Texas Inks Top Recruits

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 22. THE national champion University of Texas men's team announced the signing of three top high school athletes for the 2000-2001 season: swimmers Andrew Davidson and Rainer Kendrick,
along with diver Jonathan Linette.

Joining the Longhorns next year will be swimmers Andrew Davidson (Nashville, Tenn./Father Ryan HS) and Rainer Kendrick (Birmingham, Ala./Homewood HS), as well as with diver Jonathan Linette (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Fort Lauderdale HS).

Davidson, a four-time high school All-American and 1999 Southeastern Conference Swimmer of the Year, is the defending Tennessee state champion in the 100 butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. On the national
level, he captured the 1999 Junior National Championship in the 200 backstroke event and also qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials in the
100 and 200 backstroke.

Kendrick is a four-time All-State honoree and two-time Southeastern Swimmer of the Year. At the 1999 American Short Course Championships, he placed first in both the 200 and 400 individual medley events, while
also finishing runner-up in the 100 freestyle and 200 butterfly.

Linette won back-to-back Junior National Titles (1998 and 1999) on the 10-meter platform, while also capturing the bronze medal at the 2000 Junior World Championships in the platform event. Most recently at the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials, Linette posted a 12th-place finish (885.93) on the platform.

"We are extremely pleased with this group," said Reese. "They are very talented and are definitely strong in each of their events, which will help solidify and add versatility to our roster."

"I am thrilled to have Jonathan on our team," said Scoggin. "He is a talented diver and one of the best platform specialists out there. He will be a great addition to our diving squad."

The Texas women's team did even better than the men's, as co-head coaches Jill Sterkel and Mike Walker inked seven prospects for the 2001-02 season; a foreign exchange student and junior transfer also will join Texas in January 2001

Joining the Longhorns next academic year will be Kim Bercen (Austin, Texas/Westlake HS), Elizabeth Hoffman
(Houston, Texas/Cypress Falls HS), Kaela Humphries (Chaska, Minn./Paradise Valley HS [Phoenix, Ariz.]), Michelle Molina (Scottsdale HS/Chaparral HS), Rebecca Rice (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood HS), Alisa Schuknecht (Bend, Ore./Bend HS) and Sarah Wanezek (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield HS).

Also joining the Longhorn swimming and diving program for the January 2001 semester are Helen Denman (Dalkeith, Australia/University of Western Australia) and Joscelin Yeo (Republic of Singapore/University of California), who both have been accepted to Texas. Denman will join the Longhorns as a foreign exchange student in January 2001, while Yeo, a junior transfer,
is expected to sit out the 2000-01 season under NCAA transfer rules.

"Our goal this year in recruiting was to sign great student-athletes who could add depth and versatility to our swimming ranks," said Walker. "This class accomplishes each of these goals and also gives us
even more. They are great swimmers who have wonderful attitudes and strong work ethics. These seven student-athletes will immediately raise the level of our talent."

"We are extremely blessed with this year's signings," said co-head coach Sterkel. "We definitely wanted to bring in versatile swimmers who could compete in several events. These swimmers give us a great roster
for next season and for years to come."

Kim Bercen (Austin, Texas/Westlake HS) – Breaststroke/Backstroke/IM Best Times: 100/200 Breast (1:02/2:15), 100/200Back (55.00/2:01), 100 Fly (55.00), 200 IM (2:03)
– Bercen is a three-time letter winner at Westlake High School, where she is the defending state champion in the 100 breaststroke and led her swim team to three district championships. On the national level, she
placed first in the 100 breaststroke at the 1999 Junior Nationals and most recently qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200 back, as well as 100 and 200 breaststroke events.

"I wanted to go to a school where not only the team, but also the coaches were excited about swimming," said Bercen." That was definitely the atmosphere here at Texas."

Elizabeth Hoffman (Houston, Texas/Cypress Falls HS) – Distance Freestyle/IM/Butterfly Best Times: 200/400 IM (2:04/4.22), 200/500/1000/1650 Free 1:50/4:52/10:01/
16:38), 200 Fly (2:02) – A 15-time high school All-American, Hoffman has placed first in the 500 freestyle and 200 IM at the Texas district and regional
championships for the past three years. Most recently, she captured her second state championship in the 500 freestyle and was selected as a First-Team All-District and All-Region performer. Hoffman also placed
17th in the 800 freestyle (8:52.10) at the 1999 Junior Nationals and competed in four events (200 free, 400 free, 800 free and 400 IM) at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.

"I was extremely impressed with Texas' facilities, academics and swimming program," said Hoffman. "Texas was clearly the perfect match for me to excel on the collegiate level."

