Michigan Men’s Team Inks Seven High School Speedsters

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 18. UNIVERSITY of Michigan men's swimming coach Bob Bowman announced today that the U-M has signed seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period.

Sal Barba (Hudson, Mass./St. John's HS), Curtis Dauw (St. Charles, Ill./S! t. Charles East HS), Matt Patton (Matthews, N.C./David W. Butler HS), Evan Ryser (Katy, Texas/James E. Taylor HS), Bobby Savulich (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph HS), Christian Sprang (Sicklerville, N.J./St. Augustine Prep), and Bryan Vessels (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) will all join the Wolverines for the 2005-06 season.

"We are very excited about our recruiting efforts this fall," said Bowman. "I'm confident that we have signed one of the top classes in the country and one of the best groups to come to Michigan in years. All of these young men have the character and ability to carry on the Michigan tradition."

As a member of the Shawmut Aquatic Club, Barba placed second at the 2004 NSCA Junior National meet in the 100-meter freestyle. He is also a U.S. National qualifier in the 100- and 200-meter freestyles. Barba has twice earned high school All-America honors in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke.

Dauw, a member of the St. Charles Swim Team, won the 200-yard individual medley at the 2004 Illinois High School State Championships. He is also a two-time high school All-American, earning the honors in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard IM.

Patton brings a wealth of national experience with him to Michigan as a member of the U.S Junior National Team. He also competed in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2004 Olympic Trials. As a member of Mecklenburg Aquatic Club, Patton placed third in the 800-meter freestyle, fourth in the 400-meter freestyle and 8t! h in the 1500-meter freestyle. He was also a member of Mecklenburg's national champion 800-meter freestyle relay.

Ryser, a member of Katy Aquatics, earned high school All-America honors and was a Texas 5A high school state champion in both the 100- and 200-yard freestyles.

Savulich was also a member of the U.S. Junior National team and competed in the 200-meter freestyle at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials. He is a three-time YMCA national champion with the Metuchen-Edison YMCA club, winning the short-course championship in the 200-meter freestyle and the long-course titles in the 100-and 200-meter freestyles. Savulich is a four-time high school All-America in the 50-, 100-,! 200-, and 500-yard freestyles.

As a member of the Gloucester C ounty Club, Sprang placed fifth in the 800-meter freestyle, 10th in the 1,500-meter freestyle and 12th in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2004 U.S. Nationals. Sprang competed in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials and is a member of the U.S. Junior National Team. He is also a high school All-American in the 500-yard freestyle.

Vessels is an in-state product hailing from Dexter, Mich and is a member of Ann Arbor Swim Club. He was the Division II Michigan high school state champion in the 100-yard backstroke and the runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle. He was also a member of Dexter High School's state champion 200-yard medley relay. Vessels earned high school All-American honors in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke.

The Wolverines face Michigan State in the second Big Ten dual meet of the season on Friday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. The meet will take place in East Lansing, Mich., at MSU's Charles Mc Caffree Pool.

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