UMass Adds Four Early Signees

AMHERST, Massachusetts, November 17. MAX Butler (Duxbury, Mass.), Patrick Kuehne (Hillsborough, N.J.), Julian McKean (Suffern, N.Y.) and Drew Talarick (Skillman, N.J.) have each signed National Letters of Intent to swim for the University of Massachusetts announced head coach Russ Yarworth on Friday.

"Although it is impossible to 'replace' our graduating seniors as they have given so much to the program, this group of signees should go a long way to maintaining our Championship tradition," said Yarworth. "All four of them are solid citizens, strong student-athletes, and very excited to join the UMass Swimming and Diving family."

Butler is the lone Bay State native in the group. He has been a standout swimmer for Duxbury High School and the Bernal's Gators swim club. In 2004 and 2005, he was the Massachusetts State Champion in the 100 backstroke. Butler has also proven himself at the national level as he finished ninth overall in both the 50 and 100 back at the Junior National Championships. He is the Duxbury High School record holder in the 200 individual medley, the 200 free, the 500 free and the 100 back. He has also been a member of the school's record-setting 200 free and 400 free relay teams.

"Max is one of the top swimmers in Massachusetts," said Yarworth. "We are very pleased to have him 'stay home' and represent UMass. His backstroke and individual medley times predict great things in the future!"

At UMass, Butler intends to pursue his degree in either math or science.

Swimming for the Jersey Gators Club Team, Kuehne (pronounced keene) won both the 200 individual medley and the 100 breast at the New Jersey YMCA State Championships in 2006 and took third in the 200 breast. His time in the 200 IM was a new meet record. In 2005, he finished 11th in the 100 breast, 13th in the 50 breast and 15th in the 200 IM at the YMCA Long Course Nationals. Also in 2005 he ranked 16th nationally in the 100 breast.

"Pat is a great addition to our program," said Yarworth. "He is versatile, upbeat, team oriented, and motivated to help us continue the UMass swimming championship tradition."

At Hillsborough High School, he won the 100 breast at the 2006 Somerset County Championships and was a two-time Skyland Conference Champion in the event. He also placed second in the 200 IM at both meets in 2006. In 2005 he won the 200 IM at the Somerset County Championships and the 100 breast and 200 IM at the Skyland Conference meet. He owns school records in the 200 IM, 100 breast and as a member of the 200 medley and 200 free relay teams.

In 2005 he helped Hillsborough to the 2005 New Jersey High School State Championship title and the Skyland Conference Championships. While at Hillsborough, he was part of three sectional championship teams spanning 2004 to 2006.

Kuehne intends to major in biochemistry at UMass following in coach Yarworth's footsteps.

McKean is a two time Junior Olympic National Qualifier and multiple Junior Olympic Champion. He swam for both Suffern High School and the New Jersey Wave swim club.

"Julian brings another great attitude, lots of potential and versatility, and good swimming genes to the program," said Yarworth. "Both of his parents were competitive swimmers (father Matt at Villanova) and we are looking forward to Julian establishing himself as one of the premier swimmers in the Conference."

McKean holds personal-best times of 21.90 seconds in the 50 free, 47.8 seconds in the 100 free, and 1:44.6 in the 200 free. He is also a 200 individual medley swimmer (1:57.0) and a 100 and 200 breaststroker (1:01.2 and 2:13.20, respectively).

At UMass, McKean intends to major in business marketing.

Talarick also enjoyed a highly successful prep career where he was the three-time team MVP at Montgomery High School (2004, 2005, 2006). He finished ninth in the state championships in the 200 free in 2005 and 2006.

"Drew will be an impact swimmer immediately. He has really developed in the last year at the national level, and should be an immediate high point scorer at the Atlantic 10 Championships," said Yarworth. "We're thrilled to add Drew to the program!"

In 2004-05 he was the county champion in the 200 free, while in 2005-06 he won the 100 free. Talarick was also the 200 IM Skyland Conference Champion in 2005-06.

Along with swimming at Montgomery, Talarick also competed for the Somerset Valley YMCA Swordfish. In 2006, he finished 12th nationally in the 200 free at the YMCA Short Course National Meet. At the YMCA Long Course National Meet that season, he took fourth in the 200 free, fifth in the 200 IM, and 10th in the 100 free. He was also a member of the 400 free and 800 free relay teams at the long course nationals where both squads placed second. At the short course nationals, he was part of the 800 free relay team that placed fourth.

At UMass Talarica will major in landscape architecture.

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