WASHINGTON – First-year George Washington head swimming and diving coach James Winchester has announced the signing of six student-athletes to the Class of 2020, which will join the Colonials for the 2016-17 season.
“I’m very excited to announce the beginnings of my first class here at GW,” said Coach Winchester. “We have a very talented and diverse group, and one that will be a cornerstone to our program as we move toward our championship ambitions. The work by assistant coaches Katie Stefl and Birkir Johnnson cannot be underestimated, and their efforts have been rewarded with the beginnings of a great recruiting class.”
Four women will join the Buff and Blue, while the men’s team will gain two new members.
Gemma Atherley
Hometown: Grouvile, Jersey, Channel Islands
High School: Hautlieu School
Club Team: Walkers Tigers Swimming Club Jersey
Club Coach: Nathan Jegou
Accomplishments: 2014-15 British Short Course Winter National qualifier…2015 English National qualifier…Helped set a trio of Island relay records…Helped win 400 free relay, took silver in a pair of solo events and grabbed bronze in the 200 medley relay at the 2015 Island Games…Two-time 2015 Hampshire County Open Champion.
Best events: 200 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 100 Backstroke, 50 Freestyle, 50 Backstroke
Why I chose George Washington: I chose George Washington because the team and coaches are amazing. GW has the right combination of athletics and academics that I couldn’t find anywhere else. After having lived on a small island (46 square miles) for all of my life, the opportunities in D.C are unlike anything I could ever have hoped for!
Chose GW over: University of Chicago, University of New Mexico
Coach Winchester on Atherley: “Gemma has been incredibly successful in her career so far, and I’m really pleased to bring her to the States. With international experience, I look forward to working with Gemma on her international ambitions. Her infectious personality was evident on her recruiting trip, and I know she has all of the tools to be a force in the Atlantic 10.”
Alli Lapps
Hometown Knoxville, Tennessee
High School: L&N STEM Academy
Club Team: Tennessee Aquatics
Club Coach: Marshall Goldman
Accomplishments: High school city meet record holder in the 100 back…Three-time state finalist in the 100 back…Scholastic All-American in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015….Gryphon Aquatics Team captain.
Best events: 100 Backstroke (56.89), 200 Backstroke (2:04.36), 100 Butterfly (58.61)
Why I chose George Washington: I chose GW because it encompasses all the qualities I’m looking for in a college. From the superior academics, to the awesome team and coaches – not to mention the exciting city – it felt like home as soon as I stepped on campus.
Chose GW over: University of Tennessee, Tulane, American and NYU
Coach Winchester on Lapps: “Alli was one of the very first recruits I met when she made her unofficial visit in the spring, and immediately I felt a strong connection. I know Alli will be very well prepared to succeed here at GW and at the conference level.”
Anaka Will-Dryden
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
High School: Oakville Trafalgar High School
Club Team: Oakville Aquatic Club
Club Coach: Sean Baker
Accomplishments: Senior National Qualifier in the 200 freestyle…Bronze medalist in the 200 freestyle at AGN in 2013…Provincial gold medalist…Helped grab female team win at 2015 Senior Nationals and 2014 AGN.
Best events: 200 Freestyle (1:50.67 SCY, 2:05.19 LCM), 100 Freestyle (51.24 SCY, 56.98 SCM), 50 Freestyle (23.51 SCY, 26.21 SCM), 400 Freestyle (4.24.7 SCM), 500 Freestyle (5.05.35), 800 Freestyle (9:07.56 SCM)
Why I chose George Washington: I chose George Washington because it’s a school that has an international presence – academically and athletically. After touring the campus and meeting the coaches and team members, I saw that their enthusiasm and commitment matched what I was looking for. I also love the fact that the team is so involved with the community, and I am privileged to sign with a university that believes in giving back. I look forward to studying, training and competing in such an exciting city. Hail to the Buff and Blue!
Chose GW over: UConn, UVM, Oakland, Colgate and LSU
Coach Winchester on Will-Dryden: “Anaka will be a great addition to our sprint program, and with only four years of swimming experience, has huge upside and potential. Already being an Olympic Trials-level swimmer in Canada, she has the potential to make NCAA’s here at GW.”
