Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh welcomes 22 to swimming and diving program
8/28/2011 6:56:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With classes at Lehigh University set to begin on Monday, head coach Rob Herb as announced the addition of 22 newcomers to the Mountain Hawks swimming and diving program. Herb has bolstered his team with eight freshmen women while the men's side features 13 freshmen and one transfer student-athlete.
“The Lehigh swimming and diving program is proud to announce its incoming 'Class of 2015 with a purpose',” explained Herb, who enters his eighth season. “We feel fortunate to have found the right student athletes that will not only enhance our team on race day, but a group that loves Lehigh and all it has to offer. This group is going to make a difference in the Patriot League but more importantly to our Lehigh community.”On the men's side, Herb has brought in 13 freshmen, with the potential for several additional walk-ons to fill the shoes of last year's graduated senior class. The Mountain Hawks' distance group will get some needed depth with the addition of Dan Bennett of Marlton, N.J. and Jake Greene of Darien, Conn. Both men are coming off strong summer performances. The men have their share of Lehigh legacies as well as Herb has brought in sprinters Owen Dunbar from Ohio, Martin Kendig from Pennsylvania and individual medley swimmer Mike Wheaton from Middletown, N.J.
Herb has also added Matt Ferguson of Montville, N.J., Jack Lorentzen of Westfield, N.J., Brandon Harding from Dallas, Pa. and Kyle Katase from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii to bolster Lehigh's relay teams as well as the breaststroke events. Lehigh's tradition of strong backstroke swimmers will be enhanced with the addition Henry Cohen from Mountain Lakes, N.J. and Sean Brant of Severna Park, Maryland. Rounding out the hefty freshman class is sprinter Chris Shillig from Fort Washington, Pa. and flyer Chris Campbell from New Jersey.
The Lehigh men have also brought in their second transfer in as many years with the addition of Lehigh Valley native Demetri Karedis, a sprinter who has returned home after a stint at the University of Michigan. Earlier this summer Karedis finished third in the 50 meter freestyle at the USA Swimming Middle Atlantic Senior Long Course Championship.
“I think each one of these guys has the ability to impact this men's team and help move the program forward,” Herb said.
On the women's side, Herb expects Alyssa Leung from Garden City, N.Y. to redefine the backstroke standard. Lehigh legacy Kimmy Weyand joins the Mountain Hawks as a powerhouse breaststroke/IM swimmer. Rachel Movius from Falls Church, Virginia will also contribute in the breaststroke and IM events. Mary Samuels from Avondale, Pa. will bring depth in the butterfly events, while Ohio native Taylor Wise and Madeleine Smith from Colorado will add power and depth to the freestyle corps.
Herb has also brought in a pair of divers, Sara Blacker from Mount Kisco, N.Y. and Bethlehem native Alexandria Kennedy, to complete a strong class of freshmen women. Blacker is the younger sister of senior Jared Blacker from the men's team.
“I think this might be the strongest group we have ever brought in as a class,” Herb said of his women. “We look for them to make a big impact and bring us up in the league.”
The Mountain Hawks also return a wealth of talent on both the men's and women's sides. Lehigh's men will be looking to improve on a fourth place finish at the Patriot League Championships, while the women will look to bounce back from a sixth place finish.
Men's Swimming and Diving Class of 2015
|
Name
|
Event
|
Hometown/High School
|
College
|
|
James Bennett
|
Distance
|
Marlton, N.J./Cherokee
|
Business
|
|
Sean Brant
|
Back
|
Severna Park, Md./Severna Park
|
Computer Sci. & Business
|
|
Chris Campbell
|
Fly
|
Mount Laurel, N.J./Holy Cross
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Henry Cohen
|
Bacl
|
Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes
|
Engineering
|
|
Owen Dunbar
|
Free
|
Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Matt Ferguson
|
Breast
|
Montville, N.J./Mountain Lakes
|
Business
|
|
Jonathan Greene
|
Distance
|
Darien, Conn./Darien
|
Engineering
|
|
Brandon Harding
|
Breast
|
Dallas, Pa./Dallas
|
Engineering
|
|
Demetri Karedis
|
Free
|
Orefield, Pa./Parkland (U. of Michigan)
|
Civil Engineering
|
|
Kyle Katase
|
Breast
|
Kailua Kona, Hawaii/Hawaii Preparatory
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Martin Kendig
|
Free
|
Monroeville, Pa./Gateway
|
Engineering
|
|
John Lorentzen
|
Breast
|
Westfield, N.J./Westfield
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Christoph Schillig
|
Free
|
Fort Washington, Pa./Germantown Academy
|
Business
|
|
Michael Wheaton
|
IM
|
Middletown, N.J./Middletown North
|
Business
|
Women's Swimming and Diving Class of 2015
|
Name
|
Event
|
Hometown/High School
|
Major
|
|
Sara Blacker
|
Dive
|
Mount Kisco, N.Y./Horace Greeley
|
Business
|
|
Alexandria Kennedy
|
Dive
|
Bethlehem, Pa./Penn. Leadership Charter School
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Alissa Leung
|
Back
|
Garden City, N.Y./H Frank Carey
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Rachel Movius
|
Breast/IM
|
Falls Church, Va./St. Stephen's & St. Agnes
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Mary Samuels
|
Fly
|
Avondale, Pa./Ursuline Academy
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Madeleine Smith
|
Free
|
Littleton, Colo./D'Evelyn
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Kimberly Weyand
|
Breast/IM
|
Millersville, Md./Severna Park
|
Business
|
|
Taylor Wise
|
Free
|
Ravenna, Ohio/Theodore Roosevelt
|
Arts and Sciences
|
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