Trojans Announce Sensational Early Signing Recruiting Classes

LOS ANGELES, California, November 27. A group of swimmers heavy in 2012 U.S. Olympic Trial experience, state titles and national and state records have signed national letters of intent with the Trojans, USC head swimming coach Dave Salo announced Monday (Nov. 26).

The talented class joining the women's team includes Blair Carnes from Midlothian, Va., Chelsea Chenault from Walnut Creek, Calif., Jamie Christy from Atlanta, Sidney Cooke from Danville, Calif., Maggie D'Innocenzo from Andover, Mass., Riley Hayward from Kenilworth, Ill., Kelsey Kafka from San Diego, Lexie Malazdrewicz from Evergreen, Colo., and Evan Swenson from Evanston, Ill.

The standout group signing with the men includes Santo Condorelli from Jacksonville, Fla., Michael Domagala from Woodhaven, N.Y., Reed Malone from Winnetka, Ill., David Morgan Jr. from Concord, Calif., and Steven Stumph from Moraga, Calif.

Men's Signees
Condorelli, from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., broke the Florida state record in the 50y free and clocked the fifth fastest time (19.88) in the event in high school history last week to win the Florida state title. Also last week he led off The Bolles' 400y free relay with a 43.5, one of three relays that broke national prep records. The other two were the 200y free and medley relays. Condorelli, who raced in the 50m and 100m free and 100m fly at the 2012 Olympic Trials, is also a junior national champion in the 100m free.

Said Coach Salo: “Santo is emerging as one of the top sprinters in the country. We are excited about Santo working with (current Trojan) Vladimir Morozov and eventually filling the sprint shoes that Vlad will leave behind upon his graduation in 2014.

Domagala, from Regis Jesuit High in New York City, won the 2012 U.S. Junior National title in the 200m free, clocking the country's fastest time in the event this year by a 16-year-old. Domagala was third in the 200m IM at the same event and he is also strong in the 100m free and the 100m fly.

Said Coach Salo: “Michael has made huge strides the past two seasons and we are very excited about his enthusiasm. He will be a force in the 200 free and will no doubt be a player in the 800 free relay.”

Malone, who attends New Trier High in Winnetka, Ill., is the Illinois state champion in the 200y IM as well as the 200y and 400y free relays (setting a national prep record in the latter) and was a member of the 2012 U.S. National Junior team. He was second at the state finals in the 500y free. At the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, Malone was 17th in the 400m free and also swam in the 100m and 200m free and the 200m fly.

Said Coach Salo: “When I saw Reed take down a strong field at Junior Nationals last year, with mature skill, I knew that I wanted Reed on the team. We are excited about what he brings to the team in the 200 and 500 free in particular.”

Morgan Jr., from De La Salle High in Concord, Calif., is the defending North Coast Section 50y free champion and was runner-up in the 100y free. One of the country's top sprinters, he's also talented in the 100y fly.

Said Coach Salo: “We are very excited that we were able to snag two of the best Northern California kids right out from under Cal and Stanford. David is a strong sprinter with a lot of up side. David will be an impact swimmer in our sprint relays.”

Stumph, from Campolinda High in Moraga, Calif., was the 2012 Junior National champion in the 200m breast and is the California North Coast Section record holder in the 100y breast (54.06) and has won NCS titles in the 100y breast and the 200y IM. He is the top-rated breaststroker in his class and 0.1 off the national high school record as a junior.

Said Coach Salo: “Steven comes to USC as one of the best breaststrokers in the country and strengthens the depth we have in the breaststroke and IM events. Steven is also an outstanding student and along with NCAA championship performances we are expecting him to be a leader in the classroom.”

Women's Signees

Carnes, who attends The Steward School in Richmond, Va., is a U.S. Junior National teamer who is the top-ranked breaststroker in Virginia in the 100y and 200y. She competed in the 200m breast at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials and was a two-time breaststroke finalist at the 2011 U.S. Junior Nationals.

Said Coach Salo: “Blair got the ball rolling this year in our recruiting being our first fall commit. Blair comes to USC as a strong breaststroke specialist to continue the tradition of Trojan breaststroke swimming.”

