
September 05, 2024 09:08 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Head coach Brent MacDonald of the West Virginia University men's and women's swimming and diving team has announced additions to the 2024-25 roster.
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"Whenever a new coaching staff takes over with a recruiting class in place it can be an interesting dynamic," MacDonald said. "As soon as we took a look at the commitments and talked about our vision, it was clear that we had a great group that can help us be very competitive in the Big 12.
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"We have a nice mix of talent in a variety of events that will really help with our overall depth as well as potentially contributing on relays. Can't wait to get this group in the water."
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The men's swimming and diving team adds eight student-athletes while the women's swimming and diving team adds nine student-athletes ahead of the 2024-25 season.
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Kornelia Buszka
Junior | Warsaw, Poland
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Events: Freestyle/Butterfly
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Buszka on WVU: "West Virginia has a great pool, and the campus is wonderful."
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Kendall Butler
Freshman | Seaford, Va.
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Event: Freestyle
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Butler on WVU: "I chose WVU because the team was so welcoming, and the school has a lot to offer."
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MJ Gilligan
Freshman | Scottsdale, Ariz.
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Events: Freestyle/Butterfly/Individual Medley
Gilligan on WVU: "I chose WVU because of its welcoming environment and beautiful campus. The energy that I feel here is unmatched."
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Patton Graziano
Freshman | Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Events: Backstroke/Freestyle
Graziano on WVU: "There is an amazing culture with many great people at WVU."
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Levi Hellmann
Freshman | Massillon, Ohio
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Event: Diving
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Hellmann on WVU: "In 2022 I came to WVU for a national meet, and I loved everything about the pool, the campus and the academics. Eventually, I met the coach and some of the athletes, and in time I decided to make WVU my home."
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Delaney Householder
Freshman | Morgantown, W.Va.
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Events: Individual Medley/Backstroke
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Householder on WVU: "Growing up in Morgantown, it has always been a dream to swim for WVU and represent the people of this great state and the iconic Flying WV."
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Carter Kegle
Freshman | East Grand Rapids, Mich.
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Event: Freestyle
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Kegle on WVU: "I chose West Virginia University for the great team culture and community."
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Olivia Kraus
5th Year | Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Event: Freestyle
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Kraus on WVU: "I chose to attend WVU because of its exceptional doctoral program in Behavioral Neuroscience and outstanding swim team. As soon as I stepped on campus, I felt at home and sure the academic and athletic training I'll receive will help me achieve my goals."
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Logan Leckner
Freshman | Charlotte, N.C.
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Events: Freestyle/Individual Medley
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Leckner on WVU: "I chose to attend WVU to push myself to reach my highest potential as a swimmer and discover my next path in life."
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Nick Lugo
Freshman | Shenandoah Junction, W.Va.
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Events: Butterfly/Freestyle
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Lugo on WVU: "I chose WVU because of the atmosphere, chemistry and competitiveness of the team."
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Janine Murphy
Freshman | Massillon, Ohio
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Events: Backstroke/Freestyle
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Murphy on WVU: "When visiting I was really impressed by the facilities as well as the organization of the program. I knew this would be a place I could develop academically and physically."
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Noah Ott
Freshman | San Antonio, Texas
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Events: Freestyle/Butterfly
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Ott on WVU: "I chose WVU because of its competitive environment, which I believe offers the best opportunity for me to learn and grow as a student-athlete."
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Erik Petruzzi
Freshman | Lexington, N.C.
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Event: Breaststroke
Petruzzi on WVU: "During my visit, I immediately felt like this was where I could see myself. I've always been a mountain person, and WVU had everything I loved."
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Victoria Santino
Freshman | Fairfax, Va.
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Event: Distance
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Santino on WVU: "I chose WVU because I felt so at home after my first visit, and I loved the team as well as the atmosphere."
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Joey Stebbins
Freshman | Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
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Events: Backstroke/Breaststroke
Stebbins on WVU: "I chose WVU because of the amazing campus, geography, people, academics, athletic facilities and swim team. I wanted to go to a place where I could align with swimming and every other factor of college and WVU was the perfect match for me."
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Jayla Thompson
Freshman | Atlanta, Ga.
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Events: Butterfly/Freestyle
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Thompson on WVU: "This team welcomed me and made me feel like I was part of their family."
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Zach Zornan Ferguson
Freshman | Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Event: Freestyle
Zornan Ferguson on WVU: "WVU was my only official visit that did not feel like a visit and rather just hanging out with friends."
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For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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"Whenever a new coaching staff takes over with a recruiting class in place it can be an interesting dynamic," MacDonald said. "As soon as we took a look at the commitments and talked about our vision, it was clear that we had a great group that can help us be very competitive in the Big 12.
