Duke Swimming & Diving Announces Twenty to 2019 Incoming Class

DUKE
Photo Courtesy: Duke Athletics

The Duke swimming & diving program and head coach Dan Colella announced Friday the addition of twenty new Blue Devils for the 2019 recruiting class.

Swimmers and divers in the women’s group of signees hail from California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Singapore.

“We are really excited to be bringing in such a talented class,” Colella said. “We started the recruiting process with wanting to add some real speed and that is exactly what we have done. We feel really good about how much of an impact this group will make on the 2019-20 season and to help Duke swimming and diving continue where we left off this past year.”

“This group of women and men are exactly what we are looking for when we recruit Duke student-athletes,” Colella said. “We have all the confidence in the world that they will only enhance what we have been building here at Duke University.”

Duke Swimming & Diving Women’s Class:

Olwyn Bartis

Freestyle – Charlotte, N.C. – Myers Park High School – SwimMac Carolina
Notes: State champion in the 100 and 200 freestyle and in the 400 freestyle relay as a junior … Winter Junior Nationals ‘A’ finalist in the 50, 100, 200 and 500 freestyle … Three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke: “I chose Duke because of the immediate spark I felt while on campus. The driven nature and school camaraderie set it apart, and it felt like home immediately.”

Bartis Personal Records:
50 Free SCY/LCM – 22.78/26.49
100 Free SCY/LCM – 49.44/57.77
200 Free SCY/LCM – 1:46.39/2:02.69
500 Free SCY – 4:46.31

Alex Bumpas

Sprint Free – Frisco, Texas – Wakeland High School – Texas Ford Aquatics
Notes:
Summer and Winter Junior Nationals qualifier … NISCA All-American … Captured a silver medal in the 50 freestyle and a bronze medal in the 100 freestyle at the Texas 5A state meet her sophomore year … Also broke district and facility records in the sprint freestyle events her sophomore year … USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke: “I chose Duke because of the unmatched balance between academics and athletics. I instantly felt at home with the team and coaches and know Duke will be the perfect place for me to excel in both the pool and the classroom.”

Bumpas Personal Records:
50 Free SCY/LCM – 23.34/26.55
100 Free SCY/LCM – 50.38/56.89
200 Free SCY/LCM – 1:50.52/2:05.83
100 Fly SCY/LCM – 55.61/1:03.79
100 Back SCY/LCM – 57.82/1:06.83

Kate Mullin

Diving – Wellesley, Mass. – Beaver Country Day School – Boston Area Diving
Notes:
Three-time All-American … One and three-meter semifinalist at 2018 USA Diving nationals … Qualified for 2017 USA Diving nationals in both springboard events
On choosing Duke: I chose Duke because I fell in love with the school, the people and the vibe when I stepped foot on campus for my first visit. The swimming and diving team coaches and athletes are fun, supportive, competitive and smart. The top tier academics and athletics are especially appealing, making Duke my dream school!

Mullin Personal Records:
One-Meter (6 dive) – 355.5
One-Meter (11 dive) – 596.6

Nat Ong

Sprint Free/Fly – Singapore – Methodist Girls’ School – Aquatech Swimming
Notes:
Has represented Singapore at numerous international competitions, including the 2018, 2016 and 2014 FINA World Cups, 2015 FINA Junior World Championships, the 2017 Southeast Asia Games, 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships and the 2016 Asian Championship … Received a Singapore National Olympic Council Meritorious Award in the women’s 400-meter freestyle relay for the relay’s performance at the Southeast Asia Games 2017
On choosing Duke: “I chose Duke because of the people and the environment.”

Ong Personal Records:
50 Free SCM/LCM – 26.05/26.60
100 Free LCM – 57.10
200 Free LCM – 2:05.14
50 Fly LCM – 28.68

Kayle Park

IM/Breast – Arlington, Va. – Yorktown High School – Arlington Aquatic Club
Notes:
Winter Nationals qualifier … Junior Nationals qualifier … All-American in the 100-yard breaststroke … Took third in the 200 individual medley at her senior state meet … State qualifier all four seasons
On choosing Duke:
“I chose Duke because of the perfect balance between academics and athletics as well as the instant connection I felt when I walked on campus. The team and the coaching staff are incredible and I can’t wait to be a part of such an amazing and talented team.”

