Press Release courtesy of Villanova Athletics
Villanova University Head Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach Rick Simpson has announced the signing of five student-athletes to the Class of 2022. They will join the program beginning in the 2018-2019 season.
“This is an outstanding incoming recruiting class that has a strong work ethic, high academic standards, incredible versatility and will continue to help Villanova Swimming reach their team goals in and out of the pool,” Simpson said.
The Wildcats have added Abbey Berloco (Princeton, N.J./Notre Dame), Kelly Montesi (Riverside, Conn./Greenwich), Emily Ryan ( Bartlett, Ill./Rosary) Nicole Welch (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) and Grace Wieler (Richmond, Va./Saint Catherines) for the upcoming season.
Abbey Berloco
Princeton, N.J. | Sprint & Mid Distance Freestyle
Berloco will graduate from Notre Dame High School while swimming for the Hamilton Area YMCA. Collegeswimming.com ranked her as the #2 recruit in the state of New Jersey.
Top Times: 50 Free (23.17), 100 Free (50.03), 200 Free (1:50.16)
Simpson about Berloco: “Abbey will bring much-needed versatility to our sprint and mid-distance events at Villanova. She is an outstanding relay swimmer and a very hard worker both in and out of the pool. We are looking forward to her helping us reach our team goals.”
Kelly Montesi
Riverside, Conn. | Butterfly, Freestyle, Backstroke & IM
Montesi will graduate from Greenwich High School while swimming for the Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club. Collegeswimming.com ranked her as the No. 5 recruit in the state of Connecticut.
Top Times: 100 Fly (53.88), 200 Free (1:49.45), 500 Free (4:55.03), 100 Back (54.87),
200 Back (2:00.08), 200 Fly (2:03.52), 200 IM (2:03.1), 400 IM (4:18.54)
Simpson about Montesi: “Kelly joins our team as one of our best solid all around athletes. It will be great for Kelly to be in an environment where she is pushed every day from her teammates in every stroke. No doubt that it’s going to be fun to watch her improve over the next 4 years.”
Emily Ryan
Bartlett, Ill. | Freestyle, Backstroke, IM & Butterfly
Ryan will graduate from Rosary High School while swimming for the Saint Charles Swim Team. Collegeswimming.com ranked her as the #15 recruit in the state of Illinois.
Top Times: 50 Free (23.56), 100 Free (50.67), 200 Free (1:51.29), 100 Back (55.22), 200 Back (1:57.60), 100 Fly (56.12), 200 Fly (2:04.00), 200 IM (2.03.50), 400 IM (4.20.46)
Simpson about Ryan: “Emily is one of the most versatile swimmers we have had in a long time. She will help us in just about any event and will bring such a great positive presence to our team.”
Nicole Welch
Beverly, Mass. | Distance Freestyle
Welch will graduate from Beverly High School while also swimming for the YMCA of the North Shore. Collegeswimming.com ranked her the #1 recruit in the state of Massachusetts. Was a Longcourse YMCA Nationals Champion in the 800 Freestyle.
Top Times: 200 Free (1:51.87), 500 Free (4:51.87), 1000 Free (9:59.54), 1650 Free (16:50.13)
Simpson about Welch: ” With graduation of two of our best distance swimmers, Nicole will not miss a beat with our tradition of having excellent distance swimmers. A great student with a wide variety of events.”
Grace Wieler
Richmond, Va. | Backstroke & Mid Distance Freestyle
Wieler will graduate from the Saint Catherine’s School. She swims for Nova of Virginia Aquatics.
Top Times: 100 Free (52.1), 200 Back (2.01.68), 100 Fly (56.1), 200 Fly (2:05.01), 200 IM (2.05.70)
Simpson about Wieler: “Grace gives us depth in the Backstroke, fly and Freestyle events. The coaching staff feels once she adapts to our training and improves her underwaters, she will take off to another level of success.” The fact that we could potentially have four to five girls under two minutes for the 200 backstroke next year is pretty exciting.”