Â
"We have a nice mix of talent in a variety of events that will really help with our overall depth as well as potentially contributing on relays. Can't wait to get this group in the water."
Â
The men's swimming and diving team adds eight student-athletes while the women's swimming and diving team adds nine student-athletes ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Â
Kornelia Buszka
Junior | Warsaw, Poland
Â
Events: Freestyle/Butterfly
Â
Buszka on WVU: "West Virginia has a great pool, and the campus is wonderful."
Â
Kendall Butler
Freshman | Seaford, Va.
Â
Event: Freestyle
Â
Butler on WVU: "I chose WVU because the team was so welcoming, and the school has a lot to offer."
Â
MJ Gilligan
Freshman | Scottsdale, Ariz.
Â
Events: Freestyle/Butterfly/Individual Medley
Gilligan on WVU: "I chose WVU because of its welcoming environment and beautiful campus. The energy that I feel here is unmatched."
Â
Patton Graziano
Freshman | Pittsburgh, Pa.
Â
Events: Backstroke/Freestyle
Graziano on WVU: "There is an amazing culture with many great people at WVU."
Â
Levi Hellmann
Freshman | Massillon, Ohio
Â
Event: Diving
Â
Hellmann on WVU: "In 2022 I came to WVU for a national meet, and I loved everything about the pool, the campus and the academics. Eventually, I met the coach and some of the athletes, and in time I decided to make WVU my home."
Â
Delaney Householder
Freshman | Morgantown, W.Va.
Â
Events: Individual Medley/Backstroke
Â
Householder on WVU: "Growing up in Morgantown, it has always been a dream to swim for WVU and represent the people of this great state and the iconic Flying WV."
Â
Carter Kegle
Freshman | East Grand Rapids, Mich.
Â
Event: Freestyle
Â
Kegle on WVU: "I chose West Virginia University for the great team culture and community."
Â
Olivia Kraus
5th Year | Pittsburgh, Pa.
Â
Event: Freestyle
Â
Kraus on WVU: "I chose to attend WVU because of its exceptional doctoral program in Behavioral Neuroscience and outstanding swim team. As soon as I stepped on campus, I felt at home and sure the academic and athletic training I'll receive will help me achieve my goals."
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Logan Leckner
Freshman | Charlotte, N.C.
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Events: Freestyle/Individual Medley
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Leckner on WVU: "I chose to attend WVU to push myself to reach my highest potential as a swimmer and discover my next path in life."
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Nick Lugo
Freshman | Shenandoah Junction, W.Va.
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Events: Butterfly/Freestyle
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Lugo on WVU: "I chose WVU because of the atmosphere, chemistry and competitiveness of the team."
Â
Janine Murphy
Freshman | Massillon, Ohio
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Events: Backstroke/Freestyle
Â
Murphy on WVU: "When visiting I was really impressed by the facilities as well as the organization of the program. I knew this would be a place I could develop academically and physically."
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Noah Ott
Freshman | San Antonio, Texas
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Events: Freestyle/Butterfly
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Ott on WVU: "I chose WVU because of its competitive environment, which I believe offers the best opportunity for me to learn and grow as a student-athlete."
Â
Erik Petruzzi
Freshman | Lexington, N.C.
Â
Event: Breaststroke
Petruzzi on WVU: "During my visit, I immediately felt like this was where I could see myself. I've always been a mountain person, and WVU had everything I loved."
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Victoria Santino
Freshman | Fairfax, Va.
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Event: Distance
Â
Santino on WVU: "I chose WVU because I felt so at home after my first visit, and I loved the team as well as the atmosphere."
Â
Joey Stebbins
Freshman | Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Â
Events: Backstroke/Breaststroke
Stebbins on WVU: "I chose WVU because of the amazing campus, geography, people, academics, athletic facilities and swim team. I wanted to go to a place where I could align with swimming and every other factor of college and WVU was the perfect match for me."
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Jayla Thompson
Freshman | Atlanta, Ga.
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Events: Butterfly/Freestyle
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Thompson on WVU: "This team welcomed me and made me feel like I was part of their family."
Â
Zach Zornan Ferguson
Freshman | Pittsburgh, Pa.
Â
Event: Freestyle
Zornan Ferguson on WVU: "WVU was my only official visit that did not feel like a visit and rather just hanging out with friends."
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For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, October 06
Thursday, October 01
Thursday, September 10
Tuesday, June 16





























