Rice Announces Five Signees

HOUSTON, Texas, December 8. FIVE prep swimmers with experience at the high school and club levels have signed with Rice and will join the Owls in the fall of 2010, head swim coach Seth Huston announced on Tuesday (Dec. 8). The Owls' new signees are Quincy Christian from Granite Bay, Calif., Chelsea Fong from Cupertino, Calif, Michelle Gean of Kingwood, Tex., Carter Graves of Phoenix, Ariz., and Lillian Marrow of Houston.

Coach Huston had high praise for the Owls' latest signing class, his eighth at Rice since taking the helm of the program. Each of the signees has elite competitive credentials. The signees' first semester at Rice begins in August of 2010.

?We are very pleased with this group of young women," coach Huston said. "They are excellent students, athletes and people. They all really admired and respected the atmosphere of the Rice campus and the way our swimming program integrates into the university. This group can really make an impact on our team?s success next year. We are excited about next year and what this class will contribute.?

2009-2010 Rice Swimming Signee Bios

Quincy Christian * Individual Medley/Distance
Granite Bay, Calif. (Granite Bay HS / Sierra Marlins)
* 200 IM 2:04.98; 400 IM 4:22.71; 500 Free 4:57.00; 1000 Free 10:24.00;
* Two-time High School All-America in the 500-free and in the 200-IM as a junior
* National qualifier in long-course 400-IM; Short-course national qualifier in the 200-IM and 400-IM
* Coached by Jeff Pearson (club)
* Coached by John Sherman (HS)
* Granite Bay HS Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2007
* USA Swimming Academic All-America
* Advanced Placement Scholar
Coach Huston said: "Quincy is an excellent student with pre-med aspirations. We really feel that her outgoing and positive demeanor will fit in well with our team, as well as lift-up her teammates. I wanted to add a distance/IM specialist to this year's class. Quincy fit the profile perfectly. She'll have a great group to train with and I expect Quincy to make an impact right away in our dual meets and championship season."
Quincy Christian said: "I fell in love with the Rice campus and the Residential College System. I thought the team was really close and friendly and I thought it was a good fit."

Chelsea Fong * Freestyle Sprints
Cupertino, Calif. (Monta Vista HS / De Anza Cupertino Aquatics)
* 50 Free 23.72; 100 Free 50.33; 200 Free 1:48.99; 200 IM 2:06.21
* U.S. Open qualifier
* Coached by Pete Raykovich (club)
* Coached by Don Vierra (HS)
* High School All-America for three years
* Helped Monta Vista HS win 2009 league championship
* First place at CCS for two years
* Monta Vista team MVP as a sophomore in 2008
* California Scholarship Federation for three years
Coach Huston said: "Chelsea is a great addition to the team. We loved her outgoing personality and she fit in great with the team. Chelsea is a talented and versatile freestyler. She hails from a great swim club (De Anza Cupertino Aquatics) and will be instrumental in getting our relays qualified for the NCAA Championships."
Chelsea Fong said: "I chose Rice University because I love the flexible curriculum. Also the fact that it had an excellent quality of life and overall academic offerings."

Michelle Gean * Freestyle/Backstroke/Breaststroke/IM
Kingwood, Tex. (Kingwood High School / Blue Tide Aquatics)
* 50 Free 24.60; 100 Free 51.64; 100 Back 56.89; 200 Back 2:05.15; 100 BR, 1:07.19; 200 IM, 2:05.75
* Nine-time All-America honoree
* Two-time Scholastic All-America selection
* Coached by Kevin Milak (club)
* Coached by Russell Duin (HS)
* Member of the National Honor Society
* Spanish National Honor Society
* National Charity League
Coach Huston said: "I have been watching Michelle compete locally for a couple of years now. I am really excited she chose Rice. Michelle is very athletic and very versatile. I am not yet sure what we will focus on once she gets to college, but you can be sure she will excel. Michelle will make us better where we end up needing her.?
Michelle Gean said: "I chose Rice because of the outstanding combination of academics and athletics. I look forward to being a part of the Rice community.?

Carter Graves * Butterfly/Backstroke
Phoenix, Ariz. (Arcadia HS / Arizona Marlins Swim Club)
* 100 Butterfly 56.97; 200 Butterfly 2:05.16; 100 Back 57.74; 200 Back 2:05.25;
* Winter Nationals Zone Qualifier
* High School All-America
* Coached by Mike Maczuga (club)
* Coached by Erica McClurg (HS)
* Arizona Female Swimmer of the Year, 4A Division II
* Seven-time High School State champion
* Class Saluditorian
* National Honor Society
* Academic All-America
Coach Huston said: ?Carter was our first commitment. She loved the school and the team, and our team loved her. We felt she was a great fit. We needed to add quality and depth to our backstroke and butterfly events and Carter fits the bill."
Carter Graves said: ?I chose Rice University because I can not only see myself thriving here as a student and swimmer, but growing as a person. Rice's atmosphere is ideal for these three parts of my life.?

Lillian Marrow * Freestyle/Breaststroke/Backstroke/Butterfly/IM
Houston, Tex. (Stratford High School / Dad's Club)
* 50 Free 23.69; 100 Free 52.62; 100 BR, 1:06.16; 100 Back 57.96; 100 Fly 57.58; 200 IM, 2:08.79;
* Finished fifth in the 50-freestyle at the 2009 state championships; 13th in the 100-breaststroke at the '08 state meet
* Three-time senior sectionals finalist; Gulf zones finalist
* Two-time Stratford HS Swimmer of the Year and Freshman Swimmer of the Year in 2007
* Multiple All-America honoree
* Two-time Scholastic All-America selection
* Coached by Mike Hoskovec (club)
* Coached by Rey Aguilar (HS)
* Member of the National Honor Society
* Completing final phase of Girl Scouts Gold Award
Coach Huston said: "Lilly is a great addition to the team. She is an excellent student and an athlete. Lilly can compete in all four strokes as well as sprint. I know we will find her to be versatile in our lineup. I think Lilly's best swimming is in front of her.?
Lillian Marrow said: "Rice has proven overall superior academics and the high-quality business program I was looking for. All this while having smaller class sizes and an excellent student/professor ratio. Most impressively, the high 'Quality of Life' rating and characteristics made it my hands-down obvious choice. The friendliness of the swim team, the family atmosphere created by the College System, the student body, and campus just fits me perfect. Go Owls!"

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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