Longhorn Men Release Names of Three Swimmers, One Diver in Fall Recruiting Class

AUSTIN, TX, December 7. MICHAEL Klueh, Evan Linette, Sean Patton and Ryan Verlatti have signed National Letters of Intent to compete for The University of Texas and the men’s swimming and diving program next fall, head coach Eddie Reese and diving coach Matt Scoggin announced last week.

They are all exceptional freestyle swimmers from the sprints to the mile,” said Reese. “They are the right people and the best people for our program. They are really good kids. They work hard at their grades and they work hard at swimming.”

Klueh, a 2004 U.S. national champion in the 400-meter freestyle, is currently a senior at James Bowie High School in Austin, Texas. He also is a three-time 18-and-under national champion in the 200 butterfly and a member of the 2003-04 National Junior Team that competed in Brisbane, Australia. Additionally, he competed in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200, 400 and 1,500 freestyle as well as the 200 butterfly.

Klueh moved from Carmel, Ind., to Austin, where he and his former coach with the Newburgh Sea Creatures, Donny Brush, now live. Brush is an assistant to Randy Reese, the head coach of Longhorn Aquatics, which Klueh currently swims for. Klueh has posted lifetime bests of 45.84 in the 100 free, 1:37.58 in the 200 free, 4:22.91 in the 400 free and 15:04.12 in the 1,650 freestyle.

Patton is a specialist in middle distance and distance freestyle events as well as the backstroke and is a native of Charlotte, N.C., where he attends David W. Butler High School. Patton trains at Mecklenberg Aquatic Club under the direction of David Gibson. Most recently, Patton was a member of the winning 800 freestyle relay squad at the 2004 National Championships in Palo Alto, Calif., where he also swam the 200 backstroke and 800 freestyle. Patton owns career bests of 1:41.50 in the 200 freestyle, 4:37 in the 500 freestyle and 1:50 in the 100 backstroke.

Verlatti, who hails from Tacoma, Wash. and Bellarmine Prep, is a 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials participant in the 100 and 200 freestyle. Competing for the Tacoma Swim Club under the direction of Jay Benner, Verlatti finished fourth in the 100 freestyle and placed 12th in the 200 freestyle at the 2004 National Championships. Of note, Verlatti will compete for the 2005 National Junior Team in the 100 and 200 freestyle. Verlatti’s personal bests are 21.29 in the 50 freestyle, 45.43 in the 100 freestyle, 1:39.30 in the 200 freestyle and 4:33.56 in the 500 freestyle.

Meanwhile, Linette, who will join Scoggin’s diving squad, is from Wilton Manors, Fla., and attends Ft. Lauderdale High School. A two-time junior national champion who placed second on platform at the 2004 Junior Nationals, Linette was a member of the 2002 and ‘04 Junior World teams and placed eighth at the 2002 and ‘04 U.S. Senior Nationals on the platform. In addition, Evan, who is the younger brother of former Longhorns All-American Jonathan Linette, is a three-time Florida High School district and state champion.

“Evan will immediately impact our team on all three boards,” said Scoggin. “His specialty event is platform, but he is also strong as a springboard diver.”

Swimmers
Michael Klueh, Austin, Texas/James Bowie HS/Longhorn Aquatics (Randy Reese)
Sean Patton, Charlotte, N.C./David W. Butler HS/Mecklenberg Aquatic Club (Dave Gibson)
Ryan Verlatti, Tacoma, Washington/Bellarmine Prep/Tacoma Swim Club (Jay Benner)

Diver
Evan Linette, Wilton Manors, Fla./Ft. Lauderdale HS/Fort Lauderdale Diving Team (Tim O’Brien/Gregg Servaites)
— UT —

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