Florida Inks Seven Major Recruits

GAINESVILLE, Florida, November 16. THE men’s and women’s programs at the University of Florida picked up the commitments of seven major recruits, including those of Stephanie Napier and Shaune Fraser. The other standouts joining the Gators are Elizabeth Kemp, Elizabeth Goldson, Kristen Beales, Sarah Peterson and Clark Burckle.

A senior at the Baylor School in Tennessee, Napier had the fastest 50-yard freestyle time in the high school ranks last year with a clocking of 22.52. She also ranked fifth in the nation in the 100 free with a mark of 50.20 and adds a big-time punch to coach Gregg Troy’s sprint contingent. As for Fraser, the senior at the Bolles School in Florida is a two-time Olympian for the Cayman Islands and ranked second in the country last year in the 200 free with a swim of 1:37.50. He also sat fifth in the 500 free with a time of 4:27.05.

Kemp and Peterson have each enjoyed stints on the National Junior Team, with Kemp a five-time qualifier for Senior Nationals, spanning the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, along with the 100 butterfly and 200 backstroke. As for Peterson, she is a national qualifier in the 100 and 200 free events and the 100 backstroke and is a Tennessee high school champ in the 200 free.

Beales has been a national qualifier in the 400 I.M., 200 breaststroke, 500 free and 1,000 free while Goldson has qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 400 and 800 freestyles. Burckle, whose sister Caroline is a Gator, is a seven-time high school All-American and is a two-time Kentucky Male Swimmer of the Year. He’s won state titles in the 100 breast, 200 I.M. and 500 free.

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