The William and Mary women’s swimming team announced the addition of nine freshmen to the 2014-15 roster today. Tribe Director of Swimming Matt Crispino ’02 and his staff brought in a diverse mix athletes, all of whom can score in at least one event and most in multiple events at the conference championships.
“This season will be an exciting one for our women,” said Crispino, “and this incoming class is a big part of that excitement. It is a large and diverse group of swimmers, many of whom have great event range and versatility. We expect all nine ladies to make an impact and help push our team into contention with the top two programs in the CAA. The future is bright.”
Here is a brief look at each member of the class:
Rachel Anderson – 5-0, Fly/IM
Clifton, Va./Centreville
100 Fly – 57.07
200 Fly – 2:06.01
200 IM – 2:07.92
Prep: Scholastic All-American … Qualified for Junior Nationals in all three fly events (50, 100, 200) and the 200 IM … State qualifier in both the 100 fly and the 200 IM … Named to the Washington Post All-Met team … AP Scholar … Member of the district band for five years … Spent two years as the first-chair saxophonist … Treasurer of the Music Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Sandra and Kenneth Anderson … Enjoys playing the saxophone, reading, and crocheting … Plans to major in education.
Noland Butler – 5-10, Free
Fredericksburg, Va./James Monroe
100 Free – 53.39
200 Free – 1:52.67
500 Free – 5:11.50
Prep: Junior National qualifier in the 200 free … Named to the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star All-Area team all four years of high school … As a senior, finished fourth in the state in the 100 free and fifth in 200 free … Member of the National Honor Society and the Beta Club.
Personal: Daughter of Betsy and Ted Butler … First name is Elizabeth … Enjoys water-skiing, playing field hockey and lacrosse, and going to the beach … Plans to pursue a pre-med course of study.
Jess Crowley – 5-6, Breast/IM
Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough Regional
100 Breast – 1:07.66
200 IM – 2:09.13
100 Free – 53.16
Prep: Massachusetts state champion in the 100 breast in 2013 … Also took silver in the 200 IM that year … In 2012, finished second in the 100 free and third in the 50 free … Named all-scholastic by the Boston Globe in 2013 … Member of Youth in Philanthropy.
Personal: Daughter of Maria and Jim Crowley … Enjoys reading, listening to music, and watching scary movies … Plans to major in neuroscience.
Bailey Hall – 5-2, Free
Henrico, Va./Mills E. Godwin
500 Free – 5:00.49
1000 Free – 10:13.30
1650 Free – 16:50.93
Prep: Scholastic All-American … Six-time Junior National Qualifier … Member of the Latin Club and the Baking Club.
Personal: Daughter of Kelly and Mike Hall … Enjoys jogging, art, and baking … Plans to major in neuroscience.
Shannon Harrington – 5-6.5, Breast/IM
Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy
100 Breast – 1:05.43
200 Breast – 2:21.85
200 IM – 2:05.31
400 IM – 4:29.42
Prep: Scholastic All-American … Eight-time Junior National Qualifier … Led Nazareth to the state silver medal as a senior … Earned four all-state honors in 2014 alone … Fourth in the 200 IM and eighth and the 100 breast … Also swam on the 200 medley and 400 free relays that finished eighth and seventh, respectively … Member of the National Honor Society … Member of the Student Council all four years.
Personal: Daughter of Colleen and Michael Harrington … Enjoys reading, watching movies, and going for a run … Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Abby Mack – 5-5, Fly/Free
Wayne, Pa./Conestoga
100 Fly – 55.57
100 Free – 53.70
200 Free – 1:53.80
Prep: Named a prep All-American in 2012 as part of the 200 free relay … All-State each of the last three years … Was a seven-time YMCA National qualifier … Made the finals in at least one event at YMCA Nationals each of the last three years … Honor Roll all four years … AP Scholar … Communications chair of the Student United Way Club … Vice President for Operation Smile.
Personal: Daughter of Deb Kurucz and Jim Mack … Mother swam at Princeton … Father swam at Widener … Enjoys going to the beach … Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Emma Merrill – 5-5, Back/IM
Fairfax, Va./Paul VI
200 IM – 2:06.35
100 Back – 57.81
200 Back – 2:05.55
Prep: Valedictorian of her class … Four-time qualifier for Junior Nationals … Twice named to the Washington Post All-Met team (honorable mention) … All-State as a senior in the 100 back … Earned all-league honors three times … Won the Washington Metro League title at 200 IM as a senior, after taking fourth as a junior … Honor roll every semester of high school … Co-President of the National Honor Society … Member of the Spanish Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Jeanne and Michael Merrill … Lives with her aunt and uncle Peggy and Kieran McCarthy … Both her aunt (1992) and uncle (1991) graduated from W&M after playing on the varsity soccer teams … Aunt, Caroline Neely (1997), also played soccer for the Tribe … Aunt, Susan Lubic, played soccer at Radford … Enjoys reading and baking … Plans to major in history.
Meghan Schilken – 5-6, Free/Back
Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon
100 Back – 56.16
100 Free – 52.55
200 Free – 1:53.42
Prep: Scholastic All-American … Named the 2014 Area Swimmer of the Year by the Pittsburgh Almanac … Six-time Prep All-American … As a senior, earned All-American honors in the 100 back and both the 200 and 400 free relays … Earned multiple Junior National qualifications … At the PIAA state meet, finished ninth in the 100 back, fourth in the 200 free relay, and fifth in the 400 free relay in 2014 … In the 100 back, was also seventh as a sophomore and eighth as a junior … Led Mt. Lebanon to a runner-up finish in the WPIAL league meet as a senior … Had five all-league finishes in her career … Highest Honor Roll every year … Member of the Cum Laude Society … Completed over 230 hours of community service … Member of the National Honor Society … Member of the Student Government … Member of the Opera Club, Choir, Chamber Choir, and the Evening Theatre Company.
Personal: Daughter of Dolores and Robert Schilken … Father played football at Pitt … Loves reading, watching Disney movies, and singing … Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Annie Valls – 5-8, Breast
Miami, Fla./Ransom Everglades
100 Breast – 1:03.00
200 Breast – 2:21.48
100 Free – 53.89
Prep: Scholastic All-American … Helped her team win the 2013 Florida state title in the 200 medley relay … Third in the state in the 100 breast as a junior, and fourth as a senior … Twice won the district title in the event, and once was the regional champion … Named all-county for five years … AP Scholar … Started a 5K benefit race for Breakthrough Miami that has raised more than $90,000 in four years.
Personal: Daughter of Meg and Nicolas Valls … Cousin, Andy Navarrete, graduated from W&M in 1991 … Enjoys spending time with family and friends, and going to the beach … Undecided as to her collegiate major.
This is an unedited press release courtesy of William & Mary Athletics.