Swimming: Women's Team Adds Four
June 28, 2010 04:24 PM | General
By Grant Dovey for MSNsportsNET.com
June 28, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University swimming and diving coach Vic Riggs has announced the addition of four student-athletes to the women's program for the 2010-11 season.
“I'm very pleased and excited about this year's incoming class of women. We've continued to address some of our depth issues, and obviously losing the senior class that we lost, we feel we've done a very good job replacing them,” Riggs says. “We are still trying to improve, but are looking forward to a very productive 2010-11 season.”
Signing National Letter of Intents are Eva Burlingham (Stafford, Va.), Kaitie Layne (Sugar Land, Texas) and Danielle Smith (Delray Beach, Fla.). Joining them is walk-on Melissa Schreiber (Alpharetta, Ga.).
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| Eva Burlingham |
Burlingham comes to WVU from Stafford, Va., where she swam for Julie Bates at Colonial Forge High and Rick Benner at QDD Swim Team, Inc.
“I'm real excited about Eva, she comes highly recommended from Rick and had a great year,” Riggs adds. “We're looking forward to her adding depth to our short free and sprint fly events. She can also become a valuable member of our relays.”
The two-time high school captain was a 50 free finalist in the 2010 Virginia state championships and finished ninth in the 100 fly in 2009. She was also a member of the fourth place 400 medley relay team in 2009. Burlingham was tabbed a member of the Free Lance-Star all-Area team in 2010.
“It didn't take me long to realize WVU was the right place for me,” Burlingham says. “After taking a closer look at the swim program and academics, I knew it was a perfect fit. I am excited to get there in the fall and start training as a Mountaineer.”
Burlingham is a Junior National qualifier, National qualifier and a Sectional qualifier for QDD in the 100 fly, 50 free and 100 free in 2010.
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| Kaitie Layne |
A native of Sugar Land, Texas, Layne joins WVU after completing a successful career at Lamar Consolidated High under Toni Schramme and First Colony Swim Team under Allison Beebe.
“Kaitie comes from a West Virginia family and I'm excited to bring someone in that will help us with our short distance free, back and fly events,” Riggs comments. “She had a very solid senior year and we're looking forward to her making the jump and competing at the BIG EAST level.”
Layne holds high school records in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 100 fly, 200 free relay, 400 free relay and 200 medley relay. She also was named first team all-district, all-region and all-state in 2007, 2009 and 2010, and is an All-American candidate for 2010. She was a state finalist in three of the last four seasons.
The district and region’s athlete of the year, Layne earned team MVP honors 2007, 2009 and 2010. Layne was also a first team all-region water polo player in 2007.
“My parents both went to WVU, so I've been following the Mountaineers all of my life,” Layne says. “I'm thrilled to be able to join the swim team and continue my career for coach Riggs. There will be so much that is new to me in Morgantown and I am looking forward to my teammates helping me adjust. All of the coaches have made me feel like a part of the team already.”
Academically, Layne was on the all-district team in 2007, 2008 and 2010 and was an Academic All-American in 2010.
For First Colony, Layne was a Junior National qualifier from 2007-2010 and a member of the 2007 top 16 400 medley relay, 200 free relay and 800 free relay teams.
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| Melissa Schreiber |
Schreiber joins Kevin Anderson and Austen Carrington as former Alpharetta High graduates on the West Virginia swim team.
“Melissa is another athlete that we feel will add depth to our women's program,” Riggs says. “She joins Kevin and Austen from Georgia, and we feel that she has great potential to grow within our program.”
A native of Alpharetta, Ga., Schreiber swam all four years at Alpharetta High and placed in the top eight in Fulton County all four years, while also being a top 20 breaststroker in the state. At last year’s state championships, Schreiber placed 10th in the 100 breast. Schreiber also swam for Swim Atlanta and ran track where she holds her high school record in the 800 meters.
“Swimming in the BIG EAST will be very exciting and I can't wait to represent West Virginia University,” Schreiber says.
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| Danielle Smith |
A Delray Beach, Fla., native, Smith comes to West Virginia after swimming for Eric Hill at Boca Raton Community High and Allan Williams with Fort Lauderdale Aquatics.
“Danielle is another very strong mid-distance freestyler and backstroker, and we feel that she can help immediately at the dual meet level and BIG EAST level,” Riggs says. “She will provide significant contributions at the BIG EAST level and on our relay teams.”
Smith was a four-year member and one-year captain for Boca Raton, as well as a four-year state qualifier. She was a member of the two state championship teams (2007, 2008) and was part of the 200 medley relay team that won state titles from 2006-09.
“When I went up to WVU, I fell in love with the people, campus and atmosphere,” Smith says. “I couldn't imagine going anywhere else.”
In 2010, Smith earned team MVP honors and holds records in the 100 back, 500 free, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. She was also a 2009-10 All-American in the 100 back and 500 free and holds the Palm Beach County record in the 100 back. At the 2009 Palm Beach County Championships, Smith was named the Most Outstanding Female.
Smith was twice named all-Palm Beach Post (2007, 2008) and was a first-team member of the 2009 all-Sun Sentinel squad. She was also named the county’s 2009 and 2010 Girls Swimmer of the Year.
