West Virginia Adds 13 to Roster for 2017-2018 Season

Photo Courtesy: Giselle Gursoy

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (July 20, 2017) – West Virginia University swimming and diving head coach Vic Riggs has announced the addition of 13 student-athletes for the 2017-18 season.

The incoming class includes Sofia Bernard, David Dixon, Kayla Gagnon, Giselle Gursoy, Max Gustafson, Olivia Heflin, Philip Kay, Caleb Keck, Angelo Russo, Callie Smith, Jacob Tremblay, Luisa Winkler and Ally Van Netta.

“I am very excited to announce our incoming class of 2021,” Riggs said. “Each student-athlete brings to WVU the Mountaineer qualities we are looking for in their athletic ability as well as their commitment to academic excellence. The diversity and talent of this class makes it one of our best incoming classes in recent years. I’m looking forward to their contributions and growth in our program both as individuals and teammates. With this class, we have taken another step forward towards our goals as a program and becoming a consistent NCAA-qualifying team and working towards being a top-25 program.”

“I am really excited about the incoming class of divers,” WVU diving coach Michael Grapner said. “The depth of this diving squad is only getting deeper and stronger with the addition of Caleb, Jacob and Callie. All of the divers have something significant which they will contribute to the program and bring a solid background in diving, having been coached by very good coaches in the states and in Canada. I really think this class of divers is certainly going to help the WVU diving squad ‘spring’ into one of the top tier programs within the NCAA Zone. With confidence and hard work, I believe this is the year WVU diving will have a diver qualify for the NCAA Championships.”

Sofia Bernard

Windermere, Florida | Olympia High/Highlander Aquatic Club

Top Times:

50 Freestyle: 23.66

100 Freestyle: 50.68

200 Freestyle: 1:48.84

Riggs on Bernard: “Sofia is a very strong addition to our mid/sprint freestyle events and relays. She comes to WVU from a very strong and established club program at Highlander. I look forward to watching her continued development within our program.”

Bernard on West Virginia: “I chose WVU because it honestly felt like home when I was on my recruiting trip, and I couldn’t picture myself at any other school I was looking at.”

David Dixon

Richmond, Virginia | Mills E. Goodwin High/Nova of Virginia Aquatics

Top Times:

100 Butterfly: 48.52

200 Butterfly: 1:44.89

100 Breaststroke: 55.65

200 Breaststroke: 1:59.41

200 Individual Medley: 1:47.24

400 Individual Medley: 3:52.05

Riggs on Dixon: “David will have an immediate impact on WVU swimming and diving. His fly, breast and IM are among the best we’ve ever had in an incoming freshman, and I’m looking forward to working with him. David’s diversity is what I am most excited about, and can’t wait to see what the future holds for him as a Mountaineer.”

Dixon on West Virginia: “I chose West Virginia for several reasons. First of all, while it didn’t play a major role in my decision, Morgantown is where I was born, and both of my parents went to school at WVU, so I feel a personal attachment to the school and state as a whole in that regard. One of the major factors in my decision was the swimmers and coaches I’d be interacting with on a daily basis, and West Virginia had some of the best team camaraderie I’d seen in all of my visits to potential schools, and that really stood out to me. Additionally, I constantly forget how beautiful the geography of the area is, and every time I visit, I look forward to living in that scenery, and having that kind of view definitely didn’t sway my choice away from West Virginia at all, to say the least.”

Kayla Gagnon

Mount Laurel, New Jersey | Eastern High/Jersey Wahoos

Top Times:

200 Butterfly: 2:02.44

100 Butterfly: 56.89

Riggs on Gagnon: “Kayla is a very strong butterflier with a strong commitment to her competitive swimming future. Kayla’s energy and eagerness to excel will be strong additions to our women’s team and a big part of our team’s progression.”

Gagnon on West Virginia: “I fell in love with the school because of its spirit. There is so much pride in being a Mountaineer and wearing the Gold and Blue. The programs here are great and the overall team spirit and positive atmosphere is contagious. I can’t wait to spend my next four years here.”

Giselle Gursoy

Ajax, Canada | Pickering High/North York Aquatic Club

Top Times:

200 Freestyle short course meters: 2:03.27/SCY 1:51.25

400 Freestyle long course meters: 4:25.70/SCY 4:55.45

100 Freestyle short course meters: 57.70/SCY 51.88

Riggs on Gursoy: “Giselle comes to us as one of our strongest mid-distance freestylers in recent years and adds great depth to that part of our program. Her range in the freestyle events will contribute strongly to our relays and I look for her to be a huge part of our future.”

Gursoy on West Virginia: “I chose WVU because of the immediate feeling of home that I felt when I stepped on campus. The opportunities and potential that this team has is unlimited and I am proud and honored to be a part of it.”

Max Gustafson

Shaker Heights, Ohio | Shaker Heights High/Shaker Sharks

Top Times:

200 Freestyle: 1:40.65

500 Freestyle: 4:35.87

1,000 Freestyle: 9:32.41

100 Butterfly: 49.89

Riggs on Gustafson: “Max will add depth to our distance freestyle group and we look forward to his development. He also has good speed in fly and back and it will be fun to watch his progression as a collegiate swimmer.”

Gustafson on West Virginia: “The WVU swim team is filled with ambitious swimmers and coaches. The school spirit at WVU is unlike any other campus I have ever visited. I want to be part of that.”

Olivia Heflin

Albuquerque, New Mexico | Eldorado High/Vipers of Albuquerque Swim Team

Top Times:

100 Breaststroke: 1:02.36

200 Breaststroke: 2:21.44

Riggs on Heflin: “Olivia had a great 2016-17 season and I am very excited she is a Mountaineer. Her 50 and 100 breaststroke will strengthen our depth in our medley relays. Her potential in her 200 breaststroke makes her a great addition to our breaststroke group.”

