Cal Men’s Swimming Signs Seven to Letters of Intent

BERKELEY, California, November 17. THE California men's swimming and diving program, the defending 2011 NCAA team champions, has signed seven talented high school athletes, it was announced today (Nov. 16) by head coach David Durden. The Golden Bears' list of 2011 signees feature standouts Nick Dillinger, Scott Haeberle, Michael Haney, Jacob Pebley, Josh Prenot, Sam Shimomura and Trent Williams.

Nick Dillinger is a talented freestyler from Gillette, Wyoming and is a member of the Gillette Swim Team where he was the Junior National Champion in the 50 free. At Gillette High School, Dillinger is a four-time individual and four-time relay state champion in 2010. He is also a six-time High School All-American, an Academic All-American, a three-time state Male Swimmer of the Year and a two-time Male Swimmer of the State Meet.

Scott Haeberle comes to Cal as an outstanding sprint freestyler, IMer and breaststroker from Bloomington, Ind. At Bloomington High School South he is a five-time All-American and last year helped his team to a state runner-up finish and swam the lead off leg of the state champion 200 free relay. Haeberle is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and was named the Herald Times 2010 Swimmer of the Year.

Michael Haney is from Rialto, Calif. and attends Bloomington High School. As a high school junior he won the CIF Division III titles in the 100 and 200 free and was selected as the Male Swimmer of the Year by the Press Enterprise. Also an outstanding student, he was the recipient of the 2011 Castle Award as his school's student of the year, and is a two-time Scholastic All-American. Haney was a member of the 2011 USA Junior World Championship Team that won a gold medal at the Junior World Championships in the 400 free Relay.

Jacob Pebley, from Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis, Ore., is a member of the USA National Junior Team and was a three-time gold medalist at the 2011 World Junior Championships, winning the 100 and 200 back, and was a member of the gold medal-winning 400 medley relay. In the 200 back, Pebley set a new World Championships record (1:58.73) en route to a gold medal. At the 2010 Junior Short Course Nationals he placed first in both the 100 and 200 back.

"Nick (Dillinger) has been on our radar for quite some time as one of the best sprint freestylers in the nation," said Durden, the 2010 and 2011 NCAA and Pac-10 Coach of the Year. "His investment in the sport has truly elevated his abilities as an athlete and a person. There have been some great swimmers to come out of Gillette, Wyoming and we are looking forward to continuing that tradition. Scott (Haeberle) brings great versatility to our class. As a sprint freestyler, IMer and breaststroker, Scott will bring great depth to an area that needed to be address on our team through this recruiting class. With Scott's rates of improvement and limited background in the sport, we look forward to working with him as he gets to campus in the fall.

"Michael (Haney) has really developed into one of the top-tier freestylers in the nation," continued Durden. "He has a great frame, and both his freestyle and butterfly strokes are really nice to watch. Michael has tremendous range in the freestyle and butterfly events, and we are looking forward to working with his talent. Jacob (Pebley) comes to Cal next fall as the best backstroker in this class. He continues to develop into one of the best 200 backstrokers in the nation, as well as the world. Jacob is another athlete who has great fundamentals, a good frame to work with, and tremendous aspirations to be impactful at the world level of swimming. Not only do we look forward to helping Jacob at the collegiate level, but continue to push him to help Team USA at the international level."

Josh Prenot, from Orcutt, Calif., is another one of the Bears' 2011 recruits who is a National Junior Team member. Prenot recently placed eighth in the 400 IM at the 2011 Summer Nationals and was fourth in the 400 IM at the Junior World Championships in Peru. Prenot's versatility has placed him on the National Junior Team in four events (200 breast, 200 fly, 200 and 400 IM).

From Santa Cruz, Calif. and attending Bellarmine College Prep, Sam Shimomura
was fifth in the 800 free and sixth in the 400 free at the Junior Nationals, as well as an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 (1:52.81) and 400 freestyles (3:57.95). In high school, he was a member of the Central Coast Section champion 200 free relay and was named his school's swimmer of the year in both 2010 and 2011. Shimomura is a 2010-11 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.

Trent Williams is from San Diego and attends Rancho Bernardo High School, where he was the CIF Champion in the 100 and 200 freestyle. Williams is also a member of the 2011 National Junior Team. He has been a High School All-American three straight years in the 100 and 200 free, as well as a three-time USA Swimming Academic All-American. Williams was named the 2010 CIF Athlete of the Year in swimming for San Diego County and holds the CIF record in the 200 free (1:37.77). In 2011, he was named Rancho Bernardo High School's Athlete of the Year.