Park Personal Records:
100 Breast SCY/LCM – 1:02.82/1:13.95
200 Breast SCY/LCM – 2:13.34/2:40.39
200 IM SCY/LCM – 2:02.23/2:32.60
400 IM SCY/LCM – 4:26.07/5:33.84

Emma Shuppert

Backstroke – Cincinnati, Ohio – Seven Hills School – Blue Ash YMCA
Notes:
NISCA All-American as a junior … State runner-up in the 100 backstroke as a junior … Earned top-three finishes in the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke at YMCA Long Course Nationals … Runner-up in 100 backstroke at YMCA Short Course Nationals … Raced to a top-eight showing in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley at states her sophomore year
On choosing Duke: “After only one visit, I knew Duke was the place for me. The combination of Duke’s incredible academic environment with its devoted athletic culture is unmatched by any other school I’ve seen, and I felt right at home in the swimming and diving team’s close-knit atmosphere.”

Shuppert Personal Records:
100 Back SCY/LCM – 53.79/1:02.82
200 Back SCY/LCM – 1:59.36/2:16.61
50 Back SCY/LCM – 24.85/29.56

Sarah Snyder

Sprints/Mid-Free/Fly – Palo Alto, Calif. – Henry M. Gunn High School – Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics
Notes:
Competed at 2018 FINA World Cup and 2018 and 2017 Winter Juniors Championship West … NISCA All-American … State finalist in the 200 freestyle as a senior … Captured All-America honors in the 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 and 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay her junior year … Guided high school team to title at Central Coast Section Championships as a junior … Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke: “The combination of amazing academics as well as stellar athletics was a perfect fit for me. The beautiful campus felt like home as soon as I got there, the swim coaches are awesome! And the swim team was so welcoming and fun.”

Snyder Personal Records:
50 Free SCY/LCM – 23.10/26.26
100 Free SCY/LCM – 49.93/56.99
200 Free SCY/LCM – 1:47.82/2:02.01
500 Free SCY – 4:57.77
100 Fly SCY/LCM – 54.94/1:02.63
200 Fly SCY/LCM – 2:03.58/2:22.61

Olivia Tighe

Sprint Free/Fly – Cape Elizabeth, Maine – Cape Elizabeth High School – Coastal Maine Aquatics
Notes:
Junior Nationals qualifier … Maine High School Swimmer of the Year as a senior … Two-time Maine State Performer of the Meet … Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke:
“I chose Duke because of the university’s commitment to both academic and athletic excellence. It is clear that the team is super motivated and the swimmers are supportive and close – spending time with the coaching staff and team made the decision even easier. I am so grateful and excited to be a Blue Devil!”

Tighe Personal Records:
50 Free SCY/LCM – 23.54/26.75
100 Free SCY/LCM – 49.87/57.97
200 Free SCY/LCM – 1:49.15/2:08.16
500 Free SCY – 5:00.90
100 Fly SCY – 56.93/1:05.49
200 IM SCY/LCM – 2:05.08/2:29.07

Ali Watson

Diving – Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Pine Crest School – Fort Lauderdale Diving Team
Notes:
World University Games Trials qualifier … Finalist on the platform at Senior Winter National Championships her junior year … Also claimed a Zones title on the three-meter board that year, as well as a silver medal on the platform and a bronze on the one-meter board … Junior National Champion on the platform as a junior … Silver medalist on the platform at the British Junior Elite Championships … YMCA Platform national champion as a sophomore … Platform finalist at Senior Nationals … NISCA All-American … USA Diving High Performance Tier 3 Member in 2017, 2018 and 2019
On choosing Duke: “I know it is cliché to talk about the combination of strong academic and athletic programs; however this rings especially true for me. Coach Esposto has the ability to get me closer to my goals of winning NCAAs and competing in Olympic Trials. Academically, the CAPE program’s unique benefits to female pre-medical student-athletes jumpstarts my path to becoming a doctor.  Balancing diving with medical internships, mentoring and shadowing is Duke to me. I can’t wait to call Duke home.”

Watson Personal Records:
One-Meter (10 dive) – 397.4
Three-Meter (10 dive) – 479.75
Platform (9 dive) – 503.75
10-Meter Platform (5 dive) – 236.45


Duke swimming & diving men’s group includes 11 athletes from Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

“This is another large class,” Colella said. “We have to say we were excited when we started recruiting them and they just all continued to get a lot faster their senior year! It’s a class which will have to come in and fill some big shoes, but we are confident that they are up to the task.”

