Courtesy: West Virginia Athletics
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University swimming and diving coach Vic Riggs has announced the addition of 22 student-athletes to the men’s and women’s rosters for the upcoming 2019-20 season.
The incoming class features 11 newcomers to the men’s team and 11 additions to the women’s squad. Four student-athletes will join the diving team, while 19 others will join the swimming rosters.
The women’s team features Meredith Bolinger (Allen, Texas/Town North High), Holly Darling (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington High), Emily Haimes (London, England/Mount Kelly), Ginger Hansen (Holmdel, New Jersey/Holmdel High), Mathilde Kaelbel (Mulbach-Sur-Munster, France/Lycee Climatique and Sportif Pierre de Coubertin), Jacqueline McCutchan (Morgantown, West Virginia/University High), Harna Minezawa (Mason, Ohio/Mason High), Tatum Peyerl (Boksburg, South Africa/St. Dominic’s School for Girls), Marian Tiemeier (Wilder, Kentucky/Campbell County High), Anne-Elaine Tiller (Lynchburg, Virginia/E.C. Glass High) and Sarah Young (Simpsonville, South Carolina/Next High).
Featured in the men’s incoming class are Hunter Armstrong (Dover, Ohio/Dover High), Jonathan Bennett (Durban, South Africa/Clifton High), Zach Boley (Dunlap, Illinois/Dunlap High), Harvey Culbert (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg: Encore Academy), Owen Johns (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania/Mount Lebanon High), Jake Lowe (Brunswick, Ohio/Eastern Michigan), Conrad Molinaro (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania/Franklin Regional), Michael Sandner (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro High), Jack Saum (Akron, Ohio/Firestone High), David Snider (Parkersburg, West Virginia/Parkersburg High) and Ryen van Wyk (Pretoria, South Africa/Indian River State College).
“This is one of the most diverse and talented classes we’ve brought in over the past few years,” Riggs said. “For both teams, we have added depth in all areas and addressed some events we needed to. Each of these individuals brings the character and work ethic we are looking for, and I’m looking forward to their contributions to our program as Mountaineers.”
“This class really comes in with a lot of talent and experienced diving backgrounds,” WVU diving coach Michael Grapner said. “Each of them comes from a well-respected club program where they have all learned the foundations to prepare them for training. I’m excited to add them to the roster this season. They will help promote friendly inter-squad competition while encouraging everyone to achieve their goals and create a positive team atmosphere.”
Meredith Bolinger
Allen, Texas | Town North High/Metroplex Aquatics
Top Times
100 Back: 55.80
200 Back: 2:00.74
200 Free: 1:50.60
Bolinger on WVU: “I chose WVU because I felt at home from the first moment I stepped on campus. The people are so friendly and welcoming, and I love the whole atmosphere.”
Holly Darling
Columbus, Ohio | Upper Arlington High/Ohio State Dive Team
Top Scores
1-meter (11 dives): 448.4
3-meter (10 dives): 404.8
Platform: 331.85
Darling on WVU: “I selected WVU because of the sincerity and kindness of all the people that made me feel at home. Everyone is so welcoming and always willing to lend a helping hand. The energy and school spirit are amazing as well.”
Emily Haimes
London, England | Mount Kelly (Devon)/Mount Kelly Swimming
Top Times
100 Fly: 1:01.40 LCM
100 Free: 57.25 LCM
50 Free: 26.30 LCM
Haimes on WVU: “I initially chose WVU because of their reputation, both for having a strong swim team with great coaching and support, and for the academic reputation of the university. Once I visited, I was immediately impressed by the genuine warmth of the people I met and the family feel of the team.”
Ginger Hansen
Holmdel, New Jersey | Holmdel High/Red Bank YMCA
Top Times
100 Back: 55.95
100 Fly: 55.44
50 Free: 23.75
Hansen on WVU: “I chose WVU for the combination of athletics and academics that would allow me to excel in both aspects of my college life. [I also liked] the support and encouragement I felt from the coaches and team from the moment I met them.”
Mathilde Kaelbel
Mulbach-Sur-Munster, France | Lycee Climatique and Sportif Pierre de Coubertin/Les Dauphins d’Obernai
Top Times
100 Breast: 1:12.00 LCM
200 Breast: 2:33.02 LCM
Kaelbel on WVU: “I was looking for a place where I could study business and swim, and WVU offered me the opportunity to join the Mountaineer Family and realize my dreams. WVU is a new start for me in a new country with new people, and I can’t wait to discover this new life!”
Jacqueline McCutchan
Morgantown, West Virginia | University High/Club Mountaineer
Top Times
100 Free: 52.55
200 Free: 1:56.10
100 Fly: 57.78
McCutchan on WVU: “Both of my parents are alumni of the WVU swimming team, so it is a huge honor to be able to follow in their footsteps and represent my hometown and state. On my trip, the team and coaches made me feel so welcome. There was no doubt for me that WVU was the right fit.”
Harna Minezawa
Mason, Ohio | William Mason High/Mason Manta Rays
Top Times
50 Free: 23.34
100 Free: 51.82
100 Fly: 54.76
Minezawa on WVU: “I chose WVU because I felt I could thrive to the best of my ability in both academics and athletics. Everyone also welcomed me with open arms when I first visited, and it felt like the right fit for me.”