"Very few athletes move through the recruitment process in the way Josh (Prenot) did over this past year," said Durden. "He was meticulous and patient in finding the right fit for his swimming, and we are very happy that he found that fit with Cal. Josh takes that same approach with his swimming and he is developing into one of the best and most diverse swimmers in the nation. He is another athlete within this class who looks beyond the collegiate environment to have a continued impact for the U.S. at the international level of swimming. We have had the benefit of watching Sam (Shimomura) race over the past couple of years both at the Central Coast Section and during the summer time at various meets, and we are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with Sam and to continue to help him with his success.

"One of the main character traits that I have come to appreciate about Trent (Williams) is his determination," added Durden. "He has been to our campus both unofficially and officially, and every time I have spoken with him in person or over the phone, I become more impressed with his focus and determination. Trent is a great addition to our program and he will be immediately impactful in our middle distance freestyle events."

Cal Men's Swimming 2011 Letter of Intent Signee Facts and Quotes

Nick Dillinger

Parents: Dwayne and Danielle Dillinger

Hometown: Gillette, Wyoming

High School: Gillette High School

Club Team: Gillette Swim Team

SCY

50 Free – 20.21

100 Free – 44.19

200 Free – 1:37.63

500 Free – 4:28.14

100 Fly – 49.40

LCM

50 Free – 23.75

100 Free – 52.20

200 Free – 1:54.29

"I felt like coach David Durdan and Cal gave me the best opportunity, academically and athletically, to reach my goals," said Dillinger.

Scott Haeberle
Parents names: David and Beth Haeberle

Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana
High School: Bloomington High School South
Club Team: Counsilman Swim Team

LCM

50 Free – 24.24

100 Free – 52.28

100 Breast – 1:04.96

200 IM – 2:07.16

"Cal is my choice because it is the place where I can excel academically, and because of Cal's progressive swim program," said Haeberle. "I am confident that I can contribute to the team at a higher level than would be possible at any other school."

Michael Haney

Parent's names: Jonathan and Patricia Haney

Hometown: Rialto, California

High School: Bloomington High School

Club Team: The Claremont Club Swim Team

SCY

50 Free – 20.69

100 Free – 44.67

200 Free – 1:37.70

LCM

50 Free – 24.03

100 Free – 51.38

200 Free – 1:53.42

400 Free – 4:00.80

100 Fly – 56.63

200 Fly – 2:04.07

"Cal stood out above all with their amazing coach and team, as well as its top-notch education," said Haney.

Jacob Pebley

Parent's names: Walt Pebley and Cheslah Barkdoll

Hometown: Corvallis, Oregon

High School: Crescent Valley High School

Club Team: Corvallis Aquatics

SCY

100 Free – 45.05

200 Free – 1:37.94

500 Free – 4:28.36

100 Back – 47.62

200 Back – 1:42.73

200 IM – 1:47.46

400 IM – 3:51.98

LCM

100 Back – 55.01

200 Back – 1:58.73

200 IM – 2:04.11

400 IM – 4:23.99

"I chose Cal for a number of reasons, but the three main things were the academics, the success of the swim team, and how close the team is with one another," said Pebley. "I can't wait to be a part of the team next year. Go Bears."

Josh Prenot

Parent's names: Bill and Tammy Prenot

Hometown: Orcutt, California

High School: Family Partnership Charter School

Club Team: Santa Maria Swim Club

SCY

100 Breast – 56.31

200 Breast – 2:03.34

100 Fly – 48.71

200 Fly – 1:46.37

200 IM – 1:49.83

400 IM – 3:49.05

LCM

100 Breast – 1:04.25

200 Breast – 2:15.28

200 Fly – 2:01.02

200 IM – 2:02.24

400 IM – 4:18.44

"I chose UC Berkeley because of its outstanding academic and athletic tradition," said Prenot. "I feel that Berkeley is the best place for me to be happy and excel in both the pool and the classroom for the next four years. Go Bears."

Sam Shimomura

Parent's names: Scott and Sherri Shimomura

Hometown: Santa Cruz, California

High School: Bellarmine College Prep

Club Team: Santa Clara Swim Club

SCY

200 Free – 1:37.97

500 Free – 4:25.11

1650 Free – 15:24.83

LCM

200 Free -1:52.81

400 Free – 3:57.95

800 Free – 8:12.88

1500 Free – 15:57.49

"Cal was my number one choice when I considered swimming and academic opportunities," said Shimomura. "I also wanted to be part of, and contribute to, the great tradition of Cal swimming. I am excited to be joining a great team with the best coaching staff in collegiate swimming."

Trent Williams

Parent's names: Richard and Jennifer Williams

Hometown: San Diego, California

High School: Rancho Bernardo High School

Club Team: San Diego Aquatic Club

SCY

100 Free – 45.48

200 Free – 1:37.77

LCM

100 Free – 52.12

200 Free – 1:52.14

400 Free – 4:01.51

"Cal is the place where I will reach my goals, in and out of the pool, and have the most fun doing it," said Williams.

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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