Auburn Signs 15 Recruits in Early Signing Period

AUBURN, Alabama, November 19. THE Auburn swimming and diving program signed 15 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the Early Signing Period in November, head coach Brett Hawke announced Thursday.

Joining the Tiger women's squad for next season will be Caroline Bryant, Katherine Criter, Caitlyn Forman, Alexandria Merritt, Morgan Mullins, Sarah Reynolds, Ashley Roberson, Carly Scheper and Jillian Vitarius. The Auburn men will add six swimmers and divers as Steyn Funk, Alex Hancock, Jordan Jones, Andrew Laing, Jacob Siar and Justin Youtsey will join the squad.

"Auburn swimming and diving has signed an exceptional class of young athletes," Auburn head coach Brett Hawke said. "We feel great about the type of people who have committed to carrying on the tradition of excellence at Auburn. We couldn't be happier with the potential of these student-athletes and the impact they can have on the future of this program. Jeff has pulled in some of the best up-and-coming divers in the country to round out this class. I look forward to working with them in the future and thank their club coaches for all their influence and support in shaping them into who they are today. War Eagle!"

Auburn's women will get a major boost to their backstroke corps as three of the best in the country will join the Tigers next season. Jillian Vitarius (Kingwood, Texas) is a five-star recruit according to Swimming World and the No. 12-ranked prospect in the nation by CollegeSwimming.com. A member of the 2012 USA Junior National Team, she won the 200 backstroke at the 2011 NCSA Junior National Championships. Caitlyn Forman (California, Ky.), the 13th-ranked prospect in the nation and the top-ranked recruit in the state of Kentucky, was also a USA National Youth Team member and is qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200 backstroke. A third backstroker, Sarah Reynolds (Montgomery, Ala.), is the top-ranked recruit in the state of Alabama and is also qualified for Olympic Trials in both backstroke events.

Three other swimmers will join the Tiger women in 2012-13. Katherine Criter (Plymouth, Wis.) is the No. 3 recruit in the state of Wisconsin. She is a member of the 2011-12 USA Junior National Team and is qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the 100 breaststroke. Caroline Bryant (Charlotte, N.C.) is an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100 butterfly and is the No. 5-ranked prospect in North Carolina. And Alexandria Merritt (Tallahassee, Fla.) was the 2011 Florida high school state champion in the 100 freestyle; she will add depth in the butterfly and sprint freestyle events.

Head diving coach Jeff Shaffer also bolstered his ranks with three signees of his own. Morgan Mullins (Centerville, Ohio), Ashley Roberson (Tifton, Ga.) and Carly Scheper (Fort Mitchell, Ky.) will join the Tiger divers next year. Mullins was a 2010 and 2011 high school All-American, Scheper was an AAU Age Group National Champion on the 3-meter board, and Roberson finished fifth at last year's Georgia high school state meet on the 1-meter board.

For the Auburn men, three swimmers that competed for the United States' NCSA All-American Team in Osaka, Japan, in September lead the way. Steyn Funk (Windermere, Fla.), Jordan Jones (Kingwood, Texas) and Jacob Siar (Roanoke, Va.) are among the nation's top-ranked prospects for next season. Jones is a five-star recruit and the No. 18 overall national prospect as rated by Swimming World and CollegeSwimming.com, respectively. He was the Texas state champion in the 500 freestyle and will likely make an immediate impact in that event and the 400 IM. Siar is an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 backstroke and was the runner-up in that event at the 2011 USA Swimming Junior Nationals. And Funk is rated No. 68 overall by CollegeSwimming.com and will be a contributor in the distance freestyle events.

Alex Hancock (Wellington, New Zealand) will join the Tigers as well. Hancock is the No. 10 overall men's recruit according to CollegeSwimming.com and has represented New Zealand in several international competitions, including the 2011 Youth Commonwealth Games and 2010 Trans-Tasman Games.

Two divers will also join Shaffer's men's squad. Justin Youtsey (Fort Mitchell, Ky.) is a 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 3-meter synchro event and a two-time Kentucky high school state champion. Andrew Laing (Madison, Ala.) was runner-up at last year's Alabama high school state meet and has helped Bob Jones High School to the last three consecutive Alabama state titles.

WOMEN'S SIGNEES

Caroline Bryant

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.

High School: (Home-schooled)

Club: Swim MAC

Event(s): Butterfly

Notes: Ranked as the No. 5 recruit in the state of North Carolina by CollegeSwimming.com … Primarily competes in butterfly … Qualified for Olympic Trials in 100 butterfly … Competed at 2010 AT&T Short Course National Championships … Coached by former Auburn swimmer James Wike.

Katherine Criter

Hometown: Plymouth, Wis.

High School: Plymouth

Club: Menomonee Falls

Event(s): Breaststroke

Notes: Is the No. 3 recruit in the state of Wisconsin according to CollegeSwimming.com … Olympic Trials qualifier in 100 breaststroke … Member of 2011-12 USA Junior National Team … NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American … Will compete primarily in breaststroke events.

Caitlyn Forman

Hometown: California, Ky.

High School: Notre Dame Academy

Club: Northern Kentucky Clippers

Event(s): Backstroke

Notes: Rated the No. 13 overall recruit in the nation by CollegeSwimming.com … Top-ranked recruit in the state of Kentucky … Competes primarily in backstroke events … 2010-11 USA National Youth Team Member … Competed at 2010 Junior Pan-Pacific Games, finishing 12th in 200 backstroke … Olympic Trials qualifier … Four-time Kentucky high school state champion … High school teammate of diving signee Carly Scheper.