Tatum Peyerl
Boksburg, South Africa | St. Dominic’s School for Girls/Mandeville Dolphins
Top Times
100 Breast: 1:14.23 LCM
200 Breast: 2:35.85 SCM
100 Fly: 1:04.99 LCM
Peyerl on WVU: “In my recruitment program, I was looking for a college where I could study engineering and be part of a great swim team. I had a Skype call with Coach Riggs, and after that, I knew that WVU would be a great fit for me.”
Marian Tiemeier
Wilder, Kentucky | Campbell County High/OhK Diving
Top Scores
1-meter (11 dives): 453.50
3-meter (10 dives): 387.15
Platform: 289.95
Tiemeier on WVU: “I chose WVU because, compared to several schools, WVU ranked the highest for me in academic programs, location, team culture, coach and facilities. I knew after my official visit that this is where I want to be for the next four years.”
Anne-Elaine Tiller
Lynchburg, Virginia | E.C. Glass High/Lynchburg YMCA
Top Times
200 Fly: 2:08.28
200 Free: 1:55.02
500 Free: 5:07.47
Tiller on WVU: “I chose WVU because of the amazing school spirit and the atmosphere of Morgantown. Everything about WVU reminds me of home, and I feel at home every time I step on campus.”
Sarah Young
Simpsonville, South Carolina | Next High/Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club
Top Times
200 Back: 2:02.50
200 IM: 2:07.83
400 IM: 4:27.20
Young on WVU: “I chose WVU because it had everything I was looking for in a school. It had the big school atmosphere, school spirit, great degree programs, an alumni base and a welcoming team environment.”
Hunter Armstrong
Dover, Ohio | Dover High/Canton City Schools
Top Times
50 Free: 22.86 LCM
100 Free: 50.24 LCM
100 Back: 55.33 LCM
Armstrong on WVU: “I have witnessed first-hand over the past four years how WVU has guided, encouraged and supported my older brother, Jake, as a successful student-athlete at WVU. I also want to be a part of a program that will push and stretch me beyond my limits, in the classroom as well as the pool, by providing me everything that I need to reach my full potential as a student-athlete and as a Mountaineer!”
Jonathan Bennett
Durban, South Africa | Clifton High/Seagulls Swimming Club
Top Times
200 IM: 2:11.99 LCM
400 IM: 4:30.71 SCM
200 Breast: 2:22.03 SCM
Bennett on WVU: “I was drawn to the brand new pool that is being built, plus WVU provides amazing degree opportunities. Furthermore, after much research, I found that many of their incoming swimmers improve drastically once attending WVU.”
Zach Boley
Dunlap, Illinois | Dunlap High/Dunlap Dolphins Swim Team
Top Times
100 Fly: 51.04
200 Fly: 1:49.54
400 IM: 4:01.55
Boley on WVU: “I wanted to attend WVU because of the amazing team, great facilities, strong academics and an awesome coaching staff that cares about their swimmers. The fact is, the campus felt like home.”
Harvey Culbert
Reynoldsburg, Ohio | Reynoldsburg: Encore Academy/Greater Columbus Swim Team of Ohio
Top Times
100 Breast: 57.40
200 IM: 1:54.72
400 IM: 4:04.36
Culbert on WVU: “The first day of my recruitment trip everything felt right. I was in the right place around the right people. I committed the next day.”
Owen Johns
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Mount Lebanon High/Pitt Diving Club
Top Scores
1-meter (11 dives): 426.80
3-meter (11 dives): 439.10
Johns on WVU: “When I saw how West Virginia University had a stimulating academic program while also offering me a spot on their talented swimming and diving team, I knew it was the college for me. WVU allows me to study under a great exercise physiology program that will help me reach my goals of one day being a physical therapist for other athletes. I know that will not be easy, but what made this decision so easy for me was knowing I had a whole swimming and diving team behind me at all times, pushing me to be my best self in and out of the pool.”
Jake Lowe
Brunswick, Ohio | Brunswick High School/Eastern Michigan University/Berea Diving Club
Top Scores
1-meter (six dives): 296.5
3-meter (six dives): 294.4
Lowe on WVU: “I absolutely loved the atmosphere of the campus and team when I visited, and I couldn’t see myself diving for anyone else.”
Conrad Molinaro
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Franklin Regional/Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics
Top Times
100 Breast: 55.87
200 Breast: 2:04.98
200 IM: 1:52.92
Molinaro on WVU: “I selected WVU because the team truly treats each other like a family, the coaches take their athletes to new heights and the culture on campus is second to none.”
Michael Sandner
Springboro, Ohio | Springboro High/Dayton Raiders
Top Times
100 Breast: 57.07
200 Breast: 2:03.36
400 IM: 3:57.67
Sandner on WVU: “The team dynamic between the swimmers, the coaches and the team as a whole was unbeatable. There is no better opportunity for success than with the crew at WVU.”
Jack Saum
Akron, Ohio | Firestone High/FAST
Top Times
200 Back: 1:52.69
100 Fly: 50.78
400 IM: 3:59.38
Saum on WVU: “I chose WVU because it felt like home, and I know it’s the best place to continue my academic and athletic careers.”
David Snider
Parkersburg, West Virginia | Parkersburg High/Parkersburg YMCA Sharks
Top Times
100 Back: 50.86
100 Fly: 49.69
100 Free: 46.96
Snider on WVU: “I was born and raised a Mountaineer, and West Virginia will always be my home.”
Ryen van Wyk
Pretoria, South Africa | Indian River State College/Royal Fins
Top Times
50 Free: 20.00
100 Free: 43.82
100 Fly: 49.41
van Wyk on WVU: “WVU made me feel like home, and the team had great energy and a hard-working attitude.”