North Carolina Signs 10 To Fall NLIs

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, December 1. THE University of North Carolina's swimming and diving teams have added 10 recruits during the fall signing period that ended earlier this month. Head swimming coach Rich DeSelm announced six men swimmers and four women swimmers who will join the team in the fall of 2010. All have signed National Letters of Intent to attend UNC.

"We are thrilled with the commitments we have received this fall. Each of these talented individuals chose North Carolina because of our great academic institution, the support system we have in place, our team and the positive things going on in our program. We look forward to this group of outstanding individuals joining us next fall," said coach DeSelm.

WOMEN'S SIGNEES
Danielle Jansen
• Hometown: Mason, Ohio
• High School: William Mason High School
• Club Team: Mason Manta Rays
• Club Coach: Ken Heis
• Honors & Highlights:
1. Named Mason High School MVP – 3 years
2. Cincinnati Enquirer 2008 Swimmer of the Year
3. 15-time All-American
4. 2008 Ohio High School 200-yard freestyle State Champion
5. 2008 Greater Miami Conference Swimmer of the Meet
• Planned Major: Journalism
• Short Course Career Bests: 23.24 in the 50 free, 50.33 in the 100 free, 1:48.52 in the 200 free, 4:55.81 in the 500 free, 55.22 in the 100 fly, 2:01.06 in the 200 fly, 2:03.87 in the 200 IM

• Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "We are elated to have Danielle coming to UNC. She is a versatile swimmer and will immediately compete for spots on relays. Ken Heis, her club coach at Mason , and Mark Sullivan, her high school coach at William Mason High, have prepared her well for college swimming and we expect she will experience tremendous success at Carolina. We will count on Danielle to swim multiple events, including freestyle, butterfly and IM."

• Danielle Jansen Says: "I knew UNC was the perfect place for me because of the swim team's awesome balance between focused hard work and fun, and the dedication and support of the entire coaching staff. I am also confident that UNC will provide me with the opportunity for an excellent education."

Emily Kelly
• Hometown: Belle Harbor, N.Y.
• High School: Sacred Heart Academy
• Club Team: Long Island Aquatic Club
• Club Coach: Dave Ferris
• Honors & Highlights:
1. Member of the U.S. Junior National Team 2008-09, 2009-10
2. 1500 free Silver Medalist in the Victoria Championships in Melbourne, Australia in 2008
3. Member of the record setting 2008 U.S. Junior National 800 free relay team
4. 3-time NYS Federation 500 free champion and 2-time NYS Federation 200 free champion
5. 2008 U.S. Olympic Trial qualifier in the 200, 400 and 800-meter freestyle
• Planned Major: Speech Pathology
• Short Course Career Bests: 23.62 in the 50 free, 50.75 in the 100 free, 1:47.90 in the 200 free, 4:46.41 in the 500 free, 9:45.83 in the 1000 free, 16:07.43 in the 1650 free, 57.66 in the 100 back, 2:03.83 in the 200 back
• Long Course Career Bests: 57.04 in the 100 free, 2:02.38 in the 200 free, 4:14.50 in the 400 free, 8:40.88 in the 800 free, 16:45.86 in the 1500 free

• Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "Emily is one of the top distance prospects in the country and has the range to swim any freestyle event, as well. Recruiting Emily went so smoothly that it just seemed as if UNC was the perfect fit for her. Dave Ferris, her coach at Long Island Aquatic Club, and Mary White, Varsity Swim Coach at Sacred Heart Academy, have brought Emily along well and we know she has a terrific work ethic and background. Emily has medaled in national and international competition and we look forward to helping her further her career at those levels."

• Emily Kelly Says: "I chose UNC because it is the best place for me to excel academically, and with my swim career. I want to be a speech pathologist, and UNC has a tremendous program. I knew UNC had an excellent distance group, which would definitely help me to improve. What I found out during my visit was that the team is extremely close and they made me feel very welcome. I just feel like I'll be a part of one of the best teams in the country, in one of the most beautiful places in the country, Chapel Hill, N.C."

Stephanie Peacock
• Hometown: Cape Coral, Fla.
• High School: Bishop Verot High School
• Club Team: Swim Florida
• Club Coach: Mac Kennedy
• Honors & Highlights:
1. Member of the 2007-08 U.S. National Junior Team
2. 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 IM, 200 and 400 freestyles
3. Two-time high school state champion in the 500 free and one-time in the 200 free
4. Holds nine Bishop Verot school records
5. 10-time All-American
• Planned Major: Undecided
• Short Course Career Bests: 1:46.73 in the 200 free, 4:41.63 in the 500 free, 2:02.86 in the 200 IM, 4:18.57 in the 400 IM

• Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "Stephanie comes to UNC from Coach Mac Kennedy and Daryl Sullivan's Swim Florida program and is a tremendously well-trained and versatile swimmer. Her middle distance freestyle events are rapidly improving, but she also excels in both IM's and can compete well in the distance events. Recently, Stephanie won the 200 & 500 yard freestyle events at the Florida State High School Class 1A meet. After Stephanie's official visit, we all wanted to find a way to have her end up in Chapel Hill. "

• Stephanie Peacock Says: "I chose UNC because not only is it a great school academically and I will get a great education, but when I met the team, I fit right in with them, and they are an awesome group of swimmers that made me feel like it was home. I can see myself spending the next four years with them at Chapel Hill. The coaching staff is an amazing group of coaches, and I can't wait to start my college career with them. I also felt that they wanted me as much as I wanted to swim at UNC. Go Heels!"

