ATHENS, Ga. — Five additional swimmers and one diver recently signed their national letters of intent to join the Georgia program, according to announcements Friday by coaches Jack Bauerle and Dan Laak.
Bauerle announced the signing of seven swimmers earlier this week. Additional signings are expected to be announced next week.
“We’re thrilled to have these fine prospects join our program,” Bauerle said. “We know that they are capable of great things as students and as athletes. Their work ethic will enable them to compete in several areas and will give us options and flexibility with our relays.”
“Our diving signee, Zach Allen, has already excelled at the national level, and I can’t wait to start working with him,” Laak said. “He is very talented and he comes from an excellent program. There’s no question he will help us continue our tradition of success.”
· Zach Allen, Oakland Park, Fla.: Allen attends Cardinal Gibbons High School and dives for 1980 Olympian and 2008 Olympic coach Dave Burgering. Allen was a Florida high school state champion on the 1-meter springboard in 2014, 2015 and 2016. At the 2016 USA Diving Junior National Championships, he was third on the 1-meter and seventh on the 3-meter. He also was a semifinalist on the springboards at the 2016 USA Diving Senior National Championships.
· Tal Davis, Pelzer, S.C.: Davis attends Palmetto High School and swims for Coach Scott Bonine for Team Greenville. Davis is the nation’s No. 3-ranked 17-year-old in the 800-meter freestyle, No. 4 in the 500-yard freestyle and 400-meter individual medley; No. 7 in the 1,000-yard freestyle; No. 8 in the 400-meter freestyle; and No. 10 in the 200-meter backstroke.
· Danielle Della Torre, Watkinsville, Ga.: Della Torre attends Oconee High School and swims for Coach Brenna Springstead. She also competes for Athens Bulldogs Swim Club under coaches Harvey Humphries and Martin Grodzki. Della Torre ranks 14th in the nation in the 200-meter individual medley for 16-year-olds and is the No. 1-ranked 16-year-old in the 100- and 200-yard individual medley; No. 2 in the 400-yard individual medley, 100- and 200-yard breaststroke and 100-yard backstroke; and No. 4 in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle in the state of Georgia. She is also an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200-meter individual medley and a four-time Georgia state champion.
· Greg Reed, Roanoke, Va.: Reed attends Hidden Valley High School and competes for Coach Doug Fonder for the Virginia Gators. He is the nation’s No. 2-ranked 16-year-old in the 1,000-yard freestyle, No. 9 in the 1,500-meter freestyle and No. 16 in the 500-yard freestyle.
· Youssef Said, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Said attends The British School Al Kubairat and swims under Coach Jay Benner. He finished fourth in the 50-meter backstroke and seventh in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2016 18&Under World Championships. Said holds the Egyptian and Arab records in the 100-meter backstroke.
· Maddie Wallis, Wellesley, Mass.: Wallis attends Dana Hall School and competes for Coach Chris Morgan for the Bernal’s Gators Swim Club. She is one of the top backstrokers in Massachusetts and ranks 13th in the country in the 100-meter backstroke amongst 17-year-olds.