Chenault, who preps at Carondelet High in Concord, Calif., was a 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials finalist in the 200m free and was 16th in the 400m free. She missed a top 6 finish in the 200m free and a berth in the 2012 Olympics by less than a quarter second. She was a semifinalist at the 2008 U.S. Trials in the 200m free as a 13-year-old and also swam in the 100m, 400m and 800m free. Chenault will represent the U.S. at the 2012 FINA Short Course World Championships in December in the 200m free. She was a 2012 U.S. Junior Pan Pac participant, winning the 200m free and taking second in the 400m free. At the 2010 U.S. Junior Pan Pacs, she won both the 200m and 400m free and also claimed golds in the 400m and 800m free relays.

Said Coach Salo: “Chelsea is one of the top freestyle specialists coming out of high school this year. She can swim 100 to the 1650 and we will look to her to champion all of our freestyle relays. Chelsea will be a player in the 2016 USA Olympic Trials.”

Christy, from Westminster High in Atlanta, competed in the 100m breast at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. Injured as a junior, she was a state finalist as a sophomore.

Said Coach Salo: “Jamie will bring her skills in the breaststroke and IM to the team next year, along with a strong academic record. She comes from one of the best club teams in the country so she knows how to be a team player.”

Cooke, from Monte Vista High in Danville, Calif., swam in both the 100m and 200m back at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. New to the sport, Cooke has been swimming competitively for just two years. As a 2012 junior, she was second in the 100y back in the CIF North Coast Section Championships.

Said Coach Salo: “Sidney comes to USC with a lot of potential to improve having only been swimming for a few brief years. Her enthusiasm for USC will lead her down the path to exceptional performances in the next several years.”

D'Innocenzo, from Andover (Mass.) High, is a four-time state record holder and competed at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200y and 400y IM and the 200m fly. D'Innocenzo recently led Andover to its fourth straight MIAA sectional title with wins in the 200y IM and 100y breast. She is a three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Scholastic selection and All-Star and the 2010 All-Scholastic co-Swimmer of the Year and Eagle-Tribute Swimmer of the Year. Her older brother is Nick D'Innocenzo, an All-American at Texas.

Said Coach Salo: “We are very excited to have Maggie joining us next year. She has some great IM credentials and she reminds us of the type of swimmer that Meghan Hawthorne has turned out to be. Hard working and energetic and a team player.
Hayward, from New Trier High in Winnetka, Ill., competed at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100m breast. She has made multiple state finalist appearances in the 100y breast and 200y IM.

Said Coach Salo: “Riley is coming off a strong Illinois high school season where her team won its third straight state team title. She knows how a to win a team championship and that experience will payoff as the Trojans work towards an NCAA team title.

Kafka, who attends Torrey Pines High in San Diego, Calif., was the 2011 CIF San Diego Section 200y IM and 100y breast champion as a sophomore, leading her school to the team title, and won the 100y breast as a freshman as well. She competed in both the 100m and 200m breast at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Said Coach Salo: “Kelsey continues our long line of outstanding swimmers from the North Coast Swim Team in San Diego. She comes from a team that knows how to work and race and we think her potential will emerge in our program.”

Malazdrewicz, from Evergreen (Colo.) High, was a 2011 U.S. Junior National runner-up in the 200m free and has won five state titles, including two each in the 200y and 500y free. She was a 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials semifinalist in the 200m back and was less than a second away from making the final. She was tabbed the 2012 Canyon Courier Athlete of the Year.

Said Coach Salo: “Lexie has a tremendous amount of potential and we are expecting a lot from her. She has great size, strong technique and tremendous team enthusiasm.”

Swenson, from Loyola High in Chicago, was a 12-time Illinois state finalist her first three years in school with six top nine finishes, including two runner-up finishes in the 50y free. At the 2011 U.S. Junior Nationals, she tied for second in the 50m free and she competed in the event at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. She has competed in both basketball and water polo in high school and earned 2012 Illinois All-State third team water polo honors.

Said Coach Salo: “Evan is coming off a strong showing at her state high school championships. She will help us in the sprint free events and she is also the state champion in the 100 breaststroke. Evan is an athlete and will excel in our training environment.”

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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