Northern Kentucky Clippers Swimmers Announce College Choices

Photo Courtesy: Northern Kentucky Clippers

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The Northern Kentucky Clippers are churning out another solid graduating class this year. In the past, the club has sent numerous swimmers to colleges and universities across the nation including LSU, Virginia, Stanford, and Arizona. This year’s regular signing period has yielded five Clipper commits to date.

Maria Novak will cross the Ohio River to join the University of Cincinnati Bearcats and second-year coach Mandy Commons-DiSalle. Commons-DiSalle, who has been intent on keeping local talent in Cincinnati, will gain a competitive butterflier and distance freestyler. Novak brings a 57.80 100-yard fly, 2:08.84 200-yard fly, 1:57.47 200-yard free, and 5:12.20 500-yard free to the Bearcats. The Notre Dame Academy swimmer also exhibits talent in the classroom, winning the National Guard Best and Brightest Award at the 2015 Kentucky High School State Meet.

Brooke Harkrader becomes the second Clipper in the program’s history to commit to the United States Coast Guard Academy. Harkrader’s niche as a sprint freestyler will make her a valuable asset for the Coast Guard. Her 25.13 would have scored 17^th at the school’s conference championship. Like Novak, Harkrader is an exceptional student and has been recognized as a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar.

Georgia Southern will gain a distance freestyler in Stephanie Williams. Her 5:13.23 500-yard puts her just outside of GSU’s incumbent top five in the event. Williams adds a 2:01.24 200-yard free to her accolades and hopes to crack the two-minute mark as a member of the Eagles swim team.

Covington Catholic High School senior Rob Newman is set to join Miami (OH) University in the fall. He will add depth to the RedHawks squad in the butterfly and short free events. Newman could add to Miami’s relays with his 21.47 50-yard free personal best and 47.19 100-yard free. His 100-yard fly (49.66) and 200-yard fly (1:49.37) times will make an immediate impact for the Redhawks.

Newman’s Covington Catholic teammate Mike Summe will join a slew of Clippers at the University of Kentucky next fall. Former Clippers Zach Smith and Annie Davies just completed their freshman campaign with the Wildcats, and fellow Clipper senior Austin Haney also plans to head to Lexington next school year. Summe brings a strong breaststroke and IM to the Wildcats. He’s notched a 2:03.98 personal best in the 200-yard breast to compliment his 56.28 100-yard breast. His 200-yard IM stands at a 1:51.39, which earned him second place at this year’s Kentucky State Meet. Summe adds a 4:03.24 400-yard IM to his arsenal for the Wildcats.

In addition to Haney, these five join Lilly Morgan (Tulane) and Ellen Neltner (Bellarmine), who made early commitments.

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