Sacred Heart University swimming and diving coach John Spadafina announced his five member recruiting class. The Pioneers swimming and diving class of 2021 is comprised of: Margaret Flaherty, Fiona Maxwell, Eva Murphy, Emily Peter and Lauren Spencer.
“This is a talented group of young ladies that I expect will be able to make an impact on our program from day one,” said Spadafina. “I am excited about the direction of our program and can’t wait to get our season under way.”
Flaherty is a native of Middlebury, Conn. and swam for Greater Waterbury YMCA and Pomperaug High School. She has qualified for YMCA Nationals in both short and long course, is a multi-year Connecticut Open and Class L Finalist. She will add depth to the Pioneers middle and distance freestyle.
Maxwell, a native of Burlington, Mass. is a five-time MIAA Finalist at Burlington High School. She also has swam for Apex Aquatics and will swim butterfly and individual medley’s.
Murphy hails from Ridgefield, Conn., where she was a four-year member of the Ridgefield High School program. A diver, she was an FCIAC qualifier on the 1-meter board.
A native of Newton, N.J., Peter is an alumna of Pope John XXII Regional High School and swam for Scarlet Aquatic Club. A Speedo Sectional qualifier, she will swim butterfly, sprint freestyle and individual medley’s. Scholastically she was a multi-year finalist at the NJSIAA Swimming and Diving Championships.
Spencer, from North Haven, Conn., was a four-year member of North Haven High School where she was a multi-year finalist in the Connecticut Class M State Championships. She swam for Hamden Hall Aquatics, and was a Connecticut Senior Qualifier and Finalist. She will add depth in the backstroke, middle distance freestyle and individual medley’s.
The swimming and diving team had a record-breaking 2016-17 campaign, posting a program-best 9-2 record in dual meets. Over the course of the year SHU swimmers and divers bested 16 school records. At the 2017 NEC Championship, the Pioneers posted 34 lifetime best swims and moved up a spot in the team standings as compared to a season ago.
Press Release courtesy of Sacred Heart Athletics.