Pitt Signs Seven Highly Touted Class of 2018 Athletes
11/22/2017 3:00:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
PITTSBURGH—The Pitt swimming & diving programs successfully added more future talent this month with the signings of seven student-athletes that will become Panthers ahead of the 2018-19 season for head coach John Hargis, diving coach Katie Hazelton and the rest of Pitt's young staff.
Pitt's first seven signees for the Class of 2018 include six swimmers and one diver with five Americans and two international recruits.
"We're thrilled to announce these additions to our Pitt swimming & diving family," Hargis said. "In recruiting, we look for talented student-athletes who fit our philosophy and believe in the direction we want to take the program. This class will be huge in establishing that culture of success. I'm so appreciative of my staff's hard work in bringing these athletes to the University of Pittsburgh. It's long hours and we recruit around the world, but they enjoy the challenge of continuing to move this program forward. I want to thank them for their work."
"I'm really excited that we were able to sign Serena Buchwald for the Class of 2018," Hazelton said of her first official commit as the Pitt diving coach. "She comes from Canada and will bring a lot of experience and enthusiasm to our program. Serena excels on platform but will also contribute in the springboard events as well. We can't wait for her to arrive on campus."
Here is an alphabetical rundown of Pitt swimming & diving's commitments from the recent National Letter of Intent Signing Day:
Serena Buchwald – DIVE – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada/Balmoral
Buchwald marks another diver with international experience that is set to join the Panthers. The Winnipeg native competed at the 2016 Canadian Olympic Trials after she reached the 3-meter finals at Senior Nationals. Buchwald recently represented Team Manitoba at the 2017 Canada Games and has experience diving in each of the sport's three events but specializes on 10-meter platform.
Alyssa Conley – FREE/BACK/BREAST/IM – Carmel, Ind./Carmel
Strong in nearly every swimming event, Conley commits to Pitt from suburban Indianapolis. Conley competed at last year's Indiana State Championships in six different events—the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 free, 200 back and 200 IM—highlighted by her ninth-place finish in the 50 free.
Dakota Elliott – BREAST/FREE/IM – Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington
One of Ohio's top prep swimmers, Dakota Elliott, is another marquee signing in Pitt's 2018 recruiting class. Elliot signs with the Panthers as a nine-time NISCA High School All-American and a multiple-time state champion with Upper Arlington. Also a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, Elliott is the reigning 200 IM champion in the state of Ohio and helped UA's 200 medley relay set a state record last season.
Lauren Kelly – FREE/BACK – Egg Harbor City, N.J./Cedar Creek
Kelly signs with Pitt after reaching the New Jersey state finals and placing fifth in the 200 free last March. The Cedar Creek High School product, who won the 200 free at the Eric Namesnik Memorial Swim Meet over the summer, is capable of swimming strong times in various distances in the backstroke and freestyle events.
Richard Marton – FREE – Budapest, Hungary
Rated one of the top collegiate prospects in the Class of 2018, Marton is the latest quality international signing for the Panthers. The Budapest native excels in freestyle sprinting events and recently showcased his talents on the world stage at the FINA World Junior Championships in Indianapolis, placing sixth in the 200 free against some of the world's top teenagers. The Hungarian's résumé also includes a pair of top-10 finishes in the 200 free and 400 free at the 2016 Arena European Junior Swimming Championships, which were held in his home country.
Madison Nalls – FREE – Wrightsville, Pa./Eastern York
In-state commit Nalls joins Pitt as a multiple-time Pennsylvania state finalist and a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. Nalls' prep highlights also include qualifying for the PIAA Championships in track & field and cross country for Eastern York High School as a multiple-sport athlete, but her top-five swims in the 200 free and 500 free at PIAAs last spring proved that swimming is her top sport.
Quinton Pierce – FREE/BREAST/IM – Lafayette, Colo./Boulder
Pierce is the defending Colorado state champion in the 500 free and was named a 2016-17 High School All-American by NISCA. Committing to Pitt from the same high school as current Panther and NCAA qualifier Amanda Richey, Pierce was also the Colorado runner-up in the 200 free last season while swimming for Boulder. He ranks as one of the nation's premier distance prospects.
