Florida State Announces Recruiting Class

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, January 27. THE Florida State swimming and diving programs announced their 2010-2011 signing class. Comprised of 20 student-athletes, including three divers and 17 swimmers, the programs are poised for another great year next season.

"There aren't too many schools that can brag about recruiting success in all four areas of our sport. We collectively signed the best divers in the nation and also turned around and signed one of the best men's and women's swimming classes ever! Our entire staff and team did an amazing job of identifying great talent and then selecting from it who would impact our program the most in the next four years," said Head Coach Neil Harper.

Men
"We signed a great combination of home state talent with selected out of state needs. All of these young men are great student athletes and collectively could prove to be one of our strongest recruiting classes ever! We were very selective in recruiting these guys and because of it the future of FSU Men's swimming looks very strong."

Thomas Neubacher (Diver)
Windermere, FL
Olympia High School
Team Orlando Diving
Head Diving Coach Patrick Jeffrey: "Tom just broke Mark Ruiz's Florida High School state 1 Meter championship record who was a Two time Olympian. I think Tom has amazing potential and will be a great asset to our program."

Jon Taddeo
Clearwater, FL
Countryside High School
St. Petersburg Aquatic Club
Coach Harper: "Jon is a great up and coming talent in the state of Florida. He has great range and versatility and has the potential to be an ACC medalist and NCAA scorer."

Mike Thomas
Baltimore, MD
Calvert Hall College High School
North Baltimore Aquatic Club
Coach Harper: "Mike is a great IMer and all-round swimmer that has the opportunity to help us in numerous events, definitely another NCAA qualifier for the future and a great catch from one of the premier teams in the US."

Matt Taylor
Raleigh, NC
Sanderson High School
Raleigh Swimming Association Raleigh Swim Association
Coach Harper: "Matt is a great prospect from North Carolina and is currently coached by former FSU alum Chad Onken. Matt has a bright future in the 100 and 200 free at the conference meet and beyond!."

Paul Murray
Coconut Creek, FL
American Heritage School of Boca
Delray Heritage Aquatic Team
Coach Harper: "A great talent from a small program here in the state of Florida! He undoubtedly will benefit from the successful sprint program here at Florida State. Being one of the top sprinters in the state, he's another great catch for the Seminoles!"

Nick Thomson
Bermuda Mercersburg Academy
Coach Harper: "Nick has great international experience having swum at the World championships in Rome this past summer. We are excited to watch his ranking on the world scene improve and make his mark in the ACC conference!"

Mateo De Angulo
Cali, Colombia
Indian River State College
Coach Harper: "Has improved tremendously under FSU alum and Indian River State college Head coach Frank Bradley. Mateo will be entering the Division I scene as one of the fastest incoming distance swimmers in the country, Mateo will make an immediate impact! He is also projected to represent Colombia in the 2012 Olympic Games!"

Jack Deedrick
Tampa, FL
Seton Home School
Brandon Blue Wave
Coach Harper: "One of the biggest diamonds in the rough and another great catch from our home state! It won't be long before Jack showcases his full potential as a Seminole!"

Tyler Sell
Pembroke Pines, FL
West Broward High School
Comets Swim Club
Coach Harper: "One of the top distance prospects from the state of Florida, Tyler was heavily recruited and the fact that he chose Florida State will enhance the chances of our distance program remaining one of the best in the country."

Women
"We made it a priority to recruit the best talent in the state of Florida. I am very excited that we secured a top sprinter, backstroker and IMer from Florida and a few unheralded gems that can potentially help us in the short free and breaststrokes! Our out of state Seminoles come with Olympic Trial and Senior National experience or the immediate potential to elevate to that level once in our guidance."

Hannah Wilson
Tupelo, MS
Tupelo High School
Shockwave Aquatic Team
Coach Harper: "Hannah will easily be one of the most improved swimmers in the nation next year. She is a brilliant student who also fell in love with the team and the success rate we have with our swimmers."

Tiffany Oliver
Southwest Ranches, FL
Cypress Bay High School
Comet Swim Club
Coach Harper: "Tiffany has amazing potential! I am still amazed how fast she has swum to this point with so many small technique flaws and inexperience" She had instant chemistry with our staff and is excited about her future at Florida State!

Julia Henkel
Roswell, GA
Roswell High School
Swim Atlanta
Coach Harper: "Julia is one of our more accomplished signees with a lot of experience swimming at the highest level meets. She is one of the most versatile swimmers coming out of High School this year and I think she has the potential to help us in many areas, but more importantly at the NCAA Championships. Julia comes from one of the most successful club teams in the country and for her to hand pick our program speaks volumes for our past success and immediate future!"

McKayla Lightbourn
Sarasota, FL
Booker High School
Sarasota YMCA sharks
Coach Harper: "McKayla is one of the top IMer's in Florida and has International experience swimming for the Bahamas. She is just waiting to break through to the next level and score at the NCAA Championships and compete at the 2012 London Olympics. She is yet another accomplished swimmer coming from the Sarasota-YMCA powerhouse program."

Katie Torres
Palm Harbor, FL
East Lake High School
Palm Harbor Aquatics
Coach Harper: "Katie had many offers from other in-state schools but chose to elevate her goals even higher by coming to Florida State! She has a lot of power and speed and I think with a little more technique work will start passing the few people that beat her in high school! I am looking forward to working with her."

Kendall Sieron
Jacksonville, FL
The Bolles School
Bolles Sharks
Coach Harper: "Kendall comes to us from the powerhouse Bolles School swim program. I am glad that several schools overlooked Kendall's raw power and sprinting ability. We have had exceptional success with our breaststrokers over the years and I think by the time she leaves here, she has a chance to make a name for herself!"

Ashley Butler
Bahamas
The Bolles School
Bolles Sharks
Coach Harper: "Ashley is a great Long Course 50 and 100 sprinter and flyer. She is still figuring out how to master the collegiate short course format, but when she does, she will prove extremely valuable!"

Ashley Hicks
Sunrise, FL
Coral Springs Charter School
Comets Swim Club
Coach Harper: "Ashley will come to FSU and make an immediate impact in the 100 and 200's of freestyle and especially backstroke. She has beautiful technique that once our training schedule kicks in will be able to race and rival the best in the ACC!"

Jesse Bessire
Sarasota, FL
Sarasota High School
Sarasota YMCA Sharks
Coach Harper: "Jesse has a lot of events that she does well. We will focus on her Fly's and 400 IM and get her to the Senior National level.

Kelsey Goodman (Diver)
Moultrie, GA
Colquitt County High School
Coach Jeffrey: "We're very excited about Kelsey. She is one of the top recruits in the nation this year. I believe she has more physical ability and potential than any other girl out there this year!"

Katrina Young (Diver)
Seattle, WA
Shorecrest High School
Coach Jeffrey: "It's always a great thing to sign a senior national finalist like we have now with Katrina. She is one of the top platform divers in the country and her springboard has amazing potential."

"Between Katrina, Kelsey and Tom I believe we've signed the top diving class in the country," said Coach Jeffrey.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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