Alexandria Merritt

Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla.

High School: Lincoln

Club: Tallahassee Aquatics

Event(s): Butterfly/Sprint Freestyle

Notes: Rates as the No. 4 recruit in the state of Florida by CollegeSwimming.com … Will add major depth in butterfly events, also strong in sprint freestyle … Captured 2011 Florida high school state title in 100 free and finished third in 200 IM.

Morgan Mullins

Hometown: Centerville, Ohio

High School: Centerville

Club: Redhawk Dive Club

Event(s): Diving

Notes: Was a high school All-American in 2010 and 2011 … Took third place at the 2011 Ohio High School State Meet … District champion and conference champion in 2010 and 2011 … Finalist in 3M synchro at 2011 Junior Olympics.

Sarah Reynolds

Hometown: Montgomery, Ala.

High School: (Home-schooled)

Club: Montgomery YMCA

Event(s): Backstroke/Butterfly

Notes: Rated the No. 1 recruit in the state of Alabama by CollegeSwimming.com … Adds major depth to strong backstroke class; could also compete in butterfly … Southern Zone champion in 100 and 200 back … Runner-up at Y-Nationals in 100 back … Olympic Trials qualifier.

Ashley Roberson

Hometown: Tifton, Ga.

High School: Tift County

Club: Moss Farms Diving

Event(s): Diving

Notes: Finished fifth at Georgia state high school meet on 1-meter board … Competed at 2011 USA Diving Junior Zone D Championships, finishing 15th on platform … Competed for same club team as current Auburn senior Anna Aguero … Has been diving for two years.

Carly Scheper

Hometown: Fort Mitchell, Ky.

High School: Notre Dame Academy

Club: RedHawk Elite Diving Academy

Event(s): Diving

Notes: Competed at 2011 USA Diving Age Group Nationals … Finished third on platform, 10th on 3-meter … Five-time USA Diving Junior National finalist … AAU National Champion (age group) on 3-meter … Three-time high school all-state and academic all-state … High school teammate of swimming signee Caitlyn Forman.

Jillian Vitarius

Hometown: Kingwood, Texas

High School: Kingwood

Club: Blue Tide

Event(s): Backstroke

Notes: A five-star recruit according to Swimming World … Rated the No. 12 overall recruit in the nation and the top recruit in Texas by CollegeSwimming.com … One of the top backstroke prospects in the 2012 class … Won 200 backstroke title at 2011 NCSA Junior Nationals … Member of 2011-12 USA Swimming National Junior Team … Teammate of men's signee Jordan Jones.

MEN'S SIGNEES

Steyn Funk

Hometown: Windermere, Fla.

High School: Olympia

Club: Highlander Aquatics

Event(s): Distance Freestyle

Notes: Will compete primarily in distance freestyle events … Represented the United States with the NCSA All-American team in Osaka, Japan, in September, along with fellow signees Jacob Siar and Jordan Jones … 2011 Florida high school state champion in 100 freestyle; runner-up in 200 free.

Alex Hancock

Hometown: Wellington, New Zealand

High School: Pakuranga College

Club: Howick Pakuranga

Event(s): Butterfly

Notes: Ranked No. 10 overall among all recruits by CollegeSwimming.com … One of the top recruits out of New Zealand … Represented New Zealand at 2011 Youth Commonwealth Games, 2011 Australian Age Group and 2010 Trans-Tasman … Captured gold in 50, 100 and 200 butterfly at 2011 New Zealand Age Group Championships … Will compete for Auburn primarily in butterfly events.

Jordan Jones

Hometown: Kingwood, Texas

High School: Kingwood

Club: Blue Tide

Event(s): Mid-Distance Freestyle/Breaststroke/IM

Notes: A five-star recruit according to Swimming World … Rated the No. 18 overall recruit in the nation by CollegeSwimming.com … No. 3 recruit in the state of Texas … Qualified for 2012 Olympic Trials in 200 and 400 IM … Represented the United States on the NCSA All-American in Japan in September … Strong in mid-distance freestyle, breaststroke and IM … Texas state champion in 500 freestyle … Time of 3:48.12 in 400 IM at last year's NCSA Junior Nationals would have ranked top-25 at 2011 NCAA Championships … Teammate of women's signee Jillian Vitarius.

Andrew Laing

Hometown: Madison, Ala.

High School: Bob Jones

Club: Mission Viejo

Event(s): Diving

Notes: Competed at 2011 Junior National Diving Championships … Finished eighth in the boys' 3-meter synchro final … Won a national title in the boys' 3M synchro final at the 2010 AAU National Diving Championships … Has helped Bob Jones High School to three consecutive Alabama state titles … Was runner-up on 3-meter board at the 2010 Alabama High School state meet … Also a percussionist in the BJHS band.

Jacob Siar

Hometown: Roanoke, Va.

High School: Cave Spring

Club: CCA Marlins

Event(s): Backstroke

Notes: Ranked as No. 3 recruit in state of Virginia … Finished 29th in 200-meter backstroke at ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships in August … Was runner-up in 200m back at USA Swimming Junior Nationals … Qualified for Olympic Trials.

Justin Youtsey

Hometown: Fort Mitchell, Ky.

High School: Beechwood

Club: RedHawk Elite Diving

Event(s): Diving

Notes: Qualified for 2012 Olympic Trials in 3M Synchro with Missouri's Clark Thomas … Qualified for USA Junior National Championships … Two-time Kentucky high school state champion … Two-time Kentucky all-state … NISCA All-American … Was an exchange student in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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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