#15 Henriette Stenkvist Headed to USC

When we did our preview the USC women’s program a month ago, I remarked on how small the class was last year, especially compared to the perceived amount of recruiting dollars that should have been available, and that Dave Salo might have been biding his time to unload on the stocked class of 2012.

This appears to becoming true. After the very early commitment in July of Kendyl Stewart in July, Salo has landed another top-20 recruit (CollegeSwimming.com‘s #15) Henriette Stenkvist out of North Carolina. Here’s what Stenkvist had to say about her decision:

“The moment I stepped foot onto the USC campus and got to meet the coaches along with the rest of the team I felt like that was a place I could call home. I really felt that the school, coaches and the team all will help me achieve my goals both in and out of the pool. And being Swedish, I was looking for a program with international experience and I knew that they definitely had the experience that I was looking for in that area. Everyone was simply so welcoming and I can’t wait to be a Trojan!!”

Stenkvist is the North Carolina LSC Record Holder in the 200 back in yards for the 13-14, 15-16, and 15-18 age groups, and also holds the 15-16 500 free mark; and at last year’s Cary Senior Sectionals meet, she took wins in the 100 back, 200 back, 500 free, and 1000 free. She hails from the same Raleigh Swimming Association squad that produced Sarah Henry, who was a 19-point NCAA scorer last year as a freshman; Stenkvist will be chasing Henry’s high school state record in the 200 free in early 2011.

Her probable event schedule in college will be the 500 free (4:45.92), 100 back (54.14), and 200 back (1:54.98), though the 200 free (1:47.51) is a toss-up for a 2nd-day replacement (of the 100 back) as well. That 200 back will be her biggest opportunity at freshman points, as that best time would’ve placed her 18th at NCAA’s this year and just a tenth outside of the B-final. By the time she hits campus, she should be solidly into the points.

She’s also a good enough sprinter (which USC badly needs) to make a relay impact, with a best of 50.57, and this year has a shot at taking down the North Carolina public high school mark in the 100 free that is currently held by Virginia’s Lauren Perdue.