top-three talent in each of his events.

Walker Peterson (Winnetka, Ill.) comes to Amherst as another middle-distance freestyle specialist. Peterson specializes in the 200 freestyle (1:48) and the 500 freestyle (4:50).

Reid Fitzgerald (New York, N.Y.) will swim next year despite minimal experience in year-round training. "(He) will be someone to watch," said head coach Nick Nichols. "He's a big kid but has only been swimming for two and a half months each year."

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Michael Dobson (Houston, Texas) comes to MIT as the top recruit for the Engineers. Dobson will contribute instantly with times in the 500 freestyle (4:34.23), the 200 freestyle (1:42.51) and the 1650 freestyle (16:00.20) that are faster than those of any Engineer swimmer in the 2006-2007 season.

Misericordia

Misericordia, a team that has flown under the radar since Eric Sweeney won the NCAA title in the 200 butterfly in the 1999 championship meet, brings in a class of seven talented swimmers.

Nick Cannizzaro (Cedar Grove, N.J.) will enter Misericordia primarily as a backstroker. Cannizzaro's best time in the 100 backstroke is a 58. Jeff Clark (Middletown, N.Y.) looks to be the stud freshman of the class, coming to Misericordia as one of the top breaststrokers in New York. Clark placed ninth in the 100 breaststroke at the 2007 New York State Championship meet with a time of 1:00.05.

Nick Deangelo (Chester, N.J.) joins Cannizzaro as a backstroke swimmer with a personal best time of a 57. Brendan Dougherty (Palmyra, Pa.) comes to Misericordia as the lone distance swimmer in the Class of 2011. Dougherty swam a 1:58.06 200 freestyle and a 5:09.77 500 freestyle at the 2007 Pennsylvania District III Championships.

Robbie Jacobs (King of Prussia, Pa.) will contribute to the Cougars as a butterflier and a sprint freestyler. Jacobs posted a 56.94 in his 100 butterfly, which is his prime event. Greg Vossler (Wincester, Va.) is the lone recruit for Misericordia's class that hails from Virginia. Vossler joins the team as a sprinter with a best time of 22.80 in the 50 freestyle.

Rowan

Rowan brings in a class of 13 for the 2007-08 season, including two of the top eight divers coming out of New Jersey. Mark Balesteri (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) and Kyle Bianchini (Blackwood, N.J.) compete in the one- and three-meter diving events and were ranked fourth and eighth, respectively, in the state of New Jersey.

With the class of 2011 for swimming, Rowan spread out the talent throughout a multitude of different events. Michael Brooks (Absecon, N.J.) adds depth in the young middle-distance freestyle corps, swimming both the 200 (1:48.70) and the 500 (4:52). Jimmy Smith (Cherry Hill, N.J.) will contribute as a sprinter. Smith recorded times of 21.77 and 48.14 in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, respectively.

Chris Mahoney (Toms River, N.J.) looks to swim breaststroke and IM next year. Mahoney has the top times for the recruiting class in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.90), the 200 breaststroke (2:14) and the 200 IM (2:01).

SUNY New Paltz

Dave Gardner (Chittenango, N.Y.), Billy Papetti (Long Beach, N.Y.) and Matt Demerest (Long Beach, N.Y.) will team up to add depth to the SUNY New Paltz sprint group. Gardner swam times of 21.78 and 48.59 in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle, respectively, at the New York State High School Championships while Demerest split a 21.82 in his school's 200 freestyle relay in the same meet.

Papetti, who swam on Demerest's second-place freestyle relay at the New York State High School Championships, led off the relay with a 22.57. Papetti also led off the 400 freestyle relay with a 50.32 100 freestyle

Pat Rathbun (Long Valley, N.J.) joins the Hawks as a freestyler and a breaststroker. Rathbun swam a 49.30 100 freestyle in the preliminary heats at the New Jersey State High School Championships and a 22.14 50 freestyle at the Speedo Sectionals North East meet in March.

Andrew Outcault (Commack, N.Y.) joins the team as a butterfly and IM specialist, but he also has dabbled in other events. Outcault has posted times of 59.02 in the 100 butterfly, 1:00.84 in the 100 backstroke, 2:10.87 in the 200 butterfly, 4:35.52 in the 400 IM, 5:18.32 in the 500 freestyle and a 2:06.99 in the 200 IM.

The Hawks also add Charlie Ostrander (Prospect, Conn.) and Rob Webb (Hillsborough, N.J.) to the Class of 2011. Ostrander specializes in distance events while Webb swims primarily breaststroke and IM.

Westminster

Among the five Westminster incoming freshmen are three Pennsylvania natives and two Ohioans. Aaron Whisman (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) brings immediate sprinting talent in the 50 (21.60) and 100 (47.38) freestyle events. Devin Gannon (Glenshaw, Pa.) dabbles in many events, swimming the 100 backstroke (55.22), the 200 freestyle (1:48.91), the 100 breaststroke (1:04.32) and the 200 IM (2:08.06).

