University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Swimming and Diving Inks Six During Early Signing Period
11/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 24, 2010
PITTSBURGH—The Pitt Panthers inked six student-athletes for the 2011-12 swimming and diving season, according to Head Coach Chuck Knoles. Joining the Panthers in August of 2011 will be three women and three men - Ashley Broderick, Tatyanna Sarjeant, Brooke Waugaman, Austin Caldwell, Jonathan Lierley and Luke Nosbisch.
“This is a solid early signing group for us. We are pleased to be adding these talented student-athletes to our team—all of them will help us ascend to the top of the Big East Conference,” Knoles said. “Having signed such a fine group of athletes sets us up well for the spring recruiting season.”
On the women’s side, Broderick (Rochester, New York) is a talented young diver who is making her mark on the New York State and national levels. A two-time state champion, Broderick is also a two-time AAU National Champion.
“Ashley has a very competitive list of dives on the 1-meter board. She is a great athlete and in addition to diving, has a successful background in gymnastics,” Head Diving Coach Julian Krug noted. “We look forward to helping her improve upon that list as well as developing a strong 3-meter list. She has the physical tools to be a successful diver at the conference and collegiate national levels.”
Sarjeant (Scarboro Swim Club, Scarboro, Canada) is another national-level athlete from the Scarboro Swim Club who joins the Panthers. Sarjeant placed second at the Canadian Spring Open Water National Championships and has been a finalist on the national level in the backstroke and distance freestyle events. Her best times are: 1:04.41 in the 100 back (lcm), 2:17.70 in the 200 back (lcm) and 16:48.33 in the 1500 free (scm). She joins current Panthers and former Scarboro swimmers Laura Barnes, Julie Harrison and Veronica Lee as well as former Panther and current Canadian National Team standout Warren Barnes.
“Tatyanna is good at so many different events, that her joining the team will have a very positive effect on our ability to produce a competitive lineup against any team in the Big East,” Knoles said. “We are pleased to have yet another top Canadian athlete who was developed by the former Scarboro Coach Sylvain Pineau.”
Waugaman (Hempfield High School/Greensburg, Pa.) is a stellar local athlete and former WPIAL champion who has competed at both the Pennsylvania State (PIAA) meet and at the YMCA National meet. Waugaman holds the WPIAL record in the 100 back, but has also competed at the PIAA State meet in the 200 IM. Her best times are: 56.14 in the 100 back, 2:05.34 in the 200 IM and 26.48 in the 50 back.
“We have had our eyes on Brooke for several years and have enjoyed watching her develop into a consummate competitor,” Knoles stated. “Brooke has succeeded even when faced with tremendous adversity. She competed at the 2010 WPIAL and PIAA meets while injured, but finished very well. The more we get to know Brooke, the more we are impressed with her. We look forward to her competing for the Panthers.”
On the men’s side of the class, Caldwell (Mason Manta Rays/Loveland, Ohio) gives the Panthers an accomplished sprinter with “speed to burn,” according to Knoles. Caldwell has had significant success at the state level and with his club team. (It is the same club program that produced current Panthers Jared Kolwyck and Elizabeth Tabor). Although his swimming career has been brief in comparison to those against whom he competes, Caldwell has shown a great ability and speed in the water and continues to improve. Caldwell’s best times are 21.29 in the 50 free, 46.52 in the 100 free, and 51.20 in the 100 fly.
“Pitt is a great fit for Austin,” Knoles stated. “Having five full-time swimming coaches will allow us to give Austin the attention he will need to continue to improve. My gut tells me that Austin’s name will be on the Pitt record board in soon.”
Lierley (Mount Pleasant Swim Club, Mount Pleasant, S.C.) is a versatile athlete who comes from a strong training background with his club team. He recently came off an incredibly successful South Carolina High School State meet, where he earned state titles in both the 100 fly and 100 free. He was named the All-Lowcountry Swimmer of the Year for his efforts. Lierley proved his mettle at the 2010 Speedo Junior National meet. His current best times are 50.18 in the 100 fly, 1:50.41 in the 200 fly, and 45.66 in the 100. He also swims the individual medley.
“Jon will be one of the new Pitt ‘Young Guns,’” Knoles noted. “He is big, tall, talented and fiercely competitive. He can swim almost anything. With all of that, Jon has all of the tangibles and intangibles you like to see in an athlete. He combines that with great family values of integrity and mutual respect, and now he will be a Pitt Panther!”
Lierley’s success runs in the family, between him and his younger brother, the Lierleys won four individual South Carolina State High School titles in October. There are only eight individual events contested at a high school meet, meaning the Lierley family won half of them.
Nosbisch (JCC Sailfish, Monroeville, Pa.) is a local standout from Coach Al Rose’s Jewish Community Center Sailfish. During the 2009-10 high school season, Nosbisch won the 100 breast at the WPIAL meet, and placed fifth in the finals in the same event at the PIAA State meet. He carried that momentum into the summer, having a breakout summer season, qualifying for and competing at the Junior Nationals in Irvine, Calif. His current best times are 57.84 in the 100 breast, 2:07.21 in the 200 breast and 1:55.33 in the 200 IM.
“Our staff has been very impressed with Luke over this past year,” Knoles commented. “We are ecstatic that he will be joining us in the fall of 2011. Having Luke come in at this time with our formidable breaststroke contingent will help prepare him. Nosbisch is a great package of intelligence, size, speed and work ethic. He will be a great addition to the team.”
Like Lierley, Nosbisch comes from a family whose father served in the military. “The ‘tough as nails’ attitude that normally accompanies a child whose parent was in the service is always a nice thing to have in an athlete,” Knoles added.
