Another Top Recruit Signs With WVU
June 10, 2009 07:58 AM | General
June 10, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University swimming and diving coach Vic Riggs has announced the addition of Jared Goldthorpe to the 2009-10 recruiting class.
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| Jared Goldthorpe takes Gold in the 200 backstroke at the 2008 Youth Commonwealth Games.
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“Jared brings to WVU the talent and work ethic that will help take our men’s program to the next level,” Riggs says. “With WVU losing two of the most decorated Mountaineers in school history in Pablo Marmolejo and Michael Walker, it was important to find a swimmer that could come in and compete and contribute immediately at the BIG EAST and NCAA levels.”
A Malabar, New South Wales, Australia native, Goldthorpe has been one of the top swimmers in NSW (New South Wales) throughout his career for Bayside Swimming Club under the direction of Jon Shaw.
“This represents a huge step for Jared’s swimming and academic careers. I know he has a lot of room for improvement in both freestyle and backstroke and under the guidance of Coach Riggs at WVU, he will certainly be in the right training and competition environment,” Shaw says. “Having the opportunity to attend WVU will be a life changing experience for Jared, who will value the training and campus life. I know he is destined for greater things.”
In 2008, Goldthorpe had a banner year and was named the NSW Institute Sport Athlete of the Year. At the Beijing Olympic trials, Goldthorpe was the youngest competitor and finished eighth in the 200-meter backstroke. At the 2008 NSW State Age Championships, he finished in first place in the 100, 200 and 400-meter freestyle, as well as the 200-meter backstroke.
His success continued at the 2008 Australian Age Championships, where Goldthorpe finished second in the 200-meter backstroke, fourth in the 100-meter backstroke and 15th in the 400-meter freestyle and the 200-meter freestyle.
Goldthorpe also was selected to represent Australia at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, where he put together record-breaking swims and swept the competition by bringing home the gold medal in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke, 400 and 800-meter freestyle relays and the 400-meter medley relay. All five races ended in Commonwealth Youth Games records, making him the most successful athlete of the Games.
To conclude the year, Goldthorpe finished second in the 200-meter backstroke and eighth in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2008 Australian Short Course Open.
“Over the past few weeks I have come to know a group of students at WVU. Through these links I can already identify a supportive and enjoyable team environment which is beneficial for fast racing,” Goldthorpe says. “I am nervous about the life change I am about to endure, but feel this will be a valuable change for me in order of reaching optimal performance in my swimming career.”
Thus far in the 2009 season, Goldthorpe was named to the Australian Telstra Dolphins Bronze Squad and represented his country at the Junior Pan Pacific Games in Guam with a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter backstroke and second place in the 400-meter medley relay.
Prior to 2008, Goldthorpe finished in first place in the 100, 200 and 400-meter free, along with the 200-meter backstroke at the 2005 and 2006 Australian Schools Swimming Championships. He also was the Swimmer of the Meet at the NSW Short Course Championships in 2006, finishing first in the 100, 200 and 400-meter freestyle, while placing second in the 200-meter backstroke.
In 2007, Goldthorpe was selected as captain of the NSW Schools Swimming team for Australian School Nationals, where he took first in the 200-meter freestyle and 200-meter backstroke. He also finished first in the 100-meter freestyle, while taking third in the 400-meter freestyle. Goldthorpe received the NSW Sporting of Excellence Blues Award and was the NSW Institute of Sports EAP (Elite Athlete Program) Athlete for 2007.
“WVU is fortunate to have a swimmer of Jared’s talent,” Riggs says. “I also want to thank Jared’s coach, Jon Shaw, for working with the staff and myself in making sure this was the best decision for Jared. I look forward to coaching Jared and helping him reach his personal and athletic goals.”
The recruiting class for the 2009-10 season is now at 10 women and five men.
