Michigan Adds Seven Early Signees

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, November 29. UNIVERSITY of Michigan men's swimming head coach Bob Bowman announced recently the signing of seven recruits for the 2007-08 season. Tyler Clary (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly), Neal Kennedy (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska), Dan Madwed (Stamford, Conn./Towson), Jared Miller (Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota East), James Ridgeway (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick), Tony Wahl (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Jesuit) and Sam Wensman (Durham, N.H./Oyster River) will all join the Wolverines next season.

"I think this class is a really good mix of experienced international competitors and very talented, quickly developing swimmers who are going to be able to help us on the NCAA level," said Bowman. "Clary and Madwed are the two highest world ranked high school prospects in America. I'm certain that they will continue the Michigan tradition of excellence in international competition."

Clary comes to Michigan from Riverside Poly High School in California. He swims for coach Kevin Perry on the Fullerton Aquatic Sports Team, and was voted team captain of the 2007 USA National Junior Team. He won gold medals in both the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys at the 2006 FINA Youth World Championships, and was the top male performance champion. Clary is also the 2006 USA Spring National Champion in the 400-meter individual medley and the 2006 junior national champion in the 1,500-meter freestyle. "Tyler can swim any event from 100 to 1,500 meters." Bowman said. "He is one of the best backstrokers in the world and one of the up-and-coming individual medley stars. We are thrilled that he has chosen Michigan. He will help to take our team to the next level."

Madwed will join the Wolverines after swimming for coach Paul Yetter at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. He is currently the third-ranked American in the 200-meter butterfly, and is the youngest male member of the 2006 USA Pan Pacific Championship team. He is also the 2006 spring national champion in the 200-meter butterfly. In 2005, Madwed was a member of the National Junior team and he was the 2004 U.S. Open champion in the 200-meter butterfly. "Dan has already competed with the USA National team," said Bowman. "He brings a wealth of talent in the butterfly events and he's also quickly developing in the freestyle. I look forward to him swimming on our relays and helping us to move up in the NCAA rankings."

Kennedy will come to Ann Arbor from Chaska High School in Minnesota, where he swims for Team Foxjet under coach Ann Urschel. "Neal really has potential to really help us in the backstroke," Bowman said. "He's also excellent at the individual medley. I think he is just coming into his own as a swimmer. He comes from an excellent club program and I think he's an outstanding fit for our training program at Michigan."

The four other signed athletes have all won state championships during their high school careers. Miller swam for coach Dennis Beck at Lakota East High School, where he won the 2006 Ohio State champion in the 200-yard individual medley. He also swims for the nationally prominent Cincinnati Marlins and coach Chris Wolford. Wensman is the New Hampshire high school champion in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley, and also swims for coach Mike Parrato in the Seacoast Swimming Association. Ridgeway is the 2006 Illinois State Champion in the 100 breaststroke, and swims for the Lake Forrest Swim Club and coach Maureen Sheehan and Michael Lawrence. Wahl is the 2006 Michigan State champion in the 100 butterfly, and swam for coach Jason Black at Detroit Jesuit.

Of these swimmers, Bowman said: "Jared is relatively new to year-round swimming and I am extremely excited about his potential to come in and have an impact on our team right away and as he progresses year-to-year. Sam made huge time drops at the junior nationals this summer in the breaststroke. He has tremendous enthusiasm about Michigan, and I can't wait to have him as a part of our team. James comes from one of America's great swimming families. He will be a tremendous asset for us in the sprints, particularly on relays. Tony is one of the best swimmers in Michigan and we're thrilled that he has chosen to come to Michigan to pursue his collegiate career."

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