The Rider University Broncos have signed 8 swimmers and divers, 5 men and 3 women, in the early signing period. Read more about those 8 athletes below, including comments from the coaching staff on the impact that each will have upon the program.
WOMEN
Taylor Stalnaker
Monroe, NY
Monroe-Woodbury High School
Aqua Gems Swim Club
Backstroke/Butterfly
3x High School Team Captain at Monroe-Woodbury
5x NCSA Junior National Qualifier
USA Swimming Winter Nationals Qualifier
3x New York State High School Section 9 Championship Team Titles
50 Back – 26.7
100 Back – 56.2
200 Back – 2:04.3
100 Fly – 58.4
100 Free – 52.7 r
200 Free – 1:55.48
Intended Field of Study – Political Science / Pre-Law
Impact at Rider:
Taylor is a fierce racer. Her speed is evident, but her team attitude is second to none and it’s clear she goes to the block to compete every opportunity she earns. We will hope to tap into her experience as a team leader in a successful program at Monroe-Woodbury to add to the team chemistry necessary to help our women’s program’ begin to realize it’s potential. Taylor’s excitement for the sport and love of racing will provide an exciting spark to our team culture.
Leeanna Cass
Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Lacey Twp. High School
Ocean County YMCA
Backstroke/IM
Lacey Twp. High School MVP Sophomore and Junior years of high school
Ocean County, NJ Swimmer of the Year in 2012
YMCA State Champion in the 100 and 200 Backstrokes
YMCA Nationals Finalist
3x NJSIAA “Meet of Champions” qualifier
Ortley Beach Patrol
100 Back – 58.8
200 Back – 2:05.0
100 Fly – 59.4
200 IM – 2:10.9
Intended Field of Study – Math / Education
Impact at Rider:
Leeanna has already demonstrated the speed as a high school junior to final in the MAAC in her events. She will be one of our top backstrokers as a freshman. She has enormous upside potential to improve in college swimming. She is technically sound in all four strokes and proves her versatility as an IM’er. She has big meet experience at YMCA nationals that should give her the confidence to compete immediately in our lineup at Rider in her first season.
Victoria Evans
Egg Harbor Twp., NJ
Egg Harbor Twp. HS
Egg Harbor Twp. Seahawks
Sprint Freestyle/Butterfly
NJSIAA “Meet of Champions” qualifier
Intended Field of Study – Business/Dance
Impact at Rider:
Victoria is a leader on her high school team. She contributes in every meet to the success of a winning program and will bring with her to Rider an understanding of what it takes to create a winning team. She is newly committed to year round training as a senior sprinter. Victoria will have an immediate impact at Rider in the sprint freestyle and butterfly events. Her energy and focus on development will not only take her far in her senior year but comes just in time as she enters the college environment at Rider with a renewed dedication to hard work and improvement.
MEN
Griffin Hutton
Hamilton, NJ
Hamilton High School West
Princeton Piranhas Swim Team
Distance Freestyle/Butterfly/IM
5x NCSA Junior National Qualifier
USA Swimming Winter Nationals Qualifier – 1650
Hamilton High School West Recordholder – 6 events
500 Free – 4:35.3
1000 Free – 9:19.7
1650 Free – 15:29.3
200 Fly – 1:51.6
400 IM – 4:04.4
Intended Field of Study – Undecided
Impact at Rider:
Griffin is a “matter of fact”, quiet, hard-working distance freestyler with current speed and future potential as well as versatility. Known affectionately as a “grinder”, Griffin is a distance swimmer who proves it every day in training. He has already qualified for high level meets like USA Swimming’s Winter National meet in the 1650, and he’ll compete well in the MAAC in the 1000 and 500 freestyles. One of the other exciting aspects about Griffin’s swimming is his potential in both the 400 IM and the 200 butterfly. Griffin will add intensity to an already burgeoning core of distance freestylers in the training environment at Rider.
Carter Paules
Emmaus, PA
Emmaus High School
Emmaus Aquatic Club
IM/Breaststroke
2013 and 2014 PIAA District 11 Champion – 100 Breaststroke
2014 PIAA District 11 Champion – 200 IM
PIAA State Finalist
NCSA Junior National Qualifier
Intended Field of Study – Business
100 Breast – 58.1
200 Breast – 2:07.2
200 IM – 1:54.1
400 IM – 4:05.4
Impact at Rider:
Carter rounds out a competitive trio of 400 IM’ers committing to Rider this Fall along with Hutton, Musselman and Barnes. He will also contribute immediately as a freshman in dual meets and the MAAC in the breaststroke events. Carter is a proven hard worker and will undoubtedly add to the toughness of the training environment at Rider. He is surging competitively late as a high school senior, and has set the stage well for a successful collegiate career of fast swimming at Rider.
Luke Musselman
Timonium, MD
Loyola Blakefield
Loyola Blakefield Aquatics
Backstroke/IM
100 Back – 53.6
200 Back – 1:54.4
100 Fly – 53.3
200 Fly – 1:59.7
400 IM – 4:08.2
All-Maryland Team Selection
2014 Eastern Prep Swimming Team Champions
Loyola Team Captain
Intended Field of Study – Sport Management
Impact at Rider:
Luke fills a targeted need for the Broncs in the backstroke events. Luke’s best times as a junior in high school reflect great potential in the MAAC. Strong indicators of Luke’s potential show up in the improvement in his long course results during the summer between his Junior and Senior years of high school. He will contribute immediately to the lineup at Rider in the 200 backstroke but also shows tremendous promise in the 400 IM and butterfly events.
Porter Barnes
Columbus, NJ
Northern Burlington County Regional High School
YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties
Breaststroke/IM
NJSIAA “Meet of Champions” qualifier
100 Breast – 59.5
200 Breast – 2:07.9
200 IM – 1:57.1
400 IM – 4:09.3
Intended Field of Study – Finance
Impact at Rider:
Porter continues to improve and accomplish more each year as a high school athlete and is setting himself up well for a fast collegiate career. His contributions as an IM’er will be most immediate in our lineup. Porter has talent in the breaststroke events that will set him up to move quickly up the conference standings in the MAAC while supporting our team efforts in dual meets throughout the season.
Joseph Warker
Reading, PA
Wilson High School
West Chester Diving
Diving
2x All-American
2x PIAA Dictrict 3 Champion
2x PIAA State Finalist
2012 AAU 1-Meter Synchro 16-18 National Champion
2x Junior National Qualifier
Wilson High School Recordholder – 1-Meter/6 Dives
Intended Field of Study – Environmental Science
Impact at Rider:
Joe is a welcome addition to our diving squad on the men’s side. He’ll join the team as a freshman making our diving unit 3 strong completing the roster in a big way. Joe has extensive competitive experience at the National level through USA diving and AAU diving. His extraordinary competitive accomplishments as a high school athlete will strengthen our team in the conference. His ability combined with his motivation to contribute to the team will also enhance the daily training environment for all of our divers.
Above is a press release submitted by Rider University.