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Pitt's first seven signees for the Class of 2018 include six swimmers and one diver with five Americans and two international recruits.
"We're thrilled to announce these additions to our Pitt swimming & diving family," Hargis said. "In recruiting, we look for talented student-athletes who fit our philosophy and believe in the direction we want to take the program. This class will be huge in establishing that culture of success. I'm so appreciative of my staff's hard work in bringing these athletes to the University of Pittsburgh. It's long hours and we recruit around the world, but they enjoy the challenge of continuing to move this program forward. I want to thank them for their work."
"I'm really excited that we were able to sign Serena Buchwald for the Class of 2018," Hazelton said of her first official commit as the Pitt diving coach. "She comes from Canada and will bring a lot of experience and enthusiasm to our program. Serena excels on platform but will also contribute in the springboard events as well. We can't wait for her to arrive on campus."
Here is an alphabetical rundown of Pitt swimming & diving's commitments from the recent National Letter of Intent Signing Day:
Serena Buchwald – DIVE – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada/Balmoral
Buchwald marks another diver with international experience that is set to join the Panthers. The Winnipeg native competed at the 2016 Canadian Olympic Trials after she reached the 3-meter finals at Senior Nationals. Buchwald recently represented Team Manitoba at the 2017 Canada Games and has experience diving in each of the sport's three events but specializes on 10-meter platform.
Alyssa Conley – FREE/BACK/BREAST/IM – Carmel, Ind./Carmel
Strong in nearly every swimming event, Conley commits to Pitt from suburban Indianapolis. Conley competed at last year's Indiana State Championships in six different events—the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 free, 200 back and 200 IM—highlighted by her ninth-place finish in the 50 free.
Dakota Elliott – BREAST/FREE/IM – Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington
One of Ohio's top prep swimmers, Dakota Elliott, is another marquee signing in Pitt's 2018 recruiting class. Elliot signs with the Panthers as a nine-time NISCA High School All-American and a multiple-time state champion with Upper Arlington. Also a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, Elliott is the reigning 200 IM champion in the state of Ohio and helped UA's 200 medley relay set a state record last season.
Lauren Kelly – FREE/BACK – Egg Harbor City, N.J./Cedar Creek
Kelly signs with Pitt after reaching the New Jersey state finals and placing fifth in the 200 free last March. The Cedar Creek High School product, who won the 200 free at the Eric Namesnik Memorial Swim Meet over the summer, is capable of swimming strong times in various distances in the backstroke and freestyle events.
Richard Marton – FREE – Budapest, Hungary
Rated one of the top collegiate prospects in the Class of 2018, Marton is the latest quality international signing for the Panthers. The Budapest native excels in freestyle sprinting events and recently showcased his talents on the world stage at the FINA World Junior Championships in Indianapolis, placing sixth in the 200 free against some of the world's top teenagers. The Hungarian's résumé also includes a pair of top-10 finishes in the 200 free and 400 free at the 2016 Arena European Junior Swimming Championships, which were held in his home country.
Madison Nalls – FREE – Wrightsville, Pa./Eastern York
In-state commit Nalls joins Pitt as a multiple-time Pennsylvania state finalist and a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. Nalls' prep highlights also include qualifying for the PIAA Championships in track & field and cross country for Eastern York High School as a multiple-sport athlete, but her top-five swims in the 200 free and 500 free at PIAAs last spring proved that swimming is her top sport.
Quinton Pierce – FREE/BREAST/IM – Lafayette, Colo./Boulder
Pierce is the defending Colorado state champion in the 500 free and was named a 2016-17 High School All-American by NISCA. Committing to Pitt from the same high school as current Panther and NCAA qualifier Amanda Richey, Pierce was also the Colorado runner-up in the 200 free last season while swimming for Boulder. He ranks as one of the nation's premier distance prospects.
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