Swimming: Riggs Adds 21 Student-Athletes
May 30, 2008 12:08 PM | General
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
May 30, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Swimming and Diving Head Coach Vic Riggs is pleased to announce that 21 student-athletes will join the Mountaineers in the fall of 2008.
“I am looking forward to the 2008-09 season with great anticipation,” says Riggs. “I believe we have addressed our needs both academically and athletically with some exceptional student-athletes.”
Joining the Mountaineers on the men’s side will be Taylor Camp (Brentwood, Tenn.), Brandon Carr (Mechanicsville, Va.), Brad Eichenseer (Trophy Club, Texas), George Farquhar (Queensland, Australia), Eric Johnson (Concord, N.C.), Ian Stravros (Poway, Calif.) and Martin Vanis (Henderson, Nev.).
“On the men’s side we needed to address the depth of the team,” says Riggs. “I think we have more than fulfilled my goal of having a full squad in three years.”
Camp will join the Mountaineers as a strong middle distance swimmer. At Brentwood High, Camp was a member of the only men’s public school to ever win back- to-back state titles in the state of Tennessee. He is also a six-time All-American and a member of the Southeastern Zone all-star team.
Carr was a four-year state qualifier at Atlee High, where he served as captain in his junior and senior seasons. He was also the team MVP and a junior national qualifier in multiple events. He will compete in the IM, fly and back events.
Eichenseer comes to WVU from Northwest High with the potential to be a major contributor on the team in the fly and free events. A team captain and team MVP in 2007 and 2008, he was named as an automatic All-American in the 100 fly in 2008, while also finishing in sixth in the 100 fly at the 5A Texas state championships.
A transfer student from Queensland in Australia, Farquhar finished sixth in the 50m breast, eighth in the 200m breast and 11th in the 100m breast at the Australian Swimming Olympic Trials this past year. Farquhar was also ranked fifth in the FINA World Top 100 for the 50m breast. He was a recipient of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award his senior year of high school.
Johnson graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors at Concord High as a four-year all-conference swimmer. He was also named as the 2008 SPC conference swimmer of the year as he won the 200 free at the North Carolina state championships. Johnson is a powerful swimmer with a good knowledge of the sport that looks to add depth to the Mountaineers’ distance events.
Stavros, a distance swimmer from Poway High is expected to make an immediate impact in the 500 and 1650 free events. He was a junior national qualifier and a short course national qualifier as he captured numerous school and club records.
Vanis comes to WVU from Coronado High as a flexible swimmer with tons of experience in the water. A talented swimmer in the 100 and 200 fly, Vanis will also contribute in the IM’s and middle to distance free events.
Also joining the Mountaineers will be Phillip Berry (St. Albans, W.Va.), Chase Doman (Dayton, Ohio), Jack Greenhalgh (Lexington, Ky.), Stephen Huether (Fairfax Station, Va.), Jake Kudrna (Lyndhurst, Ohio), Matt O’Neill (Lyndhurst, Ohio), Nick Swinimer (Potomac Falls, Va.), Austin Thrasher (Bridgeport, W.Va.) and Gabe Wilson (Mt. Clare, W.Va.).
On the women’s team, two student-athletes have signed with the Mountaineers. Sarah Kosmak (Grandville, Mich.) and Jaryn Studer (Ankeny, Iowa) will join the Mountaineers this fall.
Kosmak, an experienced swimmer from Jenison High, will join the Mountaineers to add depth in the sprint free events. In her senior season, Kosmak finished second in the state in the 50 free and third in the 100 free. She also has lots of club experience as a five-time Michigan state champion and a two-time Central Zone champion.
Studer, a powerful swimmer from Ankeny High, will specialize in the breaststroke and IM events for the Mountaineers. As a Scholastic All-American, Studer is a five-time state champion in the 200 IM and 100 breast events. She has also received five first team all-state honors and is a three-time All-American.
“I look for Kosmak and Studer, along with our other fall additions, to help bring our women’s team to the next level,” says Riggs. “I believe we have addressed our biggest area of need with these ladies and I am looking forward to see their impact on the team.”
Also joining the Mountaineers on the women’s side will be Madison Morrison (Wilmington, Del.), Kate Sullivan (Fairfield, Pa.) and Heidi Shultz (Morgantown, W.Va.).