Katie Rechsteiner
• Hometown: Middletown, Del.
• High School: Charter School of Wilmington
• Club Team: Delaware Swim Team
• Club Coach: Dan Sullivan
• Honors & Highlights:
1. Three-time first team All-State selection
2. Two-time member of the Charter School state championship team
3. Two-time 100-yard breaststroke high school state champion
4. Two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
5. Member of the National Honors Society
• Planned Major: Math/Science
• Short Course Career Bests: 1:03.32 in the 100 breaststroke, 2:16.58 in the 200 breaststroke

• Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "Katie comes to us from Coach Dan Sullivan at Delaware Swim Team and her high school coach, Chris Dohl. Katie is an outstanding student and has made tremendous strides coming onto the national scene in the breaststrokes. We got to know Katie and her family early in the recruiting process when they visited Chapel Hill and knew she was one we wanted to work hard at getting to join us at UNC."

• Katie Rechsteiner Says: "I visited some great schools, but I ended up choosing UNC because I loved the team atmosphere and the coaches. The school has great academics and the campus is beautiful!"

MEN'S SIGNEES

Patrick Ceddia
• Hometown: Sarasota, Fla.
• High School: Cardinal Mooney
• Club Team: Sarasota YMCA Sharks
• Club Coach: Ira Klein and Steve Brown
• Honors & Highlights:
1. 2008 USA Swimming Southern Zone All-Star Team Champion in the 200 and 500 freestyle
2. Member of the three-time YMCA Boys National Short Course Championship Team and 800 freestyle relay championship team in 2007, 2008 and 2009
3. Four-time Florida High School State Champion in the 200 and 500 freestyles in 2008 and 2009
4. Three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American 2008-2010
5. All-State Team Selection in 2009
• Planned Major: American history
• Short Course Career Bests: 45.51 in the 100 free, 1:37.38 in the 200 free, 4:24.00 in the 500 free, 50.83 in the 100 fly

• Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "Patrick is a Florida High School State champion and swims for one of the strongest YMCA Club programs in the country, Sarasota YMCA Sharks. Coaches Ira Klein and Steve Brown at the Sharks are experienced, veteran coaches who, along with Cardinal Mooney High coach Alice Jones Smithers, have guided Patrick through a successful high school, YMCA and USA Swimming career. Patrick recently won both the 200 & 500 yard freestyle events at the Florida State High School Class 1A Championships. We look forward to the positive impact Patrick will make at UNC in freestyle and butterfly events."

• Patrick Ceddia Says: "I chose North Carolina because of its excellent academic programs, the opportunity to become part of a great young swimming program, and the awesome group of coaches and swimmers on the team. In addition, I was very impressed with the campus and the academics."

Alex Gianino
• Hometown: Yonkers, N.Y.
• High School: Hackley School
• Club Team: Badger Swim Club
• Club Coach: John Collins
• Honors & Highlights:
1. All-league honors and league record holder in the 200 IM for the Ivy Preparatory Schools
2. 200 IM Hackley School record holder
3. 2009-10 High School team captain
4. 200 IM record holder at the Empire State Games and for the Westchester County
Swim Association
5. Hackley High School student ambassador
• Planned Major: Exercise and Sports Science
• Short Course Career Bests: 1:41.98 in the 200 free, 4:34.40 in the 400 free, 9:23.61 in the 1000 free, 2:04.76 in the 200 breast, 1:53.28 in the 200 IM, 3:59.83 in the 400 IM

• Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "It is great to have another Badger Swim Club team member joining us at North Carolina. Alex is relatively new to national level swimming and is improving rapidly. Swimming under Coach John Collins, a veteran coach of multiple Olympians, has helped Alex develop extremely well in a short period of time. We are counting on Alex to continue to improve and will look for him to help us in the IM, freestyle and breaststroke. Alex and his family visited UNC early in the recruiting process and we are excited his enthusiasm for our school and program never waned."

• Alex Gianino Says: "I chose UNC because of the great opportunities it offers both in academics and swimming. The team is extremely motivated and has high goals for the upcoming years. I think they have the determination to reach their goals, and I'd like to be a part of it."