Heflin on West Virginia: “I decided to attend WVU because of the love everyone has for this state, the school and, most importantly, each other. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”

Philip Kay

Pickering, Canada | Dunbarton High/North York Aquatic Club

Top Times:

200 Backstroke short course meters: 1:59.25/SCY 1:47.43

200 Individual Medley long course: 2:04.65/SCY 1:48.07

400 Individual Medley long course: 4:25.97/SCY 3:50.06

Riggs on Kay: “Philip will make an immediate impact in our IM events. He has had international experience with the Canadian Junior Team and will bring that knowledge and experience with him to WVU. Getting to know Philip over the past year and a half I realized he was someone we needed in our program to help us go where we want to go.”

Kay on West Virginia: “I chose WVU because I wanted to be part of something special. After visiting on my trip in September, I could tell the team was very driven and determined to make each other better, and that’s something I want to be a part of. The campus, school, and community are all fantastic and I know it’s a place I will be able to excel. I cannot wait to get to work.”

Caleb Keck

Coldwater, Ohio | Coldwater High/WTRC Dive Team

Top Scores:

1-meter: 404.90

3-meter: 436.10

Grapner on Keck: “Caleb Keck is a talent from a hometown I am very familiar with, because I grew up there, too. He comes recommended from a very good coach and friend. Caleb is going to be very good on the boards, he is strong and driven with a work ethic that will show results early in his career. I am looking forward to helping Caleb take his diving to the next level. With the addition of Caleb and Jacob (Tremblay) to the men’s program, we will be very competitive in the Conference and in our Zone Championships.”

Keck on West Virginia: “I chose WVU because of the family feeling that I have with the entire team. The atmosphere is like a close community and that was one of the most important things for me when I was looking at schools. I also really saw myself living in Morgantown because it had a great feel of urban and rural life.”

Angelo Russo

Roanoke, Virginia | Cave Spring High/Virginia Gators

Top Times:

100 Butterfly: 48.06

100 Backstroke: 48.41

200 Backstroke: 1:47.65

200 Individual Medley: 1:52.21

Riggs on Russo: “Angelo adds to both our backstroke and butterfly races. He will be an immediate relay contender for the Mountaineers. Angelo is a great student of the sport and is committed to every aspect of his swimming. That attitude and commitment will be a great addition to our program’s future.”

Russo on West Virginia: “I chose WVU because the team atmosphere and coaches immediately felt like the best fit for me stepping on campus. Without even being officially moved into WVU, I can already call it home.”

Callie Smith

Lansdale, Pennsylvania | North Penn High/Imaginary Dive Club

Top Scores:

1-meter (11 dives): 392.95

1-meter (6 dives): 168.95

3-meter (9 dives): 377.40

Grapner on Smith: “Callie is what her coaches would say ‘a diamond in the rough.’ She is incredibly coachable and has the desire to truly excel in diving at the college level. She is a Mountaineer at heart with a long line of family members who all went to WVU.”

Smith on West Virginia: “West Virginia has always been a family school and I love the campus and the team.”

Jacob Tremblay

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | St. Joseph High/Nepean Ottawa Diving Club

Top Scores:

1-meter (6 dives): 287.05

1-meter (10 dives): 398.90

3-meter (6 dives): 290.65

3-meter (10 dives): 442.65

Platform (9 dives): 393.30

Grapner on Tremblay: “Jacob has been well represented on the Canadian Junior diving circuit. His primary event is tower, however, he is a strong diver on the boards and has goals of improving his lists to a more competitive Division I diving list. I am excited about having Jacob as he will bring a new perspective on diving and help the WVU team to hone in on skill development and consistency.”

Tremblay on West Virginia: “WVU was exactly what I was looking for in a University, both for my education and for my diving. The WVU swim and dive team is very competitive and full of great people. With everything that I have seen from WVU, I believe that it is the perfect environment to excel both academically and athletically.”

Luisa Winkler

Ludwigsburg, Germany | Gymnasium am Rotenbühl Saarbrücken/Team Saarland

Top Times:

100 Freestyle long course meters: 58.55/SCY 51.75

200 Freestyle long course meters: 2:03.79/SCY 1:49.43

400 Freestyle long course meters: 4:21.30/SCY 4:50.56

Riggs on Winkler: “As we looked to continue to strengthen our mid-distance free program, Luisa became a pivotal part of this class. Luisa has tremendous talent in her freestyle and with German National competition experience she will be a great addition to our program.”

Winkler on West Virginia: “I chose WVU because when I had my first talk with (assistant coach) Liz (Iliff), I felt I was in good hands. I also thought that the collaboration between us can be great. I felt comfortable and then I made the decision to leave home and go for an adventure.”

Ally Van Netta

Ellicott City, Maryland | Mt. Hebron High/Columbia Aquatics Association

Top Times:

100 Backstroke: 55.78

200 Backstroke: 2:01.28

100 Butterfly: 56.88

200 Freestyle: 1:52.99

Riggs on Van Netta: “Ally had a great season and is one of the most diverse members of this incoming class and I look forward to her impact on the team’s future. Ally’s strength in the back and fly events adds great depth to our medley relays. She also excels in middle-distance freestyle and I am excited to see develop during her Mountaineer career.”

Van Netta on West Virginia: “West Virginia has a unique, positive and spirited environment that set it apart. I’m excited to be the next generation of Mountaineers in my family. I could tell that the students took pride in being Mountaineers, and the swimming and diving team not only felt like a team, but a family.”

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

West Virginia contributed this report.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

1 Comment

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Swimming Pool Lovers

6 years ago

Can’t leave that unshared