Irish Have 10 Commitments For 2006-2007

SOUTH BEND, Indiana., May 31. NOTRE DAME men’s swimming and diving head coach Tim Welsh has announced the commitment of 10 student-athletes for the 2005-06 recruiting class. The Irish recently completed the accomplished class during the late signing period. The newcomers will look to fill the void of the 10 departing seniors from the Class of 2006 for the Fighting Irish.

David Anderson, Andrew Deters, Andrew Hoffman, Ross Moore, Ray Toomey and Jeff Wood have recently committed to swim next season at Notre Dame and they will join Tyler Angelo, Mackenzie LeBlanc, John Lytle and Robert Navarre, who all signed National Letters Of Intent in the fall.

“This class represents a major transition for us with 10 members of our team graduating and 10 members of our team entering,” said Welsh. “Our hopes for this class are at least high and maybe extravagant. We are looking forward to an exciting four years.”

The highly touted class features four swimmers with 2008 Olympic Trials cuts along with a YMCA national champion, USA Swimming Speedo Champions Series (College Station, Texas) Swimmer of the Meet and the Pennsylvania Class AA Swimmer of the Year. In addition, the new corps has high school state champions from Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.

“These 10 guys will certainly help us continue as a program to achieve the goals that we’ve set for ourselves,” says Notre Dame assistant coach Matt Tallman. “They’ll enter Notre Dame at a great time to help learn from our great senior class that has played a big part in our recent success. This group can compete at a high level in every event and we will expect that, and more, over the next four years.”

Recent Commitments:

David Anderson (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg H.S.) … will swim the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events for the Irish … has a top time of 21.51 in the 50 and a top mark of 47.57 in the 100 … placed first in the 50 free and third in the 100 free at the 2005 YMCA Illinois/Missouri Area championship meet … part of the winning 400 freestyle relay team at that same meet … garnered All-America honors in the 200 free relay and was a consideration for All-America honors for times posted in the 50 free … Illinois Swimming Association All-State Swim Team honorable mention in both the 50 and 200 free relay … named the Western Big 6 Conference Male Athlete of the Year as a senior … a three-sport athlete at Galesburg High School as he also competed in football and track & field … received the Don Morris Memorial Award his senior year for his academic and athletic accomplishments along with his leadership abilities … captained all three of his athletic teams during his senior year … an all-conference performer in football as he lettered three years at tight end and defensive end … threw discus and shot put on his track and field team … qualified for the state track meet his junior year in the discus.

“David is an excellent multi-sport athlete,” states Welsh. “We think he has a very bright future in swimming here at Notre Dame.”

Andrew Deters (Claremont, Calif./Claremont H.S.) … will help to bolster the Irish middle distance and distance events … swims the 500, 1,000, 1,650-yard freestyles and the 400 I.M. … possesses top yard times of 4:33.10 in the 500, 9:17.16 in the 1,000, 15:33.16 in the 1,650, and 4:00.24 in the 400 I.M. … posted a 2008 Olympic trial cut in the 1,500-meter free with a time of 15:46.04 … he is currently a member of the Irvine NOVAS swim club.

“Andrew Deters is a very accomplished distance freestyle swimmer,” says Welsh. “We are looking forward to him continuing to build the strength of our distance freestyle program.”

Andrew Hoffman (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead H.S.) … a four-time high school All-American … another solid addition to the middle distance corps for the Irish … owns the top 200-yard free time (1:39.74) among the Irish newcomers … has posted marks of 20.86 in the 50-yard free and 46.33 in the 100-yard free … has also clocked a time of 4:34.65 in the 500-yard free … anchored 2006 state champion 200 free relay … owns marks of 24.97 in the 50-meter freestyle and 53.65 in the 100-meter free … was a four-time sectional champion in both the 200 and 500 free along with being all-state during both his junior and senior seasons.

“Andrew is both very fast and very versatile,” comments Welsh. “He also continues the line of swimmers from Indiana, who have made large contributions to our program.”

Ross Moore (Champaign, Ill./Champaign Central H.S.) … competes in the butterfly and IM events … has a top 100 fly time of 50.01 and a mark of 1:50.33 in the 200 fly … 2006 Illinois high school state champion in the 100 fly … runner-up in the 200 IM at that same meet … top IM times are 1:53.88 in the 200 and 4:04.78 in the 400 … sister, Maria, earned her MBA with a concentration in marketing from Notre Dame (’05).

“Ross is an excellent competitor and an outstanding racer,” remarks Welsh. “His individual medley and butterfly times will help us right away.”

Ray Toomey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin H.S.) … comes to the Fighting Irish as an accomplished swimmer in the butterfly and sprint freestyle events … has registered a 2008 Olympic trial cut in the 100-meter fly with a time of 55.58 and was also the Pennsylvania high school state champion in the event … top yard time in the 100 fly is 48.80, which is the best for an incoming Fighting Irish swimmer … has a mark of 1:52.28 in the 200 fly along with a top 50 free time of 21.25 and a 100 free time of 46.15 … is club teammate at the JCC Sailfish with current Irish swimmer, Alan Carter.

“Ray is enthusiastic, spirited and very fast,” states Welsh. “We hope he will continue the 100 butterfly tradition established by Frank Krakowski (class of 2005) and Tim Kegelman. His freestyle speed will also strengthen our sprint freestyle program.”