Duke Swimming & Diving Men’s Class:

Jonah Cagley

Diving – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Fox Chapel Area High School – Pittsburgh Diving Club
Notes:
USA Diving Nationals qualifier … USA Diving Zone Championship qualifier … All-American
On choosing Duke:
“I chose Duke because of the top-tier academics and athletics.  It also felt like home as soon as I stepped onto campus.”

Cagley Personal Records:
One-Meter – 453.95
Three-Meter – 496.55

Chris Dalla Valle

Distance Free/Fly – Glen Allen, Va. – JR Tucker High School – Nova of Virginia Aquatics
Notes:
NCSA Juniors qualifier … VHSL Class 5 All-State honoree … Earned top-three finishes in the 500-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly at his senior state meet … Three-time Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke:
“Duke has an incredible combination of academics and athletics, and the coaching staff and team made me feel at home when I stepped on campus.”

Dalla Valle Personal Records:
500 Free SCY – 4:28.64
1,000 Free SCY – 9:11.05
1,650 Free SCY – 15:47.56
200 Fly SCY/LCM – 1:49.56/2:03.02
400 IM SCY/LCM – 4:00.77/4:38.86

Brendan Driscoll

Distance Free/IM – Tampa, Fla. – Jesuit High School – Greater Tampa Swimming Association (GTSA-FL)
Notes:
U.S. Open qualifier … Two-time state champion in the 500 freestyle … Led high school squad to back-to-back state crowns … NICSA All-American … Member of 2018 NCSA All-American Ireland Team … Took part in 2018 USA Swimming Open Water Select Camp … USA Swimming Academic All-American
On choosing Duke:
“In searching for the right place to continue my academic and athletic career, I was looking for a school that could offer me the best in both areas.  Duke is the perfect school for a student athlete. It offers an incredible athletic department and a world class education.  I fell in love with the school when I came to visit and soon later decided it was the place for me.  I am honored that I have been given this amazing opportunity by Coach Colella and his coaching staff and am thrilled to be a Blue Devil!”

Driscoll Personal Records:
1,650 Free SCY – 15:14.60
1,000 Free SCY – 9:12.28
500 Free SCY – 4:27.01
200 Free SCY/LCM – 1:41.91/2:00.03
400 IM SCY/LCM – 4:06.30/4:43.21

Charlie Gingrich

Sprint Free/Fly – Lancaster, Pa. – Manheim Township High School – Five Star Swim Club
Notes:
All-state selection … School and league record holder in the 50 freestyle … Also a school record holder in the 100 butterfly … Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke:
“I chose Duke because it is a place where I can work to reach my full potential in not only academics but athletics as well. The people that I have met on my visits to Duke have been very nice and genuine and that is something that I would like to be a part of. Also, I have been a Duke basketball fan since I was little and I am super pumped to be a Cameron Crazie.”

Gingrich Personal Records:
50 Free SCY/LCM – 20.36/24.29
100 Free SCY/LCM – 45.61/53.93
100 Fly SCY/LCM – 48.35/56.88
100 Back SCY/LCM – 51.63/1:05.10
200 Free SCY/LCM – 1:43.03/2:03.85

Phil Gong

Breaststroke – Demarest, N.J. – Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest – New York Sharks Aquatics
Notes:
Summer and Winter Junior Nationals qualifier … Junior Nationals ‘A’ finalist as a senior … County champion … Took second in the state in the 100 breaststroke as a junior … Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke:
“Not many other schools offer the same balance of academic and athletic prowess and resources as Duke, and the coaches have built a great team culture and environment. It would be an honor to represent the school, and I’m so excited to start next fall.”

Gong Personal Records:
100 Breast SCY/LCM – 54.86/1:05.33
200 Breast SCY/LCM – 2:00.81/2:25.17

Matthew Knox

Freestyle – Springfield, Ill. – Springfield High School – Springfield YMCA Swim Team (SPY)
Notes:
State finalist in the 400 freestyle relay as a junior … SPY 13-14 Boys Swimmer of the Year as a freshman … Reached finals in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle at 2019 YMCA Short Course Nationals … USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke:
“Duke offers the absolute best combination of academics and athletics. The campus is drop-dead gorgeous and it immediately felt like home.”

