May 26, 2010

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo swimming and diving team will add 17 student-athletes to its roster for the 2010-2011 season. Joining the Bulls next season will be nine freshman women and eight freshman men, representing six states including New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, as well as Canada. Head coach Andy Bashor says, "We are extremely happy about his year's recruiting class and the different areas of the country we were able to recruit. It is one of the best and deepest recruiting classes that have ever entered UB. We have graduated a big class and I am confident that this year's recruiting class will continue our success. Many have the ability to become top level swimmers in the conference and eventually on the national level. We are in the process of building a conference winning team and with this year's class and the success from last season, we are well on our way."

 

Joining the Bulls next season:

 

Kelsey Barbour – Clifton Park, NY (Schenectady Swim Club)
Kelsey is a Speedo Sectional qualifier who brings many attributes to UB swimming and diving. At the New York High School State Championships this past season, Kelsey placed third overall in the 100 breaststroke and 13th in the 200 IM. Coach Bashor on Barbour: "Kelsey will make an immediate impact by strengthening our breaststroke and IM events. She is extremely versatile and has a good club background that has given her a great foundation of training."

 

Hillary Woldt – Oshkosh, WI (Oshkosh YMCA)
Hillary will be a tremendous addition for the Bulls next season. She will make most of her contributions in the backstroke, freestyle, butterfly, and IM events. Her versatility will allow her to swim many different events for UB. She was a state finalist in the 100 backstroke and a consolation finalist in the 200 freestyle. Coach Bashor on Woldt: "We are excited that Hilary chose UB. Her versatility will make up for graduating 11 seniors and make us a stronger team."

 

Tracy Vogel – Hartland, WI (Lake Country Swim Team) 
Tracy comes to the Bulls from the great state of Wisconsin, where she won a state championship with Arrowhead High School. At the state championships she was a two event finalist in both the 200 and 500 freestyle. As a sectional qualifier, Vogel was a finalist in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyles. She also has a talent for swimming the 200 butterfly and she will be a multiple-event threat for the Bulls during dual meets and the championship season. Coach Bashor on Vogel: "Tracy is a great addition to our distance group. She is a proven trainer coming from her club team and will be counted on to make a big impact in the conference."

 

Taylor Lansing – Vestal, NY (Greater Oswego Swim Team) 
Taylor comes to the Bulls from Vestal High School where she represented her school at the New York State High School Championships as a consolation finalist in the 100 butterfly. Lansing is equipped with all of the physical abilities needed to be a butterfly specialist.Coach Bashor on Lansing: "Taylor has the potential and the desire to make the improvements to be a scorer at the conference meet. She will strengthen our butterfly events."

 

Marissa Murphy – Grand Rapids, MI (Rapid Area YMCA) 
Marissa has accomplished much in the pool while competing in the state of Michigan. She was the Division II state champion in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly, and holds the state record in both events. As a junior national qualifier, Murphy brings a level of swimming and athleticism that is familiar to the University at Buffalo. Coach Bashor on Murphy: "We are very excited about Marissa because as a freshman she has times that will score big points for us at conference. She is very versatile and will make a big impact on our relays."

 

Katelyn Grimm – Eden, NY (Eden Dolphins Swim Club) 
Katelyn comes to UB from the Eden Dolphins Swim Club and will be an asset to the Bulls this coming season. She is a four-year letterwinner who has a unique enthusiasm for swimming and is a student of the sport. Her enthusiasm for the sport and her team will make her a great addition to the Bulls swimming and diving program. Coach Bashor on Grimm: "Katelyn has a lot of room for improvement and we are looking forward to helping her reach her goals."

 

Ava Giachino – Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Calgary Dive Club)
Ava is a qualifier for Canada's junior and senior nationals this year and has grown in strength and confidence this last year in her diving. She comes to UB with a strong event list and the addition of tower makes her an immediate contender for Zone A to qualify for NCAA's. We welcome her as our last signee for the 2010-11 season. Diving coach Karla Helder on Giachino: "Ava will be the pillar that will build a new era for UB women's diving; her years of diving in Canada bring a standard that will be very successful."

 

Megan McInerney - Grand Island, NY (Wings Diving)
Megan has 12 years of gymnastics to her credit and is a four-year diver for Grand Island High School. Placing in the top five at New York State Championships, she capped off her season by accepting UB's offer to be our first signee to the 2010-11 season. With great lines and what will be tremendous power she will be a strong competitor in the MAC. Coach Helder on McInerney: "Megan will be a joy to coach, she is an untapped resource and I believe she will a great contributor to UB."

