Swimming: Men’s Recruiting Class Ranked 17th
July 15, 2009 11:48 AM | General
July 15, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University’s 2009-10 men’s swimming and diving recruiting class has been ranked 17th in the nation by CollegeSwimming.com.
The Mountaineers are one of three teams from the BIG EAST Conference in the top 25. Others include Notre Dame at No. 14 and Louisville at No. 25. This is the first ranked men’s Mountaineer class under coach Vic Riggs and his staff.
“This incoming class of men not only has the talent to compete at the top level, but as a group addresses our biggest weakness - our relays,” Riggs says. “Each of them brings to WVU the talent and desire to contribute at all levels. I am excited about what they bring as a group and as individuals. I look for many great swims from these future Mountaineers.”
Australians Jared Goldthorpe and Hugh Simmonds lead the way as both are expected to possibly be future NCAA participants. Goldthorpe will swim freestyle and backstroke events, with Simmonds swimming freestyle.
Graham Kauffman, a Spartansville, S.C., native, will add depth to the sprint freestyle events, as well as breaststroke. Coral Springs, Fla., native, Kyle Bandy, brings high academics to the team and will add talent to the freestyle and butterfly events
Tim O’Malley, a native of Fullerton, Calif., will join WVU as a distance swimmer and also could contribute in other events. Another versatile swimmer joining WVU will be Peoria, Ill., native, Jake Querciagrossa. Querciagrossa will add depth to mid-distance and distance freestyle, as well as backstroke and IM events.
“As we are reaching our goal of building a men’s program that can compete at all levels, the addition of these six young men have brought us closer to obtaining that reality,” Riggs says.
Recently, the women’s team was also ranked by CollegeSwimming.com as the 24th ranked recruiting class in the nation.
