USC Announces Spring Signees, Transfers; Includes Olympians

LOS ANGELES, California, June 13. BUILDING on the momentum of a pair of 2012 top 7 NCAA finishes for the second year in a row and a banner fall signing class, USC men's and women's swimming head coach Dave Salo released today a spring signing class that features Olympians, international talents and prep All-Americans to further bolster the ever-improving Trojan swimming and diving program.

Joining the Trojans on the women's side is American Olympic diver Haley Ishimatsu, a transfer from Duke from Seal Beach, Calif., and Polish Olympian Katarzyna Wilk.
Signing for the men are Fred Abramyan from Los Angeles, Ridge Altman from Naples, Fla., Morten Klarskov from Albertslund, Denmark, Harry Pullar from Brisbane, Australia, and Zach Wagner from Seattle, Wash.

Women's Signees
Ishimatsu is the younger sister of Trojan Victoria Ishimatsu, who recently finished her USC career with a 2012 NCAA title and five career All-American honors. Haley competed for the U.S. at the 2008 Olympics in the 10-meter (14th) and synchronized 10-meter (fifth). She competed at the NCAA Championships as a freshman at Duke in 2011, taking 11th on platform. She won the 2011 ACC title on platform, setting a conference record (351.65) and earning 2011 All-ACC first team honors. Haley, who will be competing at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials on platform and on synchro platform with her sister, won a platform title at the 2012 USA Diving Winter Nationals, her fourth career national title. She also has three top 3 national finishes, including a second at the 2008 Olympic Trials. Haley won silver on synchro platform at the 2009 FINA World Championships, claimed silver on platform and bronze on synchro platform at the 2007 Pan Am Games and was fifth on synchro platform at the 2007 World Championships.

Wilk represented Poland as part of its 800m free relay at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and will also race in the event at the 2012 Olympics. She was a bronze medalist on Poland's 200-meter medley relay at the 2011 European Short Course Championships and was a semifinalist in the 50m and 100m free at the 2010 European Championships. She also represented Poland at the 2009 World Championships in the 50m free and at the 2009 European Short Course Championships in the 200m free relay and the 100m free. Wilk recently won a 2012 Polish long course title in the 100m free for the third year in a row. She was third in the 50 for the second year in a row after winning it in 2010, the same year she also claimed the 200m free.

Men's Signees
Prep All-American Abramyan won 2012 CIF Division I titles in the 50yand 100y free as a senior and was third in the 50y free at the 2012 National YMCA Short Course Championships. In 2011, he helped Loyola to its first team CIF title in, taking second in 100y free and third in 50y free.

Altman, who was a co-captain at Seacrest Country Day in Naples, Fla., finished second in the 100y fly in the 2010 Division IA state championships and third in the 100y breast as a senior and earned 2010 Naples News Boys Swimmer of the Year honors. Originally from Maui, Altman also won FHSAA 1A Region 3 titles in the 100y fly and 100y breast.
Klarskov, who attended Falkonergaarden's Gymnasium & Hf in Frederiksberg, Denmark, owns three Danish national crowns, several Danish Junior National titles, individually and on relays, and has broken more than 30 Danish junior records as well. At the 2011 European Short Course Championships, he reached the semifinals of the 50m breast and competed in the 100m and 200m breast and the 400m IM. He was second in the 200m IM at the 2011 Danish Nationals.

Pullar, who swims for St. Peters Western Swim Club in Brisebane, Australia, finished 10th in the 100m fly (17-18 years) at the Australian Age Championships 2012. At the Victorian Open Long Course Championships, he was 12th in the 100m fly.
Wagner, a prep All-American from Lakeside High, led his school to the 2012 Class 3A boys team title, winning the 50y and 100y free and anchoring the 400y free and 200y medley relay wins.

The above signees join 2011 men's signings Maclin Davis, Gottfried Eisenberg, Dakota Hodgson, Brock Redondo, Ted Singley and Jeff Swanston and women's signees Jasmine Tosky, Kendyl Stewart, Brianna Weinstein, Henriete Stenkvist, Nikki Chiang, Natalie Kalibat and Andrea Kropp.

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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