Swimming: Riggs Announces Women’s Class
August 09, 2011 01:39 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University swimming and diving coach Vic Riggs announced today the addition of seven student-athletes to the women’s program for the 2011-12 season.
Julie Ogden (Indianapolis, Ind.), Jennifer Rey (Des Plaines, Ill.), Haily Vandepoel (Holland, Mich.) and Jenelle Zee (Long Valley, N.J.) each signed a National Letter of Intent, while Jessica Fiant (Mohnton, Pa.), Mandi Kennedy (Columbia, Md.) and Meredith Rogers (Virginia Beach, Va.) join the team as invited walk-ons.
“These student-athletes have addressed many of our diving and depth in swimming and relay areas. I look forward to this class having an immediate impact on our program,” Riggs said. “Obviously, adding Jennifer and Hailey to our diving program is pivotal for our dual meet success and for our BIG EAST Championships goals. On the swimming side with the addition of Julie, Jenelle, Jessica, Mandi and Meredith, these ladies bring both the athletic and academic qualities we are looking for to our program.”
Fiant, a Mohnton, Pa., native, was a two-time all-Berks County and all-league swimmer while attending Governor Mifflin High. As a four-year Pennsylvania district qualifier, Fiant was a 2011 state qualifier in the 100 fly. On the all-time record board at Governor Mifflin, Fiant is in the top 10 in the 100 fly and the 200 IM. As a member of Reading YMCA Swimming, she was a 2010 short course nationals qualifier in the 100 fly and 200 medley relay.
“Jessica is a strong student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA and she has the potential and determination to develop into a strong butterflier for our program, and I look forward to coaching her,” Riggs commented.
Kennedy joins the Mountaineers from Columbia, Md., where she swam for Greater Baltimore Swim Association (GBSA) and attended Hammond High. At the 2011 Maryland Swimming Championships, Kennedy took 26th in the 50 free and 15th in the 100 free, while placing first in the 50 back and second in the 100 free at the Howard County Championships. Kennedy is a 2011 Sectional qualifier in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 back and 100 fly, placing within the top 16 in all of her events. She also holds GBSA team records in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 back. Before swimming, Kennedy competed for USA Gymnastics and Acrobatics from the ages of 5-15.
“Mandi’s 50 and 100 free are untapped and we feel that she can become a strong part of our sprint program,” Riggs said. “As a 3.8 GPA student, she has the academic background and swimming talent to fit in nicely at WVU.”
An Indianapolis, Ind., native, Ogden was the 2011 captain and a three-time team MVP at North High, while also swimming for Mike Parratto with the Lawrence Swim Team. At the 2011 Indiana State Championships, Ogden took first in the 100 fly, ninth in the 50 free and was a member of the 14th place 200 medley relay and 18th place 400 free relay. At the 2011 sectional high school meets, Ogden took first in the 50 free, 100 fly, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. Ogden was also a state qualifier in 2009 and 2010, finishing sixth and second, respectively, in the 100 fly. She is an NISCA All-American, as well as an NISCA Academic All-American and currently holds two individual and three relay school records.
“Julie comes to WVU having already qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the 100 fly, along with a strong 50 and 100 free,” Riggs said. “She will have an immediate impact on our program. Julie is also a strong student with a 3.7 GPA and I am excited to help her reach her goals and believe she can become one of the top sprinters to have competed for WVU. ”
Under Mark McElligott at Maine West High in Des Plaines, Ill., Rey was a four-year letterwinner and four-year MVP, breaking her own school records each year and breaking the pool record during the 2010 season. Rey was all-area four times, all-conference three times, a two-time Illinois state qualifier and all-state selection as a senior. In 2010, Rey finished seventh with a score of 359.10 at the state championships after finishing 24th (160.90) in 2009. Rey is in the Maine West High Athletic Hall of Fame and a 2011 High School All-American. Academically, Rey is a four-year Illinois High School Association Academic Athlete, an Academic All-American, a four-year honor roll member and a member of the National Honors Society. Rey dove for Tony Santucci at Glenbrook Aquatics Diving, while participating in two years of high school gymnastics and 10 years of club gymnastics.
“Jen will bring added depth and competitive advantage to the Mountaineer diving team,” diving coach Michael Grapner said. “She has seen success both in the classroom and in the pool while diving for Maine West High School. Jen is a relatively new diver to the sport, and has a lot of talent that will prove successful here at West Virginia.”
