Tulane Adds Two Swimmers, Two Divers as Early Signees

NEW ORLEANS, LA, November 24. SWIMMERS Victoria Givens and Christina Herubin, and divers Samantha Poyta and Pat Vining, have signed National Letters of Intent with Tulane University, head coach Daniella Irle announced at the conclusion of the NCAA Early Signing Period.

The quartet will join the Green Wave program for the 2005-06 season when it will integrate with a team that is slated to return 21 letterwinners. The inking of Poyta and Vining will triple the amount of divers on the roster for next year as true freshman Danielle Carrillo is the lone diver currently on the Tulane roster.

“We feel that we have very few holes in our swimming program right now, and really put a focus on adding depth in our diving,” Irle said. “Samantha is an accomplished diver who we will be counting on to help build up that program, and Pat is someone we think will develop into a fine collegiate diver as well. Victoria is one of the top breaststrokers in the South, and the opportunity to add someone with her talent is something that does not come along every year. Christina, meanwhile, will be part of a very strong distance team that is already one of the best in Conference USA.”

Givens, a senior at Vanderbilt Catholic and a native of Houma, La., highlights the signing class after earning All-America honors in the 100-yard breaststroke in each of her final three prep seasons, and claiming the distinction in the 200-yard individual medley as a junior. A four-year captain, Givens won state titles in the 100 breast and 200 IM all four years as a prepster, and set or shared in nine school records. Her career-best times are 1:05.60 in the 100 breast, 2:22.26 in the 200 breast, and 2:08.75 in the 200 IM. Givens is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Key Club and student council. She sports a 4.0 grade point average, was voted class president as a sophomore and senior, and was a Louisiana finalist for the Wendy’s High School Heisman. She chose Tulane over Columbia, LSU, Nebraska, Ohio State and Yale.

Herubin, a native of Coppell, Texas, was a two-year letter winner at Coppell High and team MVP last year. She was regional finalist in the 100-yard backstroke and part of a district winning 400-yard freestyle relay in 2003. At the club level, Herubin swam for Lakeside Aquatic Club where she showed her mettle in the distance events as a six-time USA Swimming sectional finalist at 500 yds and above. She posted lifetime best times of 5:05.15 in the 500 and 17:46.40 in the 1650 free. Away from the pool, Herubin is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society. She chose Tulane over Pacific, Ohio, Johns Hopkins and Truman State.

Poyta, meanwhile, will join the diving program next year after a stellar prep career at Lake Braddock High in Burke, Va. She earned All-America honors as a freshman when she finished third in the Virginia State High School Championships with a 386.31 in 11 dives. She was a member of the Patriot Dive Club from 1999-2004, and posted career-best marks of 344.40 in the one-meter springboard (10 dives) and 332.10 in the three-meter event (10 dives). A 4.0 student, Poyta is a member of the National Honor Society, was invited to the National Student Leadership Conference and Junior Statesmen Summer School, and was nominated for Who’s Who Among American High School Students. She chose Tulane over Florida, Penn, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Vining had a standout prep career at Jamestown High School in Williamsburg, Va. A two-year captain, Vining earned VSHL all-state honors in the one-meter springboard and named Thomas Clemens Most Outstanding Diver as a junior in 2004, and was a state finalist as a sophomore. Away from the diving well, she is a member of the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, and was elected president of the Student Council as a senior.

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