Swimming and Diving Signs Five
12/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 3, 2009
PITTSBURGH—Pitt’s Head Swimming Coach Chuck Knoles announced the addition of four signees for the 2010 fall class. The Panthers will welcome Alex Rodenkirk, Sho Sugimoto, Veronica Lee and Julie Harrison in August. Additionally, Adam Maczewski will join the squad and enroll in classes in January of 2010.
“Adding these five athletes will positively impact the Panthers as Pitt returns to the top of the Big East Conference,” Knoles said. “Our early recruiting signing was tremendously successful. We expect to be able to add even more talent to our squad this spring,” Knoles added.
On the women’s side, Lee (Scarborough Swim Club, Toronto, Canada) is one of the top breaststrokers in Canada, placing as a finalist at the 2008 Canadian Olympic Trials and in the 2009 Canadian World Championship Trials. Lee is currently ranked fifth in Canada in the 200 breast (scm) and 10th in the 100 breast (scm). Her best times are 1:11.76 in the 100 breast (lcm) and 2:32.73 in the 200 breast (lcm).
“Veronica is a versatile athlete and will be an impact player for Pitt in both the breast and IM events, at the conference level,” Knoles stated. “We first had the opportunity to watch her swim several years ago at the Namesnik Grand Prix in Ann Arbor and have enjoyed watching her progress into one of the top up-and-comers in Canada.”
Harrison (Scarborough Swim Club, Toronto, Canada) and Lee both swim under the tutelage of Sylvain Pineau. Harrison finished in the top eight at the 2008 Canadian Olympic Trials in the 800 free. This past summer she again finished in the top eight at the Canadian World Championship Trials in the 1500 free. Harrison is currently ranked sixth in the 1500 free (lcm) in Canada at 17:04.74. She has also swam 9:03.53 (lcm) in the 800 free.
“Julie is a nationally-ranked Canadian distance swimmer who is really coming into her own,” Knoles commented. “We look forward to her contributing to the freestyle events, while we help her achieve her full potential.
“We have had great success with swimmers from Scarborough,” Knoles added. “Coach Pineau is one of the top coaches in Canada, and we look forward to the opportunity to work with two more of his athletes.” (Pitt alum Warren Barnes and current Panther Laura Barnes both came to Pitt from Scarborough Swim Club in Toronto.)
For the men, Maczewski (Warsaw, Poland) is one of the top available international recruits in college swimming. His converted times will make him an impact player in both the Big East Conference and the NCAA. Maczewski’s best times are 1:59.29 (scm) in the 200 backstroke, 54.02 (scm) in the 100 backstroke and 23.77 (lcm) in the 50 freestyle. He will immediately work with the team in January.
“Adam is a consummate talent,” Knoles said. “His size and speed make him a very strong competitor and a great addition for us at Pitt. We will look to him for help in leading a strong backstroke contingent, and add great depth to our sprint free.”
Sugimoto (Mt. Lebanon High School, Pittsburgh, Pa.) is a versatile sprinter and will add to the men’s depth in all the sprint events. Sugimoto has had a very successful career in age group, club and high school swimming. He is expected to bring a high level of talent to the program. Sugimoto’s best times are 21.15 (scy) in the 50 free, 46.07 (scy) in the 100 free and 50.38 (scy) in the 100 fly.
“We have been watching Sho since he was an age-group swimmer for Mt. Lebanon Aquatic Club, and he is gets faster every year,” Knoles stated. “He is an athlete who likes to race. We expect him to successfully manage many roles in our lineup.”
Rodenkirk (Express Aquatics, New Berlin, Wisconsin) is a tall (6’6”), athletic swimmer who projects to be a collegiate swimming star. This summer was a pivotal one for Rodenkirk, as he made significant drops in times at consecutive meets. Rodenkirk comes from athletic parents, which include a collegiate swimmer in his mother and a football player in his father, at a famous Catholic college in South Bend, Ind. With yet untapped potential, Rodenkirk’s size and recent successes, coupled with his athletic background, position him to be even more successful as he finishes his senior year. His current best times are 1:43.20 (scy) in the 200 free, 24.52 (lcm) in the 50 free and 53.82 (lcm) in the 100 free.
“We are so excited Alex decided to join us at Pitt,” Knoles said. “With his size and phenomenal potential, Alex will be a great addition to our program and a successful collegiate athlete.”