Georgia Tech has added 7 swimmers/divers to their 2014 recruiting class in the spring signing period: 5 men and 2 women.
The Yellow Jackets men carry a small-ish roster of just 28 swimmers as of the end of the 2013-2014 season, but the last two years have seen big crops of incoming freshmen. That includes 12 who were freshmen last season, and they’re adding at least 8 more this fall (including one transfer) as the roster continues to grow.
That one transfer, Youssef Hammoud from Egypt, is the big signing in the class. Coming in from Auburn, he’s a very good freestyler (20.25/44.24/1:37.49) and backstroker (48.80/1:47.90). His addition could allow the Yellow Jackets to use senior Andrew Kosic to anchor their medley relays, and with butterflier Nico van Duijn and all of their top breaststrokers returning, Georgia Tech’s medley relays should be NCAA-qualifying-worthy next season.
In all, there’s a lot of good potential speed in the class. In a conference with NC State, where sprint depth has exploded, getting as many freestylers as possible is a key to being competitive.
The lone women’s spring signee for the swimming program is a local from the Dynamo Swim Club, Morgan Lyons, who will also have an enormous, immediate impact on the team. Her 23.55 best time in the 50 yard free is just .05 seconds slower than the best flat-start time for Georgia Tech last season, which came from Erika Staskevicius.
See the full release with all 7 spring signees below.
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech swimming & diving head coach Courtney Shealy Hart will welcome seven additional student-athletes for the 2014-15 season. These seven were inked during the spring signing period and join the eight that signed in the fall. The class includes 14 incoming freshmen and a men’s swimming transfer from Auburn University.
“This is a very talented class top to bottom and probably one of the best female recruiting we’ve had at Georgia Tech in my time on the Flats,” said Hart, who enters her sixth season as Tech’s head coach. “A lot of credit has to go to my staff for continuing to attract high-quality individuals that can compete in the highest level of collegiate swimming and diving.”
The spring signees include four incoming freshman male swimmers, one transfer (Youssef Hammoud a rising junior from Auburn), one female swimmer and one female diver. They join the eight athletes that signed in the fall: Brian Woodbury, Brad Oberg, Alex Kimpel, Megan Young, Kira de Bruyn, Alex Rieger, MaryKathryn Terry, and Ellen Posch. Click here to read about Tech’s fall signees.
Men’s Signees
Youssef Hammoud, Auburn University, Alexandria, Egypt
Top Times: 50 free – 20.25, 100 free – 44.24, 200 free – 1:37.49, 100 back – 48.80, 200 back – 1:47.90
Coach Hart on Hammoud: “He will immediately impact sprint events and relays. He’ll enter the program at third on our depth chart in the 50 and 100 free and both backstrokes.”
Mark Keaveney, Stingrays Swimming (George Walton HS), Marietta, Ga.
Top Times: 100 back – 49.85, 200 back – 1:47.93, 50 free – 21.22, 100 free – 46.42
Coach Hart on Keaveney: “Mark is a dual citizen: Irish and American. He moved to Georgia last year to pursue his dream of swimming in college. He will be fourth on our depth chart in the 200 back and has a tremendous upside.”
Noah Harasz, St. Petersburg Aquatics (Lakewood HS), Tierra Verde, Fla.
Top Times: 50 free – 20.89, 100 free – 45.34, 200 free – 1:38.91
Coach Hart on Harasz: “Noah is one of the top middle distance freestylers from Florida. He came on strong his senior year and has a lot of room for growth.”
Manuel Barragan, Palm Harbor YMCA (Palm Harbor University HS), Oldsmar, Fla.
Top Times: 200 IM – 1:49.94, 400 IM – 3:59.81, 100 fly – 49.46, 200 fly – 1:50.79
Coach Hart on Barragan: “Manuel is a top IMer from Florida and was the Florida High School state champion in the 200 IM. He will be No. 2 on our depth chart in 200 IM and No. 3 in the 400 IM.”
Stefan Kranenburg, North Bay Aquatics (St. Ignatius College Preparatory), San Rafael, Calif.
Top Times: 50 free – 20.88, 100 free – 46.63
Coach Hart on Kranenburg: “Stefan will add immediate depth in our freestyle events. He is tall, still growing and looking to explode in college.”
Women’s Signees
Morgan Lyons, Dynamo Swim Club (Alpharetta HS), Alpharetta, Ga.
Top Times: 50 free – 23.55, 100 free – 51.60, 200 free – 1:52.72, 100 back – 56.85, 200 back – 2:02.06, 100 fly – 56.83
Coach Hart on Lyons: “Morgan is a local swimmer that adds depth to our team and will make an impact on relays.”
Caroline Price, Atlanta Diving Association (Johns Creek HS), Duluth, Ga.
Diver
Coach Ames on Price: “Caroline is an exceptional athlete, and was an outstanding gymnast before making the change to diving. She holds the school records in the 6- and 11-dive events on the 1-meter at Johns Creek High School. She too will add depth in all three diving events.”