 

Arielle Zigelman - Orangeburg, NY (Vba Diving Stars)
Arielle comes to us from the northeast side of New York and brings with her a tenacious can do attitude. Diving for Tappan Zee High School, she and her teammates coalesced into a strong trio that won the swim team great accomplishments during the 2010 season. Diving for only a few years, Arielle has compiled a competitive event list that will serve UB well next season. Coach Helder on Zigelman: "Arielle brings a team component to UB and I feel will be a strong competitor for UB."

 

Eric Culver – New Paltz, NY (Viking Aquatic Club) 
As a senior and junior national qualifier, Eric has demonstrated that he will be a great addition to the Bulls next season. Culver placed third and fifth in the 500 and 200 freestyle events at the New York State High School Championships this past season. In the pool he will be a great contributor to the distance and butterfly group during training and competition. His enthusiasm to become a Bull will be an essential component to his success while attending the University at Buffalo. Also, Eric aspires to be an Olympian and compete on the world stage for Puerto Rico. Coach Bashor on Culver: "Eric will be counted on to make a big impact right away. He has the work ethic and the tools to become one of the best swimmers in the conference."

 

Andrew Tanzey – Greenville, SC (Team Greenville) 
Andrew comes to the University at Buffalo from the state of South Carolina and his future as a Bull is very bright. As a member of Team Greenville, Tanzey has an amazing background that will set him up for great successes in the distance, fly and IM events. Andrew has shown his versatility by becoming a multiple event Junior National qualifier with Team Greenville. Coach Bashor on Tanzey: "Andrew adds so much to our team because of his versatility. He will be a big contributor to our team during the championship and dual meet seasons."

 

Tommy Steele – Erie, PA (Erie Aquatics Club) 
Tommy is a specialist in the freestyle and butterfly events and will contribute in many areas for the Bulls next season. As a junior national qualifier and a state finalist in the state of Pennsylvania, Steele has been surrounded with terrific talent and elite performers throughout his high school career. With only limited experience swimming the 200 butterfly, Tommy has shown that he will be a challenger next year at MAC Championships and will have exceptional growth in that event. Coach Bashor on Steele: "We are grateful that Tommy chose UB over his other schools. His impact on our team will be felt right away."

 

Mike Dugan – Albany, NY (Albany Starfish) 
Mike is another one of the Bulls' in-state signees who will do incredible things for UB in the years to come. A specialist in the sprint freestyles and butterfly strokes, he was the New York State champion in the 100 butterfly and was fourth in the 50 freestyle. As a junior/senior national and U.S. Open qualifier, Dugan will bring the experience of competing on the national scene. He will be a great contributor on relays during the dual meet and championship seasons. Coach Bashor on Dugan: "We are excited that Mike will be a Bull for us next year. He has much more potential and will be a force in our conference."

 

Phil Aronica – Orchard Park, NY (STAR Swimming)
Winner of the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle at this year's New York High School state meet, Phil is one of many state champions joining the Bulls next season. Phil brings a level of accomplishment that no recruit for the University at Buffalo has ever experienced. As a USA Senior National Qualifier and member of the NCSA National Junior team that traveled to Dublin, Ireland this spring, Aronica has competed at the same level as Olympians and has no plans of slowing down. Coach Bashor on Aronica: "Phil is a difference maker. He will be an all-around threat in the pool for us and will be a great addition towards UB winning championships."

 

Chris Waldock – Sandusky, OH (Vacation Swim Club) 
Chris is the Ohio state champion in the 100 butterfly, and set the new Division-II record in the process. He is a multiple-time state finalist in the 100 butterfly, as well as the 200 IM. Chris comes from a great club background, swimming for Vacation Swim Club in Sandusky, Ohio. With limited experience swimming the 200 butterfly he has already had great success and will help to make that event one of the Buffalo's strongest next season.Coach Bashor on Waldock: "Chris will be a great asset to our team because he fits into what we need. He has shown much improvement his senior year and looks to continue that at UB."

 

Brendan King – Bayport, NY (Transfer from St. Peter's College)
Brendan is a native of Long Island and spent his freshman year at St. Peter's College in New Jersey. At the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships, he placed fifth in the 500 freestyle, third in the 1000 freestyle, and third in the 1650 freestyle. Coach Bashor on King: "Brendan will give us another weapon in the distance events. He is looking for a bigger challenge and we will provide that here on our team and in the conference."

 

Christopher Iafrati – Rochester, NY (Upstate Diving) 
Chris just committed to UB and is anticipating a great learning experience next season. He placed second at States for Hilton Central High and has been involved in diving for only three years. Chris brings a capacity to jump well and spin fast and is eager to learn. We welcome Chris as our only male addition to the diving portion of the team. Coach Helder on Iafrati: "Chris is young in his diving career but learns fast and has great lines. I believe he will be a solid foundation for our team to rely on."