NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Iona College men’s and women’s swimming and diving head coach Nick Cavataro announced his Class of 2019. Nine (five women, four men) student-athletes will join the program for the 2015- 16 season.
WOMEN’S ADDTIIONS:
Demetra Laurent (Everett, WA / Cascade High School / Bellevue Club Swim Team)
A Washington native, Laurent looks to have an immediate impact on the MAAC in the distance freestyle events. She had a tremendous amount of success at the high school state level and regionally with USA Swimming as a sectional qualifier.
“We are thrilled that Demetra will be joining us,” said Cavataro. “Her personality and work ethic is exactly the type we want representing our program. Her versatility with distance and middle distance freestyle events, along with her ability to swim butterfly makes her an immediate threat in the MAAC.”
Jessica Schmidt (Edison, NJ / Bishop George Ahr High School / Metuchen Edison YMCA)
Schmidt joins the Gaels from Edison, NJ where she is an accomplished swimmer on the New Jersey state level while also competing at the national YMCA level with her club program. She has the ability to swim and compete in any event, with primary focus in sprint and middle distance freestyle, IM and backstroke.
“Jessica can compete in a wide variety of events which makes her extremely exciting to coach,” said Cavataro. “Her attitude and approach to swimming is top notch and allows her to be competitive in a wide range of events. We are hopeful Jessica can be a top eight performer in multiple events at next year’s MAAC Championships.”
Maria DiBella (West Hartford, CT / Hall High School / SONOCO Swim Club)
DiBella comes to Iona from the nationally ranked SONOCO Swim club. She has the ability to compete in a wide range of freestyle events, along with butterfly and backstroke.
“Maria is a coming off of a great senior year,” said Cavataro. “She finished second in the Connecticut Class L state championship in the 500-yard freestyle and third overall at the Open. She brings a wealth of experience competing at a high level and has competed at the national and regional level as a sectional qualifier. We’re excited to see her continue to improve in New Rochelle.”
Sydney Thompson (Bel Air, MD / Patterson Mill High School / Arena Club Aquatics)
Thompson comes to New Rochelle looking to continue Iona’s tradition of strong swimmers from the state of Maryland. She can swim a wide range of events and has been a presence at the state level for one of the toughest local swimming committees (LSC) in the nation. She will add freestyle depth and promises to be a key contributor for the Gaels in the years to come.
“Sydney has the ability to swim multiple events,” said Cavataro. “As our program continues to evolve and grow, swimmers like Sydney with the desire to improve will be the ones that push us to the top of the MAAC.”
Sarah Ahlberg (Glastonbury, CT / Glastonbury High School / SONOCO Swim Club)
Ahlberg joins Iona after completing a superb senior year which saw her reach sectionals for the first time and score at the state level. Her ability to swim butterfly and IM will make her an immediate impact performer for the Gaels.
“Sarah comes from a great swimming family and truly loves the sport,” said Cavataro. “We’re excited to work with her and we see her participation in sectionals this year as the first step to many more exciting achievements in the years ahead in the MAAC.”
MEN’S ADDTIIONS:
Matthew Bosse (Our Lady of Lourdes High School / New Windsor NY / Newburgh Sharks)
Bosse will jump right into the mix for the Gaels in 2016 and adds to what is quickly becoming the most exciting program in the MAAC. A 6-2 backstroke and IM specialist, he comes from a great swimming background and is the son of former USMA Coach, Ray Bosse, and looks to make a name for himself in the MAAC.
“We’re thrilled to get Matt in Maroon and Gold,” said Cavataro. “His times from the New York high school state and sectional championships will make him a key contributor here and a force in the MAAC Championships. We’re excited to work with Matt and see how fast we can get together.”
Jimmy Barnola (Farmingdale, NY / Farmingdale High School / Long Island Express)
Barnola brings versatility and a lot of excitement to the Maroon & Gold. He is coming off a strong senior year which saw him reach the New York high school state championship and achieve multiple USA swimming sectional cuts.
“Jimmy will jump in right away to what is already one of the best middle freestyle contingents in the MAAC,” said Cavataro. “His competitive fire and ability to compete day-to-day is not only going to make him better, but the group as a whole will get stronger. Jimmy’s times from this past year make him a threat in the MAAC not only in freestyle but backstroke as well. His desire to compete will fit right in immediately with what we’re doing here”
Jude Zamora (West Hills, CA / Crespi Carmelite High School / CCAT Swimming)
Zamora is an up and coming star and his times continued to improve during his senior campaign. He will look to have an impact at Iona in the sprint freestyle and butterfly events. Zamora’s had his most accomplished high school season to date with the CIF Championships still pending.
“Jude has had a great attitude from the start. He is “a proto typical sprinter”, and he just wants to race,” said Cavataro. “His ability to step up in the key events at any moment will solidify our depth and make us better as a whole. We are really looking forward to working with him this fall.”
Owen Badin (North Chesterfield, VA / Blessed Sacrament Huguenot High School / Poseidon Swimming)
Badin comes to Iona from Poseidon Swimming and has a great base of training for the college level. His key events will be with the distance groups along with his strong individual medley’s.
“We’re thrilled Owen choose to be a Gael,” said Cavataro. “His goals and attitude were a fit right from the start. We knew the minute he walked on campus we wanted to get him here. We’re excited to have him train with our distance core.”
Swimming news courtesy of Iona College.