PENSACOLA, Florida, June 26. UNIVERSITY of West Florida women\u2019s swimming and diving head coach Andrew Hancock has announced the signing class for the team\u2019s second season in 2014-15. The Argonauts will be looking to take another step forward after a successful first season that included a runner-up finish at the New South Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Conference Championships and a 23rd place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships.<\/p>\n
The signing class features 11 incoming student-athletes, including six from Florida, one from Alabama, one from Georgia and three from outside the United States. The international signees come from Australia, Brazil and Colombia.<\/p>\n
“We are delighted with our signing class,\u201d said Hancock. \u201cWe\u2019re bringing in several student-athletes with performances that would have put them in the mix for national qualification last year, and we\u2019re looking forward to helping them improve their times as Argos. This is a group that should also help our returners take another step forward. Practices should be very competitive next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amelia Strom (Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.\/Choctawhatchee HS) and Taylor Wilder (Panama City, Fla.\/Mosely HS) come to UWF from the Florida panhandle. Both were state qualifiers in their events, while Strom graduated third in her class and Wilder was a National Honor Society member.<\/p>\n
Four student-athletes will come from central and south Florida. Zoie Balthazar (Tamarac, Fla.\/South Plantation HS) was a three-time state finalist for South Plantation High School. Angelina Gallastegui (Brandon, Fla.\/Strawberry Crest HS) was a junior national qualifier and ranked in the top three percent of her class at Strawberry Crest High School. Sophia Oliva (Plantation, Fla.\/St. Thomas Aquinas HS) was a four-time state qualifier. Gabrielle Spangenberg (Chuluota, Fla.\/Hagerty HS) was a state finalist in the 100 breaststroke and a National Honor Society member.<\/p>\n
The out-of-state recruits included Maggie Layde (Kennesaw, Ga.\/Kennesaw Mountain HS) and Madeline Pitt (Trussville, Ala.\/Heritage Academy). Layde was a member of the Georgia state champion relay team in the 400 freestyle and a first team all-state selection. Pitt was a southern zone finalist in the distance events for Heritage Academy near Birmingham, Ala.<\/p>\n
The three international signees are also an accomplished group. Danica Burnett (Perth, Australia, St. Brigid\u2019s College) was a national qualifier in Australia and a four-time state champion. Nicole Machado (Sao Paulo, Brazil\/Anglo-Americano) is a multiple-time junior national medalist in Brazil as well as a regional champion. Darton State College transfer Sandra Guerrero (Bucaramanga, Colombia\/Darton State) is a Colombian national qualifier and also qualified for the NJCAA nationals last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps most pleasing about this class is that these young ladies embody the ideals of the student-athlete,\u201d explained Hancock. \u201cThis group is perhaps better credentialed in the classroom than they are in the pool. I’d like to thank our coaching staff, who did a terrific job with recruiting this year.”<\/p>\n
Signees<\/b>
\nZoie Balthazar (Tamarac, Fla.\/South Plantation HS)
\nPersonal Bests – 50 Free: 24.38, 100 Free: 53.44, 200 Free: 1:56.07, 100 Back: 59.64, 200 IM: 2:11.57<\/p>\n
Danica Burnett (Perth, Australia, St. Brigid\u2019s College)
\nPersonal Bests – 50 Free: 26.66 (SCM), 100 Free: 57.91 (SCM)<\/p>\n
Nicole Machado (Sao Paulo, Brazil\/Anglo-Americano)
\nPersonal Bests – 100 Back: 1:04.39 (LCM), 200 Back: 2:19.89 (LCM)<\/p>\n
Maggie Layde (Kennesaw, Ga.\/Kennesaw Mountain HS)
\nPersonal Bests – 100 Free: 52.93, 200 Free: 1:56.01, 100 Fly: 59.23, 200 Fly: 2:09.78<\/p>\n
Angelina Gallastegui (Brandon, Fla.\/Strawberry Crest HS)
\nPersonal Bests – 200 Free: 1:55.69, 500 Free: 5:00.61, 1000 Free: 10:13.68, 1650 Free: 17:09.50<\/p>\n
Sandra Guerrero (Bucaramanga, Colombia\/Darton State)
\nPersonal Bests – 50 Free: 24.75, 100 Free: 55.09, 100 Fly: 59.95, 200 Fly: 2:14.66<\/p>\n
Sophia Oliva (Plantation, Fla.\/St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
\nPersonal Bests – 50 Free; 24.50, 100 Free: 53.36, 200 Free: 1:55.74<\/p>\n
Madeline Pitt (Trussville, Ala.\/Heritage Academy)
\nPersonal Bests – 500 Free: 5:07.06, 1000 Free: 10:26.49, 1650 Free: 17:19.90, 400 IM: 4:31.65<\/p>\n
Gabrielle Spangenberg (Chuluota, Fla.\/Hagerty HS)
\nPersonal Bests – 100 Free: 53.43, 100 Breast: 1:06.73, 200 Breast: 2:24.91<\/p>\n
Amelia Strom (Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.\/Choctawhatchee HS)
\nPersonal Bests – 100 Breast: 1:09.87, 200 Breast: 2:31.50, 200 IM: 2:14.48, 400 IM: 4:47.87<\/p>\n
Taylor Wilder (Panama City, Fla.\/Mosely HS)
\nPersonal Bests – 200 Free: 1:59.91, 100 Back: 1:01.25, 200 Back: 2:09.97<\/p>\n
The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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