John and Chris Bodle (Clearfield, Pa.) swim primarily sprint events. John Bodle split a 52.88 in his 100 freestyle and holds a personal best time of 1:00.92 in the 100 butterfly. Chris Bodle has the faster 100 freestyle split time of the two with a 51.35. Chris also has a 1:56.47 200 freestyle and a 1:02.19 100 backstroke.

John Thiessen (Navarre, Ohio) provides depth in Westminster's arsenal of butterfliers with his 100 butterfly (55.21). Thiessen also swims the 200 freestyle (1:54.41) and the 500 freestyle (5:10.55).

Wheaton (Ill.)

Matt Gallagher (Cannon Falls, Minn.) headlines Wheaton's (Ill.) Class of 2011. Gallagher comes in with the top times of the recruiting class in the 50 freestyle (21.76), the 200 freestyle (1:45.60) and the 100 butterfly (51.22). Gallagher will have an immediate impact in the 200 freestyle with the departure of seniors John Higgins and Paul Hartman.

Ben Bader (Green Bay, Wis.) should help fill the gap left by graduating backstrokers. Bader has a 56 time in his 100 backstroke, a 2:00.7 time in his 200 backstroke and a 1:50 in his 200 freestyle.

A.J. Provonsha (Yucaipa, Calif.) comes to Wheaton (Ill.) after swimming as a member of the California Interscholastic Federation Masters Meet champion 200 freestyle relay, splitting a 21.21 as the anchor. Provonsha also swims the 200 IM (1:58.10), the 100 freestyle (47.99) and the 200 freestyle (1:47.30).

Preston Conger (Aiken, S.C.) will likely contribute early as a butterflier. Conger has a 53.7 time in the 100 butterfly and a 2:00.8 time in the 200 butterfly.

Widener

Widener's 11-man class adds to the already abundant depth of local talent and broadens Widener's normal scope of recruiting. Dan McDevitt (Drexel Hill, Pa.) will join the team as the third McDevitt sibling to swim for the Pride. McDevitt swam a 1:07.76 100 breaststroke and a 24.22 50 freestyle at the Eastern Independent School Swimming & Diving Championships this past season.

Justin Gorbey (Secane, Pa.) adds to the local talent coming in. Gorbey, who swam his high school career at local Ridley High School, boasts a 1:49.97 200 freestyle and a 49.27 100 freestyle.

Jesse Bregman (Oreland, Pa.) brings state-champion talent to the Pride. Bregman swam as a part of Springfield's state-champion 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay at the Pennsylvania State High School Championships in March. Bregman primarily swims the 100 butterfly (55.17), but he also dabbles in sprint events as well. He split a 48.63 in his 100 freestyle and a 21.71 in his 50 freestyle.

Dalton Schiller (Media, Pa.) rounds out the local talent from Southeastern Pennsylvania. Schiller will add to Widener's deep middle distance talent as well as compliment juniors Kevin Carson and John Kiely in the IM events. Schiller swam a 2:02.53 200 IM and a 4:59.13 500 freestyle at the 2007 District One Championships.

Greg Golden (Vineland, N.J.) comes into college as a sprinter. Golden swam a 22.37 in a swim-off race for the last spot in consolation finals in the New Jersey State Championships. Frank Chou (Franklin Lake, N.J.) will add versatility to next year's team. Chou swam a 1:07.52 100 breaststroke and a 5:31.97 500 freestyle in the 2006 Bergen County Championship meet.

Ryan Ballard (Millerville, Md.) serves as the lone Maryland recruit. Ballard swims the 50 freestyle (23.45), the 200 butterfly (2:13.96), the 200 freestyle (1:54.65), the 100 butterfly (55.94) and the 100 freestyle (50.74). Jimmy Senerth (Avon, Conn.) will look to be a factor in the conference meet, adding consolation-final depth with a 2:10.06 200 IM and a 5:14.52 500 freestyle.

Brad Cole (Franklin, Pa.) is a Western Pennsylvania swimmer who should deepen Coach Bob Piotti's butterfly talent pool. Cole split a 24.45 in his 50 butterfly in Franklin High School's bronze-medal 200 medley relay at the Pennsylvania State High School Championships, and he also possesses times of 57.51 in the 100 butterfly and a 1:09.65 in the 100 breaststroke.

Steve Goss (Allentown, Pa.) will immediately impact the IM and breaststroke scenes at Widener. Goss stands as one of the top IMers for next year with a 2:02.21 200 IM, and he also should help fill the vacancy that 2007 graduate Frank Vineis left with a 1:03.81 100 breaststroke.

Colin Canfield (Voorhees, N.J.) rounds out Widener's Class of 2011.

A roundup detailing the happenings of the women's side of Division III recruiting will be posted next week.

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