Knox Personal Records:
50 Free SCY/LCM – 20.93/24.43
100 Free SCY/LCM – 45.17/53.14
200 Free SCY/LCM – 1:38.01/1:55.46
500 Free SCY – 4:26.45
1,650 Free SCY – 15:50.10
100 Fly SCY/LCM – 50.25/1:00.01
200 Fly SCY – 1:52.25
200 IM SCY/LCM – 1:52.72/2:11.72

Coleman Kredich

Freestyle – Knoxville, Tenn. – West High School – Tennessee Aquatics
Notes:
Summer and Winter Junior Nationals qualifier … State runner-up in the 50 freestyle as a junior … Also took third in the 100 freestyle at his junior year state meet … Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke:
“Durham has always been a second home for me. I would usually be in Durham at least twice a year while I was growing up to visit my grandparents and great-grandparents. I was raised a Duke fan by my family and have always wanted to follow in my parents’ footsteps. When I started the recruiting process, Duke was obviously a top choice because of its academic and athletic environment, but I did not realize how much I wanted to go there until I went on my trip and felt like I belonged there. It just felt like home!”

Kredich Personal Records:
50 Free SCY/LCM – 20.22/23.49
100 Free SCY/LCM – 44.36/52.34
200 Free SCY/LCM – 1:39.50/1:56.13

Kevin Repice

Mid-Free/IM/Fly – Southlake, Texas – Carroll Senior High School – North Texas Nadadores (NTN)
Notes:
USA Swimming Junior Nationals qualifier … NICSA All-American … Member of Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (TISCA) All-State Team … District champion in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley as a senior … All-District/All-Region/All-State qualifier
On choosing Duke:
“After my official visit, I immediately felt that Duke was a place that I could call home. The campus is amazing, the team had great chemistry and I knew that Duke would offer me the ability to have a great balance between academics and athletics.”

Repice Personal Records:
200 IM SCY/LCM – 1:51.06/2:10.46
400 IM SCY/LCM – 3:57.46/4:47.17
100 Free SCY/LCM – 45.59/52.31
200 Free SCY/LCM – 1:39.51/1:53.93
100 Fly SCY/LCM – 49.43/57.40
200 Fly SCY/LCM – 1:52.53/2:13.43

Nick Talati

Fly/Mid-Distance – Yorktown, Va. – Tabb High School – Coast Guard Blue Dolphins
Notes:
Finalist at Winter Junior Nationals … State champion in the 100 butterfly and state runner-up in the 200 individual medley as a senior … Also captured a state title in the 200 freestyle as a junior … Selected to USA Swimming Eastern Zone Select Camp … USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke:
“I chose Duke because of the people. The coaches are unbelievably friendly and welcoming, and the swimmers are, well, hilarious. I can’t imagine another place on earth where I’d receive a better education or have a more enjoyable four years. Go Blue Devils!!”

Talati Personal Records:
200 Fly SCY/LCM – 1:47.16/2:05.86
100 Fly SCY/LCM – 48.96/56.50
200 Free SCY/LCM – 1:38.70/1:55.21
200 IM SCY/LCM – 1:50.47/2:10.18
200 Back SCY/LCM – 1:49.59/2:16.45

Will Tenpas

Breast/IM – Chevy Chase, Md. – Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School – Nation’s Capital Swim Club
Notes:
USA Swimming Winter Nationals and Junior Nationals qualifier … Finalist at NCSA Junior Nationals … Took fifth in the 200 individual medley at state championships his senior year … USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke:
“I chose Duke for the excellent academics and elite level of athletics. The resources on both the academic and athletic side were really exciting, as well as the opportunity to compete in the ACC. I connected well with the team and coaches when I visited and have seen great success in the program.”

Tenpas Personal Records:
100 Breast SCY/LCM – 57.32/1:07.84
200 Breast SCY/LCM – 2:02.39/2:22.59

Nick Viers

IM/Fly/Breast – Richmond, Va. – Douglas S. Freeman High School – NOVA of Virginia Aquatics
Notes:
All-American … NCSA Junior Nationals qualifier … State champion in the 200 freestyle relay as a senior … State championship team MVP … State runner-up in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke his senior year … USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
On choosing Duke:
“I chose Duke because it had the perfect combination of stellar academics and elite level athletics. Duke has the spirit of a big state school, but the tight knit community of a small one. For me, Duke had everything I wanted in a school, and everything I wanted in the pool as well.”

Viers Personal Records:
400 IM SCY/LCM – 3:55.35/4:35.91
200 IM SCY/LCM – 1:51.61/2:08.85
200 Breast SCY/LCM – 2:01.81/2:25.45
200 Fly SCY/LCM – 1:49.79/2:10.46
100 Fly SCY/LCM – 49.30/58.53


— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Duke Athletics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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