Kaela Humphries (Chaska, Wis./Paradise Valley HS (Phoenix Ariz.)) – Freestyle/Butterfly Best Times: 50/100/200 Free (23.2/51.00/1:50), 100/200 Back
(56.00/2:03), 100 Fly (56.00), 200m IM (2:03)

– Humphries is the reigning 2000 Wisconsin state champion in both the 100 breaststroke and 100 IM, and led her high school to three-consecutive state championship appearances. She also is a four-time All-State selection and six-time high school All-American. At the 2000 Spring Junior Nationals, she finished runner-up in the 100 free and 100 butterfly.

"I loved the school traditions and pride at Texas," said Humphries. "UT's strong academics, coupled with its strong swimming program, led me to Texas. No question it was the best fit for me."

Michelle Molina (Paradise Valley, Ariz./Chaparral HS) –
Freestyle Best Times: 50/100/200 Free 23.65/51.1/ 1:50.2) – Molina is a two-time state champion in the 200 freestyle where she also was named the 1998 and 1999 Arizona High School Swimmer of the Year. A two-time All-American, she placed first in the 200 freestyle at the 1999 Junior Nationals.

"I chose Texas because I loved everything the university had to offer," said Molina. "I look forward to receiving a great education, while also having the best support for my swimming."

Rebecca Rice (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood HS) – beaststroke Best Times: 100/200 Breast (1:04/2:28)
– Rice is a four-time high school All-American and First-Team All-State selection for the last three years in the 100 breaststroke, 200 IM and 200 medley relay events. She was also voted her team's 1998-99 Most Valuable Swimmer after helping her high school squad capture two-consecutive regional championships. In 2000, Rice was the state runner-up in the 100 breaststroke and finished 11th in the 200 IM.

"I have always loved the academic programs at Texas," said Rice. "Then on my recruiting trip I was sold on the great swimming tradition of Texas."

Alisa Schuknect (Bend, Ore./Bend HS) – Breaststroke,
Backstroke/IM Best Times: 200/400 IM (2:02/4:19), 100/200 Breast (1:04/2:16), 100/200 Fly (56.0/2:03), 100/200 Back (56.0/2:02) – Schuknecht is a three-time Oregon state champion in the 200 individual medley and a two-time champion in the 100 breaststroke. Last
season, the six-time high school All-American led her team to a third-place showing at the state champion-
ships, where she posted a state record time of 2:02.65 in the 200 IM. She also captured the state title in the 100 butterfly as a freshman and was a member of the 1999 National Junior Team where she recorded a fifth-place finish at the 1999 Spring Nationals in the 400 IM (4:52.00) and seventh-place showing in the 200 breaststroke (2:34.00).

"I felt strongly about choosing a school that would allow me to improve my times, while also receiving a great education and enjoy my time swimming. Texas had each of these qualities," said Schuknecht. "The
additions of great coaches and a wonderful team at Texas made it an easy choice for me."

Sarah Wanazek (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East High School) – Freestyle/Backstroke/Butterfly Best Times: 50/100/200 Free 23.0/50.0/1:51.0, 100 Back (55.0),
100/200 Fly (54.0/2.02), 200 IM (2:03.0) – Wanezek is a three-time Wisconsin State Champion in the 100
backstroke and 100 fly and posted a state record time of 54.55 in the fly. She also has garnered eight All-American honors and was named the 1999 Wisconsin High School Swimmer of the Year. On the national level,
Wanazek captured the 1999 Junior National title in the 100 freestyle (50.91) and qualified for the 2000 U.S Olympic Trials in the 100 fly and 100 backstroke.

"I wanted to be part of an up-and-coming program like Texas" said Wanezek. "I really enjoyed meeting the team and coaches. The academic services are also extremely supportive and everyone seemed to genuinely
care about student-athletes."

JOINING IN JANUARY 2001

Helen Denman (Dalkeith, Australia/University of Western Australia) – Breaststroke/Freestyle
Best Times: 100/200 Breast (1:08.0/2:32), 50 Free (26.5)- Denman was a 1996 Olympian, where she captured a silver medal as a member of Australia's 400 medley relay team in Atlanta, Ga. She finished first in the 100 breaststroke at the 1998 Commonwealth Games while also placing second in the 100 breaststroke at the 1998 World Championships.

Joscelin Yeo (Republic of Singapore/University of California) – Breaststroke/Butterfly/IM Best Times: 200/400 IM (1:56/4:19), 100/200 Breast (1:02/2:14),
100/200 Fly (52.0/1:57.0), 50/100/200 Free 23.1/49.0/
1:48.0) – Yeo is a six-time All-American junior transfer from the University of California and a three-time Olympian for the Republic of Singapore, where she set a world record as a member of Cal's 2000 NCAA Champion 200-meter medley relay team (1:49.23). She also was a part of the winning NCAA 200 free relay in a U.S. Open-record time of 1:40.18. Yeo placed first in the 200 IM (1:57.14), 200 medley (1:39.27) and 400
medley relay (3:35.71) at the 2000 Pac-10 Conference Championships. She has been a member of the Singapore National team since 1990.

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