Jeff Wood (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) … arrives at Notre Dame following a year at Indiana University, where he was a versatile swimmer competing in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle along with the 100 and 200 backstroke … carries the top 100 back time (50.39) among the Irish newcomers and he also owns a time of 1:50.93 in the 200 back … an accomplished prep swimmer as he was a 16-time All-American … led Fairport High School to three state and section championships … copped New York State Swimmer of the Year and Meet accolades as the 100 back and 200 free state champion his senior season … won state titles in the 100 back and two relays … a part of two relays that established state records his sophomore campaign … took second place in the 50 back at the 2005 Junior National Championships in Orlando, Fla., while qualifying for the finals four times … secured spots at the U.S. Open and World Cup on the club circuit.

“Jeff’s backstroke and middle distance freestyle fill a large need in our program in both individual and relay events,” comments Welsh. “We are looking forward to him making an immediate contribution.”

Early Commitments:

Tyler Angelo (Walnut Creek, Calif./Las Lomas H.S.) … swims breaststroke and butterfly events … posted an Olympic Trials qualifying time of 2:20.53 in the 200-meter breast at the 2005 U.S. Junior Championships … clocked a 100-meter breast time of 1:06.22 at the same meet … Rookie of the Year and two-time team MVP for his club team, the Orinda Aquatics … tabbed as the 2004 Age Group Swimmer of the Year for Pacific … father, Tom, was a two-time All-American and two-time NCAA Champion in water polo at Stanford from 1975-78 … other top times for Angelo include 57.95 in the 100-yard breast, 51.34 in the 100-yard fly, 2:02.81 in the 200-yard breast and 1:50.96 in the 200-yard fly.

“In addition to his speed, Tyler brings a great deal of energy, enthusiasm and spirit to our team,” remarks Welsh. “We see Tyler as a great team player with excellent leadership potential.”

MacKenzie LeBlanc (Plano, Texas/Plano East H.S.) … 2006 Speedo Champions Series (College Station, Texas) Swimmer of the Meet … swims with the City of Plano Swimmers club team … specializes in the 200 fly, 400 IM and 500 free … will swim in the Canadian Nationals this summer in hopes of being selected for an international team … swam an Olympic Trials cut in the 200-meter fly with a time of 2:03.80 at the 2005 US ConocoPhillips Nationals … posted a U.S. Nationals cut in the 200-yard fly at the 2005 GU Speedo Championships … has personal-best times of 49.67 in the 100 fly and 1:47.90 in the 200 fly … has been tabbed an All-American in the 500 free and the 200 IM along with being named an Academic All-American … career-best time in the 200-yard IM is 1:52.63 and 3:58.41 in the 400-yard IM … holds Plano East Senior High School records in the 200 IM and as part of the 200 medley and the 200 free relays … 2006 Texas state champion in the 500 free … personal-bests of 1:41.39 in the 200-yard free and 4:29.43 in the 500-yard free … named 2005-06 Plano East Male Athlete of the Year … sister, Kayli, is currently a junior on the Centenary College swim team.

“Mac LeBlanc can swim almost every event and swim it fast,” states Welsh. “His butterfly, freestyle and individual medley events can all contribute to the program immediately and the fact that he has already qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials will help raise our team level of performance to the elite national level we are seeking.”

John Lytle (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield H.S.) … 2006 Pennsylvania Class AA Swimmer of the Year … swims the 50, 100 and 200-yard freestyle events along with the 100 back … 2006 YMCA National Champion in the 100-yard free … is the two time (2005 and 2006) PIAA state champion in the 100 free and 2006 champion in the 50 free … garnered NISCA All-American distinction in the 50 and 100 free and was honorable mention in the 200 free … owns personal-best times of 20.98 in the 50 free and 45.16 in the 100 free … was the 2005 YMCA state champion in the 200 free and runner-up in the 100 free along with being a YMCA national qualifier in 2003, ’04 and ’05 … owns five individual records at Clearfield High School and four more in relay events … four-time NISCA All-American … Academic All-American … two-year team captain … holds nine Clearfield High School records and was a member of the National Honor Society … was tabbed his team’s Rookie of the Year as a freshman and was team MVP as a sophomore and junior.

“As both a state champion and a YMCA national champion, John Lytle brings the sprint speed to our program that will help not only our individual events, but also our relay events,” says Welsh. “He is talented and fast, and can fill a big role in our sprinting program.”

Robert Navarre (Glenview, Ill./Loyola Academy) … competes with the Scout Aquatics club team in Lake Forest, Ill. … swims the 50 and 100-free events along with the 100 fly and swims on relays … as a junior, he finished second in the state of Illinois in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.73 … that year he also finished third in the 100-yard free in a time of 46.24 … clocked a 100-yard fly time of 52.17 at the 2005 Speedo Championships … posted a relay split time of 20.15 in the 50 free … his great-grandfather, grandfather and father are all Notre Dame graduates, while his sister, Laura, is currently a junior at the University.

“With more points available in the sprint freestyle events in meets than in any other events, a sprinter with Bobby’s speed is a real boost to our program,” comments Welsh. “We are excited about teaming Bobby with the other incoming freshmen to strengthen our sprint relays and our entire sprinting program.”

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