Virginia Tech Adds Four More Recruits

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, May 25. THE Virginia Tech women's swimming and diving team announced Wednesday the addition of four swimmers for the 2011-12 academic year. These women will accompany Kaylea Arnett, Sabrina Benson, Erin Foster, Kayla Hammerberg, Susan Justis, Katie Rogers, Emily Ryczek and Kelli Stockton, who all signed with the Hokies in the fall recruiting period.

Head coach Ned Skinner on the spring recruiting segment: "After a great fall signing period, we are thrilled to follow it up with more class act individuals that will play an integral part in the growth of our program. These young women represent what we want out of student-athletes and will fit right in with the character of our program. We are blessed to have such wonderful people joining us this fall."

Alyssa Bodin, hailing from St. Augustine, Fla., swims for The Bolles Sharks under Sergio Lopez and former Hokie great Gus Calado. She attends Bartram Trail High School where she is an honor student and is in the National Honor Society. Bodin has traveled a fair amount as a youth, but now has the permanent residence in the Sunshine State. Before coming to Florida, Bodin lived in Slidell, La., where she was the high school rookie of the year 2007, representing Northshore High School. After arriving to Florida, Bodin became a High School All-American in the 100 breaststroke and then followed up that performance becoming the 2A State Champion in the same event in 2009. Bodin, an US Junior National and US Senior National qualifier, was part of the Junior National Championship team for Bolles in 2009.
Bodin's Top Times:
100 Breaststroke: 1:02.83*
200 Breaststroke: 2:16.21*
200 Individual Medley: 2:07.31
*= converted from LCM
Skinner on Bodin: "Alyssa had a great spark with the school, team and coaches on her trip. Our staff and team members also felt an immediate connection with her. She has an entertaining and vivacious character that fits right in with the group and also has the sturdy desire to be the best she can be. To forgo her senior year of high school swimming to focus more on her Olympic Trial cuts tells you she is one determined individual. We are very ecstatic to have Alyssa on our side and she will surely bolster our breaststroke corp. Coach Calado and Coach Lopez have really worked with Alyssa to set her up great for college success and we're glad she'll be donning a VT cap this fall."

Jayme Katis, from Falls Church Va., attends Langley High School, coached by Ryan Jackson, and swims for Curl Burke Swim Club under the guidance of John Flanagan. Katis follows a successful line of athletes that have come to Blacksburg from Flanagan's group. Mainly a freestyler, Katis is a junior national qualifier and multiple time state finalists. She led her team to the regional title this past season. Besides her swimming ability, perhaps the most impressive attribute is her willingness to help her surrounding community. She is the co-founder of two non-profit organizations, "Beanies for Angles" and The Magic of Miracles, that have been supportive in the medical field, helping young cancer patients and emergency care individuals.
Katis' Top Times:
50 Freestyle: 24.00*
100 Freestyle: 51.78*
200 Freestyle: 1:51.34*
200 Individual Medley: 2:06.74
*= converted from LCM
Skinner on Katis: "Jayme is an amazing individual. We are very lucky and fortunate to have such a quality individual join our program and school. A tremendous leader in and out of the pool, Jayme will play a vital role in the development of our women's team. Having fit right in within hours of her trip, we are excited about what Jayme will bring to the Hokies in all aspects of life. Her freestyle has been improving under the tutelage of Coach John Flanagan and joins a strong young group in the middle freestyle races. We are also excited about what she can do in the 200 IM, as that has been a growing strength of hers this season."

Blaire Kinsey hails from Lansdale, Pa., and swims for the legendary coach Richard Shoulberg at Germantown Academy. Kinsey, also coached by Ben Yoder, is an honor student at Methacton High School, where she was a high school finalist in the 500 freestyle and 200 IM. She finished her career earning her first medal at state and also broke the school record in the 200 IM. Having been named first-team all-league and all-area, Kinsey broke three school records and one pool record during her prep career and also has been a NISCA All American.
Kinsey's Top Times:
200 Freestyle: 1:52.19*
500 Freestyle: 4:57.97
200 Individual Medley: 2:04.55
*= converted from LCM
Skinner on Kinsey: "Blaire is an exceptional young lady that carries a strong desire to succeed. Since joining Coach Shoulberg's group, Blaire has seen an enormous growth in the sport and it has gotten her even more excited to see more development. We see a lot of potential in Blaire and feel her IM events will be her biggest focus when at Virginia Tech. She joins a good group of ladies that all bear a strong work ethic and that will be an anchor for us continuing to build our program. Watch out for Blaire as her career unfolds."

Margaret Parcell is a Virginia native, residing in Rocky Mount, Va., who swims for CCA under Coach Greg Lake. A junior national qualifier, Parcell attends Franklin County High School. Parcell, also a first-team All-Timesland soccer performer, was one of 20 finalists for the Wendy's High School Heisman Awards in Virginia.
Parcell is also a multiple-time high school finalist competing in the Virginia AAA division.
Parcell's Top Times:
50 Freestyle: 23.89
100 Freestyle: 52.37
Skinner on Parcell: "We are pleased that Margaret decided to join the Hokies. The thought of adding a pure athlete to the team makes us excited about what she can accomplish in the next few years. She is relatively new to the sport and her upside is amazing. We feel she will develop into a sprint force in the ACC and surely aid in our growth of the sprint freestyle relays."

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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