A Virginia Beach, Va., native, Rogers was a four-year state qualifier at Bishop Sullivan Catholic High, while also swimming for Tyler Haverty at Tidewater Aquatic Club. As a two-time MVP at Bishop Sullivan, Rogers holds the school record in the 100 breast and was a 100 free, 100 breast and 200 free relay finalist at the 2011 Virginia State Championships. At the 2010 championships, Rogers took ninth in the 200 IM, 100 breast and 400 free relay. The National Honor Society student swam on the all-conference and record holding 400 free relay team in 2009 and was a member of the 400 free relay team that took fifth at the 2008 Virginia State Championships.
“I’m excited when I get to add a true Mountaineer,” Riggs said. “Meredith comes from a family of Mountaineers and understands what it means to be one. She is a 3.5 GPA student with great potential. I’m looking forward to her addition to our program.”
VandePoel, a native of Holland, Mich., joins WVU after spending time under Jane Meyers at West Ottawa High, where she was two-time all-conference. As a junior and senior, VandePoel was a High School All-American and was named all-state in 2011. She holds the six-dive school record, six-dive pool record and 11-dive school record, while also captaining the squad as a senior. At this past year’s state championships, VandePoel placed in third with a final score of 421.50. At the 2009 championships, VandePoel placed ninth (366.30). VandePoel was also a four-year letterwinner and all-conference member in tennis, while also diving for Grand Rapids Diving Club under the direction of Don Glass.
“Haily will bring a solid background of diving to the Mountaineer diving team. She was a junior diver competing for Grand Rapids Diving Club coached by Don Glass,” Grapner commented. “Haily has experience competing at multiple USA Diving Junior and Senior Championships and will be an important addition to our team this season. I am excited to have her join our program and I look forward to a successful season and diving career for Haily at West Virginia.”
A Long Valley, N.J., native, Zee swam for Peter Barry and Chris Ray at the Somerset Hills YMCA, while attending West Morris Central High. As a 100 breast swimmer, she was two-time all-county, two-time all-conference and three-time all-state, as well as a NISCA Academic All-American. Zee took third in the 50 break and fifth in the 100 breast at the YMCA Long Course Nationals, as well as eight in the 100 breast at the YMCA Short Course Nationals.
“Jenelle is a very determined young lady. A student-Athlete with a 4.0 GPA, she is a confident and talented breaststroker,” Riggs said. “She will be a strong addition to our relays and breaststroke group at both the dual meets and BIG EAST Championships.”
Julie Ogden (Indianapolis, Ind.), Jennifer Rey (Des Plaines, Ill.), Haily Vandepoel (Holland, Mich.) and Jenelle Zee (Long Valley, N.J.) each signed a National Letter of Intent, while Jessica Fiant (Mohnton, Pa.), Mandi Kennedy (Columbia, Md.) and Meredith Rogers (Virginia Beach, Va.) join the team as invited walk-ons.
“These student-athletes have addressed many of our diving and depth in swimming and relay areas. I look forward to this class having an immediate impact on our program,” Riggs said. “Obviously, adding Jennifer and Hailey to our diving program is pivotal for our dual meet success and for our BIG EAST Championships goals. On the swimming side with the addition of Julie, Jenelle, Jessica, Mandi and Meredith, these ladies bring both the athletic and academic qualities we are looking for to our program.”
Fiant, a Mohnton, Pa., native, was a two-time all-Berks County and all-league swimmer while attending Governor Mifflin High. As a four-year Pennsylvania district qualifier, Fiant was a 2011 state qualifier in the 100 fly. On the all-time record board at Governor Mifflin, Fiant is in the top 10 in the 100 fly and the 200 IM. As a member of Reading YMCA Swimming, she was a 2010 short course nationals qualifier in the 100 fly and 200 medley relay.
“Jessica is a strong student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA and she has the potential and determination to develop into a strong butterflier for our program, and I look forward to coaching her,” Riggs commented.
Kennedy joins the Mountaineers from Columbia, Md., where she swam for Greater Baltimore Swim Association (GBSA) and attended Hammond High. At the 2011 Maryland Swimming Championships, Kennedy took 26th in the 50 free and 15th in the 100 free, while placing first in the 50 back and second in the 100 free at the Howard County Championships. Kennedy is a 2011 Sectional qualifier in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 back and 100 fly, placing within the top 16 in all of her events. She also holds GBSA team records in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 back. Before swimming, Kennedy competed for USA Gymnastics and Acrobatics from the ages of 5-15.
“Mandi’s 50 and 100 free are untapped and we feel that she can become a strong part of our sprint program,” Riggs said. “As a 3.8 GPA student, she has the academic background and swimming talent to fit in nicely at WVU.”
