NC State Swimming Program Signs Nine

RALEIGH, North Carolina, December 2. NC State head swimming and diving coach Brooks Teal and his staff have announced the addition of nine student-athletes to the Wolfpack program in time for the 2010-11 school year. The men's team welcomes Ian Bishop, Maxim Litvinov, Barrett Miesfeld and Matt Thomas, while the women's squad adds Casey Cooper, Zina Grogg, Kaitlin Mills, Jordan Paavola and Bailey Woodling.

Bishop arrives via Corpus Christi, Texas, with tremendous potential.
Having quickly and quietly became one of the best swimmers in Texas under Tim O'Brien of Nitro Swimming, the Senior National qualifier specializes in the sprint freestyle, breaststroke and individual medley events. Poised to give the Wolfpack a lot of speed right from the start, Bishop signaled his arrival on the national scene by placing 12th in the 100 breaststroke at the Long Course Junior Nationals. Looking to major in music or business, Bishop chose NC State over Ohio State and West Virginia.

Litvinov exits Centerville, Ohio, with an eye on climbing the ranks of the ACC elite. Swimming for the Dayton Raiders under coaches Eric Limkemann and former Wolfpack standout Kevin Weldon, he will provide the NC State breaststroke corps with strength and dedication. A Junior National qualifier and high school All-America, Litvinov will have a chance to work his way into the 100 and 200 breaststroke rotations, as well as individual medley events. He selected NC State over Ohio State in part for its computer science/software engineering program.

Tucson, Ariz., native, Miesfeld will join the Wolfpack on the heels of a stellar prep career with The Catalina High School and Tucson Ford swim team. Having competed under nationally recognized coach Roric Fink, he will give the Wolfpack an immediate boost in its very young butterfly corps. A 2009 3A high school champion in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley, Miesfeld was also a Junior National qualifier. He aims to rise to the top of the ACC very quickly with a combination of great leg strength and quickness. Barrett will major in environmental technology, having selected NC State over Arizona State and Georgia Tech.

Thomas joins the Wolfpack from Rockville, Md., with a combination of great speed and even better endurance. The mid-distance freestyler swims under coach Dan Haines of Flying Gull Aquatic and will look to continue to make a mark on the national scene while shoring up the Pack's 200 and 500 freestyle events. A 2008 Junior National Champion in the 800-freestle relay, Thomas also won a Metros title in the 200 freestyle.
Expected to major in computer science, he selected NC State over Georgia Tech.

Cooper, out of nearby Pinehurst, N.C., swims under coach Taylor Cooper for the Sandhill Sandsharks. A Junior National qualifier in the 50 freestyle and 200 backstroke, she also was a Senior National qualifier in the 100 backstroke. Expected to contribute immediately in both sprint freestyle and backstroke events, Cooper will study education.

Grogg hails from Moon Township, Pa., where she competes with the West Alleghany Aquatic Club. A solid competitor in both the sprint freestyle and butterfly events, she has twice earned All-America distinction in the 100 butterfly and achieved All-America consideration in the 100 freestyle. Penciled in to compete right off the bat with both the butterfly and sprint freestyle corps at NC State, Grogg holds the 100 butterfly school record at Moon Area High School.

Mills comes from Rockville, Md., where she swims under Scott Vekeman and the Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club. An All-America selection in relay swims, she holds the club record in the 200 backstroke, and qualified for the Senior Nationals in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes. Positioned to give an instant boost to the Pack's backstroke rotation, Mills will major in psychology.

Paavola joins the Pacboth the butterfly and freestyle events, she swims for Blakefield Aquatics under the direction of head coach Keith Schertle. A Senior National qualifier in the 100 butterfly, Paavola is a current senior at Notre Dame Prep.

Woodling will move to Raleigh from Charlotte, N.C., joining a long and storied fraternity of NC State swimmers that have competed for the SwimMAC Club. She will look to bolster the Pack's artillery in the sprint freestyle, backstroke and butterfly events after becoming a Senior National qualifier in the 100 backstroke. Woodling attends Providence High School.

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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