Walker Knop
• Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
• High School: South Mecklenburg High School
• Club Team: New South Swim Team
• Club Coach: Jamie Thomas
• Honors & Highlights:
1. South Mecklenburg Team Captain 2009-10
2. Co-MVP for South Mecklenburg swim team in 2008-09
3. USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
• Planned Major: Business
• Short Course Career Bests: 1:42.54 in 200 free, 4:35.37 in 500 free, 9:23.69 in 1000 free
• Long Course Career Bests: 4:05.96 in 400 free, 1:06.68 in 100 breaststroke

• Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "Walker is, arguably, the fastest improving male swimmer in North Carolina right now. He has a wide range of events and it will be fun to see which ones he develops over the next few years. We are thrilled to have a recruit coming from Coach Jamie Thomas' New South Swim Team in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jamie and Coach Leslie Berens (South Mecklenburg High) have done wonders developing Walker over the past few seasons. Walker has family history with UNC as his mother, Crae Harper Knop, attended UNC from 1977-1982 and swam for two of those seasons. Walker's grandfather, Tom Harper, was a defensive line coach under Coach Bill Dooley at UNC from 1976-78."

• Walker Knop Says: "Great team, great school, great campus. I can't wait to be a part of it all next year. Go Heels!"

Dan O'Connor
• Hometown: Syracuse, N.Y.
• High Schools: Westhill High School/Nottingham High School
• Club Team: Syracuse Chargers
• Club Coach: Dan Sargalski (SC); Ed Curle (Nottingham High School)
• O'Connor attends Westhill High School but the school has neither a swimming teamnor pool. Therefore, he competes for Nottingham High School as an independent athlete.
• Has trained with U.S. Swimming National Select Camp in Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Short Course Career Bests: 1:41.66 in 200 free, 4:27.25 in 500 free, 9:11.66 in 1000 free, 15:26.89 in 1650 free, 1:5309 in 200 IM, 3:57.77 in 400 IM

• Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "We recruited well from New York this year and adding Dan to that group sweetens the list. Dan is a terrific young man who has a strong work ethic and will bring a great deal to our team with his IM and distance ability. His Syracuse Chargers coach, Dan Sargalski and Syracuse University Head Coach Lou Walker plus Ed Curle and Tim Fitzpatrick at Nottingham High School have developed and nurtured Dan well. We look for Dan to make an immediate impact in his events."

• Dan O'Conor Says: "I chose North Carolina because I felt real comfortable with my future teammates and coaches. UNC combines great academics with a swim program rich in tradition. I see a program with a great future that I can't wait to be a part of."

J.T. Stilley
• Hometown: Huntersville, N.C.
• High School: North Mecklenburg High School
• Club Team: SwimMAC Carolina
• Club Coach: Brad Wickard, Kathy McKee and Thad Schultz
• Honors & Highlights:
1. Member of the 2009 championship 2009 U.S. Junior National team
2. Three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
3. Member of the record holding National Age Group 800-yard freestyle relay
4. Member of the first place 800-meter freestyle relay at 2009 Junior Nationals
5. Member of the 4-A High School state championship team in 2009
• Planned Major: Business
• Short Course Career Bests: 1:39.29 in the 200 free, 4:33.40 in the 500 free, 1:54.72 in the 200 IM

• Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "JT is another terrific North Carolina prospect and is a product of SwimMAC Carolina. JT has improved well in the past few years and will join a strong middle distance group of freestylers next year. We are thrilled to continue the flow of prospects from MAC, one of the strongest club programs in the country. We have a long-standing tradition of drawing from MAC and are glad to have JT joining us next season. Coaches Brad Wickard, Kathy McKee and Thad Schultz at MAC have prepared JT well for college."

• JT Stilley Says: "The combination of outstanding academics and athletics made UNC the right choice for me. I am excited to be a part of such a great school and swim team."

Evan Virtue
• Hometown: Roseville, Calif.
• High School: Oakmont High
• Club Team: California Capital Swim Club
• Club Coach: Debbie Walker
• Honors & Highlights:
1. 2008 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 butterfly and 1500 freestyle
2. Two-time Sierra Nevada Male Athlete of the Year 2008 and 2009
3. National Youth Team member 2009-10
4. Member of the Sierra Nevada Zones Team
5. Summer Sanders Men's High Point Award Winner in 2009
• Planned Major: English/Education
• Short Course Career Bests: 1:41.19 in the 200 free, 4:27.49 in the 500 free, 9:11.46 in the 1000 free, 15:19.37 in the 1650 free, 49.98 in the 100 fly, 1:47.16 in the 200 fly

• Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "Evan comes from California Capital swim club in Roseville, CA. Coach Debbie Walker has done a great job developing Evan and we look forward to him joining us. Evan has tremendous background and is an excellent long course and short course swimmer. Evan connected with UNC and our team on his visit and we are thrilled to have him joining us next fall. Evan will swim distance and butterfly."

• Evan Virtue Says: "What I experienced on my recruit trip with UNC was a solid team with great chemistry who worked very closely with its coaches. The academics at UNC are top notch, and I knew that a degree from UNC would set me up with any job that I desired after graduation."

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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