In the class of 2010, Georgia Tech’s highest-ranked recruit in the state was #8 Ben Shepperd. In 2011, it was also #8, Dylan Case. Needless to say, the Yellow Jackets haven’t always recruited the state that well, considering the brilliant facility that they have left over from the 1996 Olympics that most of the state’s top recruits swim at every year. Many of their top recruits (including those in last year’s outstanding class)
But this year, there is a new coach in charge of recruiting, and it’s none other than the great Chris DeSantis of The Swim Brief. So far, it looks like DeSantis has changed that trend after the recent verbal commitment of the state’s 3rd-ranked recruit, Ricky Lehner. Lehner swims for SwimAtlanta and Parkview high school.
Lehner is an outstanding breaststroker, which is the group that the new recruiting coordinator DeSantis is responsible for in practice. He is the two-time defending state champion in Georgia in the 100, and also owns the State Record in the event (55.88). His 200 isn’t quite as good as his 100, but a 2:05.04 is still an above-average time for a high school swimmer.