Courtesy: North Carolina Athletics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina men’s swimming and diving program, under the leadership of head coach Rich DeSelm, has added a pair of quality swimmers to the Class of 2022.
UNC will add Tomas Sungaila of Kaunas, Lithuania, and Sterling Smith of Silver Spring, Maryland, to the 2022 class. They join a group of recruits that Carolina signed in the fall semester. A release detailing those four recruits is found at this link.
“We are very excited to add Tomas and Sterling to next year’s team,” says DeSelm. “Both of these young men are terrific individuals, will have an immediate impact and are improving rapidly. It is exciting to know they will have a positive impact upon the team. We look forward to their arrival in a few months. They definitely strengthen the class of men we secured last fall.”
Tomas Sungaila of Kaunas, Lithuania, is a long course meter specialist in the sprint to middle distance freestyle events. His career best times (LCM) are 23.10 in the 50-meter freestyle, 50.11 in the 100-meter freestyle and 1:50.79 in the 200-meter freestyle.
“I chose the University of North Carolina because it is one of the best public universities in the country, where I will be able to get a meaningful degree along with an opportunity to swim with an amazing team,” says Sungaila. “I want to continue to improve in and out of the pool and I believe that UNC is an incredible place do so.”
Sterling Smith hails from Silver Spring, Maryland., and is a versatile swimmer in freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly events. His career best times are 20.51 in the 50-yard freestyle, 46.04 in the 100-yard freestyle, 53.64 in the 100-yard breaststroke, 2:04.11 in the 200-yard breaststroke and 50.69 in the 100-yard butterfly.
“I chose UNC for the perfect blend of athletics and academics,” says Smith. “The coaching staff showed a vested interest in my progression as a swimmer and a student. I’m excited to be a Tar Heel and am looking forward to being on the team.”