Virginia Signs Strong Recruiting Class

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, June 8. UNIVERSITY of Virginia coach Mark Bernardino has signed 17 athletes – 10 female and seven male – to National Letters of Intent for the 2007-08 season. The female class is one of the strongest in the nation, featuring five swimmers who have already qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials.

"I believe that this class is probably the finest and largest class we have had in my 30 years at Virginia," Bernardino said. "This group is talented, intelligent, and has the ability to improve. They remind me a lot of the class that came here in 1996 that went on to have a top-ten NCAA finish and won two ACC Championships."

Here's a look at the recruits, with capsules provided by the Virginia Sports Information Department.

Nancy Baar – Freestyle – Roanoke, Va. (Virginia Gators/Doug Fonder)
Sprint freestyler with career best times of 23.37 in the 50 Free, 51.23 in the 100 Free, and 55.79 in the 100 backstroke. Also the state champion in the pole vault.

Katya Bachrouche – Free/Fly/I.M. – Farmington Hills, Mich. (Farmington Y Stingrays/Rich Bennetts)
Versatile swimmer with career best times of 4:48.14 in the 500 Free, 2:02.51 in the 200 Fly, 2:03.59 in the 200 I.M., and 4:20.16 in the 400 I.M. A three-time state champion in the 500 Free.

Claire Crippen – Fly, I.M. – Conshohocken, Pa. (Germantown Academy/Dick Shoulberg)
Strong I.M. and Butterfly swimmer with career best times of 2:18.78 in the 200 I.M. (LC), 4:48.12 in the 400 I.M. (LC), and 2:15.06 in the 200 Fly (LC). A multi-event Olympic Trials qualifier and Senior National finalist. Prep school All-American is younger sister of former Cavalier All-American Fran Crippen.

Hannah Davis – Free/Back/Fly – Toano, Va. (Coast Guard Blue Dolphins/Steve Griffin)
Versatile swimmer with career best times of 23.43 in the 50 Free, 50.92 in the 100 Free, 1:50.96 in the 200 Free, 26.79 in the 50 Free (LC), 57.32 in the 100 Free (LC). The 2006 and 2007 state champion in the 50 and 100 free.

Amanda Faulkner – Free/Back/I.M. – Louisville, Ky. (Lakeside Seahawks/Mike DeBoor)
Strong I.M. and backstroke swimmer with career best times of 56.86 in the 100 back, 2:01.22 in the 200 back, 2:03.05 in the 200 I.M., and 4:22.55 in the 400 I.M. An Olympic Trials qualifier who finished third in the 200 back at the 2006 USA Junior Nationals.

Ellie Freeman – Breaststroke – Englewood, Colo. (University of Denver Hilltoppers/Shawn Smith)
Strong breaststroke swimmer with career best times of 1:02.62 in the 100 breast, 2:15.08 in the 200 breast, 1:12.41 in the 100 breast (LC), and 2:34.94 in the 200 breast (LC). An Olympic Trials qualifier who finished sixth in the 100 breast and ninth in the 200 breast at the 2006 USA Junior Summer Nationals. A two-time Colorado state high school champion.

Claire Galdun – Freestyle – Knoxville, Tenn. (Pilot of Knoxville/Gardner Howland)
Outstanding distance freestyler with career best times of 4:20.99 in the 400 Free (LC), 8:50.17 in the 800 Free (LC), and 17:01.00 in the 1500 Free (LC). An Olympic Trials qualifier.

Kristen Moores – Freestyle – Gaithersburg, Md. (Curl-Burke/Tim Kelly)
Strong sprinter with career best times of 24.0 in the 50 free, 51.0 in the 100 free, and 1:52.0 in the 200 free.

Anne Summer Myers – Free/Breast/I.M. – Richmond, Va. (NOVA of Virginia/Geoff Brown)
Versatile swimmer with career best times of 1:50.73 in the 200 Free, 4:53.25 in the 500 Free, 16:47.72 in 1650 Free, 4:22.44 in the 400 I.M., and 2:18.57 in the 200 breast. A 2006 USA Junior National Finalist.

Elizabeth Shaw – Free/Back/Fly/I.M. – Richmond, Va. (NOVA of Virginia/Geoff Brown)
Strong all-around swimmer with career best times of 55.22 in the 100 Fly, 1:57.47 in the 200 Fly, 2:02.69 in the 200 I.M., 4:15.10 in the 400 I.M., and 1:50.87 in the 200 Free. A multi-event Olympic Trials qualifier and member of the USA National Junior Team.

Tim Hayes – Breast/Fly/I.M. – Coopersburg, Pa. (Atlantis Aquatic Club/Mike Recine)
Versatile swimmer with career best times of 3:56.42 in the 400 I.M., 2:03.62 in the 200 breast, 1:49.80 in the 200 fly, and 1:51.89 in the 200 I.M. A 2007 USA Junior National Finalist.

Matt McLean – Free – Sterling, Va. (Curl-Burke/John Flanagan)
One of the best mid-distance freestyle recruits in the country with career bests of 1:36.83 in the 200 free, 45.33 in the 100 free, 4:26.94 in the 500 free, and 21.16 in the 50 free. A 2007 Junior National Champion in the 200 and 500 free.

Scot Robison – Free/Back/Fly – Charlotte, N.C. (New South Swimming/Jamie Thomas)
Sprinter with career best times of 23.77 in the 50 Free (LC), 51.32 in the 100 Free (LC), 1:53.09 in the 200 Free (LC), 20.68 in the 50 free, 45.45 in 100 free, and 49.20 in the 100 fly. An Olympic Trials qualifier and consolation finalist at 2007 Senior Nationals.

Taylor Smith – Freestyle – Saratoga, Calif. (Santa Clara Swim Club/John Bitter)
Distance freestyler with career best times of 1:38.28 in the 200 Free, 4:22.37 in the 500 Free, 9:18 in the 1000 Free, and 15:27.76 in the 1650 Free. Broke CIF sectional 500 free record.

John Snawerdt – Freestyle – Indian Harbor Beach, Fla. (Space Coast Swimming/Helen Ryan)
Distance freestyler with career best times of 1:40.94 in the 200 Free, 4:30.16 in the 500 Free, and 15:33.20 in the 1650 Free.

Ian Vogt – Free/Breast/Fly/I.M. – Richmond, Va. (NOVA of Virginia/Geoff Brown)
Versatile swimmer with career best times of 1:47.35 in the 200 fly, 3:55.97 in the 400 I.M., and 2:02.20 in the 200 breast. Olympic Trials qualifier and 2007 USA Junior National Finalist.

Zach Zohl – Free – Mohnton, Pa. (Five Star Swim Club/Mark Dawm)
Freestyle sprinter with career best times of 20.97 in the 50 free and 45.76 in the 100 free.

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