Lynn Zhang
Hometown: Rockville, Maryland
High School: Thomas S. Wootton High School
Club Team: Rockville Montgomery Swim Club
Club Coach: Jim Williams, Mark Eldridge
Accomplishments: 2014-15 Washington Post Honorable Mention…High school record holder in 200-yard free relay and 400-yard free relay… Rockville Montgomery Swim Club team record holder in 15-16 800 yard free relay…Recipient of high school Scholar-Athlete award…Recipient of high school varsity athletic awards…Helped team win State Championship title in 2012-13 and 2013-14… Helped team win Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Championship title in 2012-13.
Best events: 200 Freestyle (1:52.97), 100 Freestyle (52.66), 50 Freestyle (24.66), 100 Breaststroke (1:06.04), 200 IM (2:10.05)
Why I chose George Washington: I chose George Washington because it is a school that will challenge me, both inside and outside the pool. The academics are excellent in a city that has a lot of opportunities. The swim team will help me achieve even greater accomplishments than I have before. GW is also close to home and is in an area where I grew up. My visit to GW tied everything together, everyone on the team – from the coaches to my future teammates – was super welcoming.
Chose GW over: Evansville
Coach Winchester on Zhang: “Bringing in local talent is a priority, and having Lynn join us as a local talent is a huge boon for us. A club teammate of freshman Emily Zhang (no relation), Lynn has huge upside, and is already on her best times this fall. I think Lynn is a diamond in the rough, and will be an excellent addition for us.”
Shawn Lemarie
Hometown: Naples, Florida
High School: Naples High School
Club Team: T2 Aquatics
Club Coach: Paul Yetter
Accomplishments: 2014-15 high school state champion…Two-time state runner-up in the 500 freestyle (2013, 2015)…High school record holder in the 500 and 200 freestyle, along with the 400 and 200 freestyle relays…Champion at the 2014 USA Swimming Florida Senior Championships in the 500 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 200 butterfly, and the 400 IM…2014 and 2015 Naples Swimmer of the Year…Junior Nationals qualifier in the 200 freestyle…2014 All-American consideration…2016 All-American…Two-time Naples High School Swimming MVP.
Best events: 500 Freestyle (4:28.78), 200 Freestyle (1:40.24), 200 Butterfly (1:50.96), 100 Freestyle (47.34), 1000 Freestyle (9:24.38), 1650 Freestyle (15:44.78)
Why I chose George Washington: I chose George Washington because it matches perfectly with my interests and intended major, D.C. is an amazing city to live in, and the team and the coaches are awesome.
Chose GW over: William and Mary
Coach Winchester on Lemarie: “The moment we met Shawn on his unofficial trip in the summer, we knew we really wanted him on campus. He has the opportunity to challenge our school records in the mile from the offset, and will be an excellent addition to our distance program.”
Andrew Cho
Hometown: Palo Alto, California
High School: Palo Alto High School
Club Team: Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics (PASA)
Club Coach: Tony Batis
Achievements: 2015-16 PASA senior group team co-captain…Junior National champions at Summer Junior Nationals 2014 (Irvine), 2015 (San Antonio)…Helped team place second in 2013 Central California Section…Named All-American for 2013-15 seasons…2013 league champion in 400 freestyle relay…2014 league champion in 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay…Junior Nationals qualifier in 200 backstroke, 100 backstroke, 500 freestyle, 400 individual medley.
Best events: 100 Freestyle (46.58), 200 Freestyle (1:41.25), 100 Backstroke (51.06), 200 Backstroke (1:48.99), 100 Fly (52.01), 200 IM (1:53.84), 400 IM (4:04.35)
Why I chose George Washington: I chose George Washington because I was drawn to Washington, D.C. Being in the political epicenter of our nation will be an ideal fit for me. The team environment and the coaching staff are all very accepting and open to welcoming me. I felt right at home when I visited, and I’m excited to spend my next four years at GW.
Chose GW over: Boston College, Boston University, Penn State, NYU
Coach Winchester on Cho: “Andrew is a tremendously talented swimmer with great upside coming out of a club program that has been recognized by USA Swimming’s Club Excellence program as one of the top 16 teams in the nation. We are really excited to have Andrew join us; he will have an immediate impact for us at the A-10 level.”
Swimming news courtesy of George Washington Swimming & Diving.