Lewis Swimming Announces Class Of 2013 Flyers

Lewis College Press Release

ROMEOVILLE, Illinois, April 28. LEWIS swimming head coach Stephen Thompson announced that three men and five women will join the Flyers' swim teams next season as the class of 2013.

Brandon Drogemuller (Hollister, Calif./San Benito), Michael Pedroni (Lockport, Ill./Lockport), and Matt Schmidt (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) will join the men's team, while Ashley Cusack (Willow Springs, Ill./Lyons Township), Jamie Gunn (Fenton, Mo./John F. Kennedy Catholic), Samantha Marotta (New Lenox, Ill./ Lincoln Way Central), Orla Power (Greenville, N.C./ J. H. Rose), and Catie Reese (Tragalgar, Ind./Indian Creek) will join the women's team.

"I am extremely pleased these young athletes have accepted the privilege to swim at Lewis University," Thompson said. "These men and women are accomplished student athletes who possess outstanding academic and athletic ability, and I am confident they will contribute positively to our team and campus community.

This is a complete class which meets our team needs, and together they have the important opportunity and potential to improve our team in the GLIAC and qualify for the NCAA DII Championships either individually or as part of relays."

Brandon Drogemuller (Distance Free and I-M) Monterey Bay Swim Club (Mary Hazdovac & Mark Temple) San Benito High School (Christine Schafer) USA Swimming Short Course National Qualifier and NCSA Junior National Qualifier 200 Free 1:46.69 500 Free 4:42.75 1000 Free 9:31.70 1650 Free 15:43.44 400 I-M 4:15.22

Coach Thompson on Drogemuller: "Brandon is an important recruit for Lewis. He has made some very good improvements during the past year qualifying for the USA Swimming National Championships, and I anticipate he will continue develop at Lewis. Brandon is going to have an immediate and positive impact on our already accomplished distance group, and. I expect him to challenge Kevin (Coates) for the top positions at the GLIAC and NCAA Championships."

Michael Pedroni (Sprint Free) Lockport Township High School High School All-American and Illinois All-State 50 Free :22.19 100 Free :48.14 200 Free 1:47.42

Coach Thompson on Pedroni: "Michael might be the hidden talent in of our class. He is already accomplished at the high school championships, but I think his potential is in front of him. He will strengthen our sprint relays, and I am looking forward to developing his middle distance free."

Matt Schmidt (Middle Distance Free/Fly) Lake Central Barracudas (Jeff Kalinski) Lake Central High School (Todd Smolinski) High School All-American and IN All-State 200 Free 1:43.55 500 Free 4:44.75 100 Fly :52.33

Coach Thompson on Schmidt: "Matt will be a solid leg of our 800 free relay, and I believe he can help us achieve our first NCAA Championships relay qualifier next year. I am looking forward to him as a part our middle distance workouts with Jason (Ament), Adam (Olszeski), Aaron (Olszeski), Allan (Sliva), Kevin, Brandon and Michael. Together, they can reach new levels of success at the GLIAC and NCAA Championships for Lewis University."

Angela Cusack (Sprint Free) Fox Valley Swim Team (Dave Krotiak) Lyons Township High School (Scott Walker) 50 Free :25.13 100 Free :55.64

Coach Thompson on Cusack: "Angela could be another surprise recruit for our team. She has received excellent coaching from Dave Krotiak at Fox, and Lyons Township is a very strong Illinois high school team. She has also divided her time with water polo, and she should improve by concentrating only on swimming. Immediately, she is going to improve our sprint relays, and she should develop into a scorer at the GLIAC Championships."

Jamie Gunn (Distance Free) Rockwood Swim Club (Rob Laux) John F. Kennedy Catholic High School (Anne Hawkey) 200 Free 2:03.55 500 Free 5:22.76 1000 Free 11:21.73 1650 Free 18:43.36

Coach Thompson on Gunn: "Jamie is going to be a part of a developing women's distance group at Lewis. She is another swimmer who has been part of a strong USA Swimming Club. Jamie has developed a strong work ethic at RSCA, and I expect her to push Carrie (Borgstede) and Genny (Aamoth) in practices so we can continue to improve our points' production in the distance events at the GLIAC Championships."

Samantha Marotta (Middle Distance Free) Lincoln Way Swim Association (Mark Hoffer and Ryan Couhihan) Lincoln Way Central High School (Marlo Varnado) 200 Free 2:04.30 500 Free 5:30.42

Coach Thompson on Marotta: "Samantha is another athletic recruit who split time playing water polo. We will spend a lot of her first year focusing on increasing her training volume to compliment her natural speed. I would not be surprised if she contributes immediately at the GLIAC Championship and eventually develops into a great middle distance swimmer at Lewis."

Orla Power (Distance Free/Fly) Greenville Swim Club (Casey Charles) J. H. Rose High School 200 Free 1:59.84 500 Free 5:10.73 1000 Free 11:03.31 1650 Free 17:41.50 200 Fly 2:12.15 400 I-M 4:44.58

Coach Thompson on Power: "Personally, I couldn't be happier signing Orla. I coached her during my one year with the Greenville Swim Club. She is another swimmer who will bring an outstanding work ethic to our team. She received excellent coaching and national event exposure from Coach Casey at the GSC. Orla will put her name in the Lewis record books many times during her career and I am counting on her to help our team reach new heights at the GLIAC and NCAA Championships."

Catie Reese (Back/Fly) Indian Creek Aquatic Club (Brad Smith) Indian Creek High School (Brad Smith) 100 Back 1:01.78 200 Back 2:15.55 100 Fly :57.97

Coach Thompson on Reese: "Catie also had a breakout year at Indian Creek High School with Coach Brad Smith. Her time in the 100 fly is faster than our school record, and she is already pushing the NCAA time standards. Catie has a great attitude, and she is very competitive which will benefit our team. She is going to be a key member of both of our medley relays that will challenge our school records and push the NCAA time standards."

A Catholic University sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The mid-sized university is being honored for the fifth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. For more information please visit

www.lewisu.edu.

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