Tar Heels Add 10 To Swimming & Diving Program

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina head swimming coach Rich DeSelm has announced Tuesday the addition of 10 recent high school and junior college graduates to the program’s rosters for the 2016-17 season.  These student-athletes will enroll at Carolina when the school year starts on Tuesday, August 23.

The additions include four men’s swimmers and four women’s swimmers as well as two men’s divers who will join coach Abel Sanchez’s outstanding diving contingent.

“We are excited to announce more additions to our incoming class this fall. The common thread among these new Tar Heels is that they all are extremely excited by the opportunities and challenges that await them in Chapel Hill,” said DeSelm.  “We will be counting on them all to contribute to our team culture and in the pool. Added to the rest of the class, we are excited to get started with the entire team very soon, in late August.”

View Carolina’s fall 2016 release of initial men’s swimming and diving signees who start their careers later this month.

Bryan Allen of San Jose, Calif., joins the Tar Heel men’s diving program this fall.  He competed for Santa Clara Diving where he was coached by Todd Spohn.  He is a graduate of Santa Teresa High School.  Among his accomplishments are Zone E Championships 1-meter 3rd Place;  Region 10 Championships 3-meter 5th Place;  CCS Diving Championships 1-meter 3rd Place.  “On my original recruiting trip I knew UNC would be my home for the next four years,” says Allen. “because everyone was so friendly and helpful. I could really see myself fitting into this university.”

Devin Bellamy is a top-flight diver who comes to Chapel Hill from Denver, Colo.  He competes for the Mile High Dive Club where he is coached by Jenn Hess.  He graduated this past spring from Eaglecrest High School where his diving coach was Erik Seaver.  Bellamy is a six-time national qualifier with a top 3-meter score of 534.55 and top 1-meter point total of 535.85.  “I’ve never felt more of a sense of belonging anywhere else,” says Bellamy of his decision to attend UNC. 

John Collier Cobb, III comes to UNC from Raleigh, N.C.  He competes for the Marlins of Raleigh where he was coached by Kevin Blum during his high school years.  Cobb is an alumnus of St. Thomas More Academy.  Cobb has career best times in the following short course yards events:  200 Fly – 1:49.05;  500 Free – 4:29.59;  200 Free – 1:39.85. His career best time in the long course 400 Free is 3:59.40.  “Not only does UNC have unparalleled academics, but its swim team is highly competitive and composed of some of the most exceptional people I’ve met,” says Cobb. “Its amazing opportunities make it the perfect school and I am very honored to be a part of the program next year.”

Craig Emslie is a native of Cape Town, South Africa who graduated this past spring from Indian River Community College in Florida.  In his native South Africa, he attended Rondebosch Boys’ High School.  As a freshman at IRCC, he won NJCCA championships in the 100-yard breaststroke at 54.48 and in the 200-yard breaststroke at 1:58.67 while finishing as the runner-up in the 50 free at 20.39.  He also swam on four relays that took national titles.  As a sophomore at the NJCAA Championships, he took the national championships in the 50-yard breaststroke (24.20), 100-yard breaststroke (52.57), the 200-yard individual medley (1:48.00) and 200-yard breaststroke (1:56.01) and on four relay swims .  “I chose UNC not only for its outstanding swim program, but also for its excellent business school and phenomenal team spirit,” says Emslie.

Andrew Heise is a freestyle sprinter from Ann Arbor, Mich.  He competes for Club Wolverine where he is coached Gunnar Schmidt.  Heise is an alumnus of Ann Arbor Pioneer where he was coached by Stefanie Kerska.  Andrew’s career best times in short course yards event are as follows:  50 free 21.18;  100 free 45.43;  200 free 1:40.16;  100 breast 57.47.  “I chose Carolina for its team atmosphere, rich academic heritage and outstanding swimming” said Heise. “UNC is everything I want in a school and I’m incredibly excited and honored to represent UNC in the pool next year.”

Ryan Torie comes to UNC from Ambler, Pa., as an outstanding freestyle sprinter.  Torie competes for Germantown Academy Aquatic Club where he was coached by Jeff Thompson and Donny Brush.  Torie is an alumnus of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.  Torie’s top short course events are the 50 free (20.35) and 100 Free (44.40). He also swam in the 2016 Olympic Trials in the 50-meter freestyle where his top time is 23.21 seconds. “I knew from the moment I walked on campus that UNC was a very special place, says Torie.  “It offers the best combination of a first-class education, amazing coaching staff, and a fantastic team.  Go Heels!”

The Tar Heel women’s team welcomes the following new student-athletes this fall.

Bryanna Cameron comes to UNC from Bradford, Mass., where she attended Haverhill High School . She swims for Solo Aquatics where she is coached by Thomas McRae.  Cameron’s best short course times are 4:21.92 in the 400 IM, 2:00.06 in the 200 fly, 10:01.36 in the 1000 free, 4:50.76 in the 500 free and 16:46.20 in the 1650 free.  Her long course bests are 4:52.01 in 400 IM, 2:14.55 in 200 fly, 8:53.76 in 800 free, 4:20.83 in 400 free and 17:00.94 in 1500 free.  ““I chose UNC because it is the perfect school to challenge me in every respect,” says Cameron.  “The academics provide a wide range of opportunities and allow me to expand my horizons and the team will push me to do my very best.  The atmosphere is supportive and friendly and I can’t wait to be a Tar Heel!”

Susanna LaRochelle is a native Signal Mountain, Tenn.  She graduated this past spring from the McCallie Girls’ Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Tenn., where she was coached by John Woods.  She did her club swimming for GPS Aquatics where she was coached by Roger Dahlke.  Her career short course best times include 100 Back–54.81;  200 IM–2:02.08;  100 Breast–1:03.39;  200 Back–1:59.30;  100 Fly–55.36.  Her parents Peter and Peggy LaRochelle swam at the university in the 1970s.  “I chose UNC because I was welcomed in by the team as soon as I stepped on campus and the university offers exactly what I am hoping to get out of a school – an amazing education and the resources to become the best athlete I can be. I am so excited to spend the next four years in Chapel Hill,” says LaRochelle.

Natalie Claire Ward comes to UNC from Basking Ridge, N.J.  She swims for Berkeley Aquatic Club where she is coached by former Tar Heel head coach. Jim Wood. She is a 2016 alumna of Ridge High School.  Her top times are as follows in short course events –  500 Free: 4:52.87;  1000 Free: 9:58.67;  1650 Free: 16:40.57.  Her long course event best times are 800 Free: 8:53.31; and 1500 Free: 16:59.19.  “I have wanted to go to the University of North Carolina since I was 10 years old, and to have that dream come true is mind-blowing. I chose UNC not only for the world class academics, but also the amazing team and coaches,” says Ward.  “There really is an atmosphere like no other with this program, and to be a part of that is a dream come true. Being given the opportunity to push myself in both the classroom and the pool allows me to reach for my goals and explore all the opportunities around me.”

Erica Wirth is from New Providence, N.J., where she graduated from New Providence High School.  She competes for Berkeley Aquatic Club where she swam for former Tar Heel head coach Jim Wood. She is a distance freestyler whose top short course times are 4:53.18, 10:11.54 and 16:36.13 in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyles.  Her top long course times are 4:19.48, 8:48.95 and 16:59.53 in the 400, 800 and 1500 meter freestyles.  “I am so excited to be able to attend UNC,” says Wirth.  “The beautiful campus, unmatched athletics, and atmosphere of the team make this school incredibly special. I look forward to being a part of it and becoming a Tar Heel!”