Carson-Newman Eagles Ink Three Commits For 2016

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The Eagles of Carson-Newman welcome three more to their 2016-17 roster with signees Regina Zipperer, Leah Allen, and Mary Northcutt. Carson-Newman University of Jefferson City, TN, is a third year NCAA Division II program competing in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference.

Photo Courtesy of Regina Zipperer

Regina Zipperer is a senior at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School, located on the west end of Tennessee near Memphis. She’s been swimming for the Germantown Swim Team since she was seven years old. Her competitive coach is Scott Robinson and her high school coach is Molly Pickering. Carson-Newman signed Zipperer to further their depth in the mid-distance freestyle and backstroke events.

“I chose Carson-Newman because when I walked on campus and met the team, I immediately felt at home. The team and the coaches are amazing, and the campus is beautiful.”

She has an active presence in organizations at St. Benedict at Auburndale such as an animal rights’ club, youth group, ecology club, and honor societies. Recently, she picked up a highpoint winner distinction at the 2015 GST Thanksgiving Invitational and was named the Wendy’s High School Heisman by her school.

Carson-Newman has signed Australian Leah Allen as one of their newest international swimmers. She claims citizenship with America but has been living and swimming in the land down under for eight years. Allen is a four-time Australian National Age Championship finalist in the 400 IM, 400 free, and 800 free and has qualified for the Australian Open Championships and the Commonwealth Games Australian Trials. Her IM and mid-distance freestyle ability will be a nice boost to the Eagles’ versatility.

Photo Courtesy of Leah Allen

“I chose Carson-Newman because I really feel at home there with the campus and the swim team.  I’ve always wanted to swim in the NCAA when the time came and I visited five D2 schools that I had shortlisted.  Some fantastic D2 programs out there; but the academic and swimming program at CN is a perfect fit for me.  I’m very excited about swimming for Coach McCord and being part of the team!”

She’s the team captain of her club, the Tuggeranong Vikings. As a member of her club, she’s helped initiate a Young Swimmers Mentoring Program, which gathers senior national-level swimmers as mentors for younger swimmers and aids with their assimilation to competitive swimming.

Photo Courtesy of Mary Northcutt

Mary Northcutt of the Huntsville Swim Association, AL is another commit that’s been added to Carson-Newman’s 2016-17 roster. The Alabamian swims for Grissom High School during the high school season which runs during the fall semester. Northcutt will supplement the Eagles’ campaign with her freestyle ability, a strength she’s demonstrated by finaling at the 2013 and 2014 AHSAA State Meet. She’ll get another shot to place in the top-eight as a senior on December 4-5 at the 2015 edition of the meet.

“I chose Carson-Newman because, after I visited, it was a place I could not wait to get back to. The team was awesome, and I loved the coaching staff and their coaching philosophy. They want you to become the best you can be, both in and out of the water.”