Five More Top Recruits Make College Decision

PHOENIX, Arizona, October 14. IT has been a busy couple of days in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings powered by Take Your Marks. Five more stellar recruits concluded the recruiting process.

Swimming World five star Deborah Roth made the call to California's Teri McKeever to join fellow five star Samantha Shellem in the Golden Bear Class of 2010.

Roth, who swims for North Bay Aquatics and preps at Redwood High, is a threat to score in multiple events with long course senior national cuts in the 50-meter free (26.55), 200-meter free (2:03.57), 100-meter back (1:01.39) and 200-meter back (2:14.47). She also would have qualified to compete in the 100-yard back (53.33) at the 2009 NCAA Division I Championships.

"Cal felt like it had the best combination of excellent academics with an excellent, elite athletic program," Roth told Swimming World. "I felt that the training that is done at Cal is completely different from other schools, in a sense that it is extremely innovative. On the first night of my trip to Cal, we had dinner at Teri's house, followed by a competitive game of Scategories. All the girls on the team were so close, and among the laughter and yelling while playing the game, I knew that Cal was the right place for me. There was something different about the team chemistry at Cal. I felt so included in everything there and the girls were so fun, and made it seem that there was no better choice.

"Some people feel skeptical about having two female coaches, but I feel that Kristin [Lewis Cunnane] and Teri [McKeever] are two strong women that are completely capable of coaching better than anyone else," Roth continued. "I felt that the chemistry between the coaches and the swimmers was stronger than anything I had seen in my other choices. I truly felt that Cal was the right fit for me. I cannot wait for next year to begin my career as a Golden Bear!"

University of Toronto transfer Nick Karpov, a five star in the rankings, added to a deepening recruiting class at the University of Southern California. Karpov joins six star Kasey Carlson and five stars Vlad Morozov and Jack Wagner as Class of 2010 Trojans. Karpov owns long course times that would clear the U.S. senior national cuts in the 100-meter free (51.37) and 200-meter back (2:03.88).

"I chose USC because I felt it was the perfect mix of athletics and academics – and weather," Karpov told Swimming World. "I think the program that Dave [Salo] and the coaching staff are building at USC is amazing, and I am very excited about being a part of this rising team over the next several years."

North Carolina is putting together an impressive class thus far. Five star Stephanie Peacock joined fellow five stars Patrick Ceddia and Emily Kelly as UNC commits. Peacock, who swims for Swim Florida and preps at Bishop Verot, owns long course senior national cuts in the 200-meter free (2:02.16), 400-meter free (4:18.87) and 200-meter IM (2:19.52). She also owns B cut times in the 200-yard free (1:46.98), 500-yard free (4:44.96), 1650-yard free (16:39.78) and 400-yard IM (4:18.57).

"I chose UNC because not only is it a great school academically and I will get a great education, but when I met the team I fit right in with them, and they are an awesome group of swimmers that made me feel like it was home," Peacock told Swimming World. "I can see myself spending the next four years with them at Chapel Hill. The coaching staff is an amazing group of coaches, and I can't wait to start my college career with them. I also felt that they wanted me as much as I wanted to swim at UNC. GO HEELS!!!"

Five star Jameson Hill, who swims for QDD and preps at Seton School, joined five star Shannon Vreeland as a future Georgia Bulldog. Hill owns long course senior national cuts in the 200-meter free (1:50.02) and 400-meter free (3:57.22).

"I chose UGA because on my visit I had an amazing feeling and knew it was where I want to be," Hill told Swimming World. "It was by no stretch an easy decision. I really enjoyed Indiana, Ohio State, North Carolina and Tennessee, which made it extremely difficult to tell their coaches no. I really enjoyed working with all the coaches and have tremendous respect for all of them. I'm really excited to work with Jack [Bauerle] and Harvey [Humphries] at UGA, and think that the sky is the limit for me and the rest of the team at UGA. GO DAWGS!!!"

Four star Kelly Ann Baird, who swims for TYDE and preps at West Davidson High, pledged her services to Ohio State University recently. Baird has a pair of short course yard times that beat the NCAA Division I B cuts in the 500-yard free (4:49.06) and 1650-yard free (16:30.19).

"When I went to Ohio State on my recruiting trip it just felt like home," Baird told Swimming World. "I loved all of the girls and connected well with the coaches. They have a terrific facility and swim team, which I can't wait to be a part of. Their biology department is outstanding and the campus is just beautiful."

RECRUITS: To make sure we have the most updated information on your recruiting, and to earn the highest star ranking you deserve, please either create a new profile, or request to take over your admin-created account in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings powered by Take Your Marks. Then make sure to update your profile with your top times. Click here for information on how to do so.

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