An Indianapolis, Ind., native, Ogden was the 2011 captain and a three-time team MVP at North High, while also swimming for Mike Parratto with the Lawrence Swim Team. At the 2011 Indiana State Championships, Ogden took first in the 100 fly, ninth in the 50 free and was a member of the 14th place 200 medley relay and 18th place 400 free relay. At the 2011 sectional high school meets, Ogden took first in the 50 free, 100 fly, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. Ogden was also a state qualifier in 2009 and 2010, finishing sixth and second, respectively, in the 100 fly. She is an NISCA All-American, as well as an NISCA Academic All-American and currently holds two individual and three relay school records.
“Julie comes to WVU having already qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the 100 fly, along with a strong 50 and 100 free,” Riggs said. “She will have an immediate impact on our program. Julie is also a strong student with a 3.7 GPA and I am excited to help her reach her goals and believe she can become one of the top sprinters to have competed for WVU. ”
Under Mark McElligott at Maine West High in Des Plaines, Ill., Rey was a four-year letterwinner and four-year MVP, breaking her own school records each year and breaking the pool record during the 2010 season. Rey was all-area four times, all-conference three times, a two-time Illinois state qualifier and all-state selection as a senior. In 2010, Rey finished seventh with a score of 359.10 at the state championships after finishing 24th (160.90) in 2009. Rey is in the Maine West High Athletic Hall of Fame and a 2011 High School All-American. Academically, Rey is a four-year Illinois High School Association Academic Athlete, an Academic All-American, a four-year honor roll member and a member of the National Honors Society. Rey dove for Tony Santucci at Glenbrook Aquatics Diving, while participating in two years of high school gymnastics and 10 years of club gymnastics.
“Jen will bring added depth and competitive advantage to the Mountaineer diving team,” diving coach Michael Grapner said. “She has seen success both in the classroom and in the pool while diving for Maine West High School. Jen is a relatively new diver to the sport, and has a lot of talent that will prove successful here at West Virginia.”
A Virginia Beach, Va., native, Rogers was a four-year state qualifier at Bishop Sullivan Catholic High, while also swimming for Tyler Haverty at Tidewater Aquatic Club. As a two-time MVP at Bishop Sullivan, Rogers holds the school record in the 100 breast and was a 100 free, 100 breast and 200 free relay finalist at the 2011 Virginia State Championships. At the 2010 championships, Rogers took ninth in the 200 IM, 100 breast and 400 free relay. The National Honor Society student swam on the all-conference and record holding 400 free relay team in 2009 and was a member of the 400 free relay team that took fifth at the 2008 Virginia State Championships.
“I’m excited when I get to add a true Mountaineer,” Riggs said. “Meredith comes from a family of Mountaineers and understands what it means to be one. She is a 3.5 GPA student with great potential. I’m looking forward to her addition to our program.”
VandePoel, a native of Holland, Mich., joins WVU after spending time under Jane Meyers at West Ottawa High, where she was two-time all-conference. As a junior and senior, VandePoel was a High School All-American and was named all-state in 2011. She holds the six-dive school record, six-dive pool record and 11-dive school record, while also captaining the squad as a senior. At this past year’s state championships, VandePoel placed in third with a final score of 421.50. At the 2009 championships, VandePoel placed ninth (366.30). VandePoel was also a four-year letterwinner and all-conference member in tennis, while also diving for Grand Rapids Diving Club under the direction of Don Glass.
“Haily will bring a solid background of diving to the Mountaineer diving team. She was a junior diver competing for Grand Rapids Diving Club coached by Don Glass,” Grapner commented. “Haily has experience competing at multiple USA Diving Junior and Senior Championships and will be an important addition to our team this season. I am excited to have her join our program and I look forward to a successful season and diving career for Haily at West Virginia.”
A Long Valley, N.J., native, Zee swam for Peter Barry and Chris Ray at the Somerset Hills YMCA, while attending West Morris Central High. As a 100 breast swimmer, she was two-time all-county, two-time all-conference and three-time all-state, as well as a NISCA Academic All-American. Zee took third in the 50 break and fifth in the 100 breast at the YMCA Long Course Nationals, as well as eight in the 100 breast at the YMCA Short Course Nationals.
“Jenelle is a very determined young lady. A student-Athlete with a 4.0 GPA, she is a confident and talented breaststroker,” Riggs said. “She will be a strong addition to our relays and breaststroke group at both the dual meets and BIG EAST Championships.”
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