Notre Dame Swimming and Diving Sign 9 to the 2015-16 Season

A large and versatile class of nine high school standouts are set to join the University of Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving squad in the fall of 2015, interim head coach Tim Welsh announced Wednesday.

Diver Deidre Worth and swimmers Ellie Berdusco, Paige Kaplan, Ella Moynihan, Sofia Revilak, Meaghan O’Donnell, Kyra Sarazen, Nicole Smith and Alice Treuth will make up the class of 2019.

“This class is a versatile group that will help strengthen our roster for next year and will contribute well to the future of our program,” Welsh says. “They are larger by one than our outgoing senior class and cover every single area on the team. We are excited to see what this group will do once they arrive on campus.

“We did a lot for our conference depth with this class. They are a highly accomplished group that will represent Notre Dame well at the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) meet. They are also a group with NCAA potential that aspires to compete at our sport’s highest meet. Lastly, this group made a commitment to the University of Notre Dame and this swimming and diving program despite the coaching changes. That is a tribute to these ladies and to this University.”

Among the group are state champions, state record holders, Olympic Trials participants, world championship participants, junior and senior nationals qualifiers, All-Americans and Scholastic All-Americans.

The nine incoming freshmen will join five sophomores, six juniors and seven seniors in making up the 2015-16 Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team.

After a strong end of the fall semester at the Texas and Iowa invitationals, the Irish will enjoy the holidays before heading to the warm weather of Miami (swimming) and Puerto Rico (diving) for their annual training trip. Their first meet will be in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as they compete against the Wolverines and Northwestern in a two-day meet Jan. 9-10.

November 2014 Irish Signees

Ellie Berdusco

Bradenton, Florida

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Set to graduate from Saint Stephenson’s Episcopal School (Florida) in the spring of 2015 … middle and distance free specialist … earned four letters in swimming … is a world championship trials and a senior nationals qualifier … won the 500-yard freestyle state championship as a sophomore while earning team MVP honors … named the All-Area Swimmer of the Year and team MVP as a junior … times include 1:48.03 in the 200 free, 4:47.17 in the 500 free, 9:57.91 in the 1,000 free and 16:37.03 in the 1,650 free … competed for the Sarasota YMCA Sharks club team … member of the National Honor Society … recipient of the Dartmouth Book Award and was on the Head of School’s List for a GPA that’s 4.0 or higher … member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church … Ellen Jean Berdusco was born in Dallas, Texas to Roger and Amy Berdusco … has an older brother, Michael, an older si ster, Annie, and two younger brothers, Brian and Russell … cousin of Notre Dame graduates Elizabeth (’06) and Michael O’Connor (’03) … mother, Amy, competed in gymnastics at Southern Connecticut State University … father, Roger, played soccer at Miami (OH) … sister, Annie, swam at College of Charleston … cousin, Patrick O’Connor, played football at Dickinson … will enroll in First Year of Studies with an intended major in marketing.

Paige Kaplan

Bellmore, New York

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Set to graduate from John F. Kennedy High School (New York) in the spring of 2015 … specializes in the fly and individual medley events … earned four letters in swimming … placed first in the 100 fly (55.53), fourth in the 200 medley relay, fifth in the 200 IM and eighth in the 200 free relay at the New York State Championships as a senior … rewrote own county record in the 100 fly … placed fourth in 100 fly (56.39) at state championships as a junior while also earning all-state honors in the 200 medley relay … earned all-division and all-county honors while qualifying for junior nationals as a sophomore … broke school records in the 100 fly, 100 breaststroke and 200 IM and a county record in the 200 free relay as a freshman … also was an NCSA Junior National Qualifier in the 100 and 200 fly and the 400 IM … competed for the Long Island Aquatic Club and the Bellmore-Merrick Girls varsity swim team … holds club records in both fly and IM events … senior METS champion … helped club team finish second in state while finishing first in the 100 fly at New York state meet … former high school teammate of current Irish swimmer Molly Treble … member of the Kiwanis Club … participates in the National Honor, Math Honor, Spanish Honor and Science Honor societies … Paige Elizabeth Kaplan was born in Manhasset, New York to Evan and Patricia Kaplan … has an older sister, Ashley, and two younger sisters, Brooke and Stephanie … will enroll in First Year of Studies.

Ella Moynihan

Denver, Colorado

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Set to graduate from Arapahoe High School (Colorado) in the spring of 2015 … specializes in the middle-distance freestyle and the individual medley events … earned three letters in swimming … won state championship and earned All-America honors in the 200 free (1:49.77) as a junior … also claimed fourth in the 100 free (51.34) as team claimed fifth place … earned All-America honors after finishing second in the 200 free (1:50.30) and 100 free (51.32) at the state championships as a sophomore … team claimed fourth place … took third in the 100 free (52.36) and 200 free (1:51.82) at the state championships as a freshman, helping squad place fifth … competed for the ACES Swim Club and the Denver Swim Academy during club season … finished second in the 200-yard free, third in the 500-yard free and fifth in the 1,650-yard free for ACES at the sectional championships … has raced against Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin since elementary school … is president of her school’s National Honor Society … also a confirmation leader at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and a leader of the LINK Crew (freshman orientation) … is a four-year all `A’ honor roll member … Ella Bolling Moynihan was born in San Francisco, California to to Tim and Elizabeth Moynihan … has two younger brothers, William and Michael, and one younger sister, Clair … uncle, Michael Moynihan, graduated from Notre Dame in 1989 … father, Tim Moynihan, played football at Colby College … uncle Tersh Barber, and grandfather, Kent Barber, played lacrosse at Williams College … uncle, Jason Wilson, played tennis at the University of Southern California … will enroll in First Year of Studies with an intended pre-professional studies.

Meaghan O’Donnell

Wayne, New Jersey

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Set to graduate from Wayne Valley High School (New Jersey) in the spring of 2015 … earned four letters in swimming … versatile swimmer who competes in breaststroke, individual medley, backstroke and sprint freestyle events … broke Olympian Rebecca Soni’s New Jersey state record in the 100 breast (1:02.10) at the 2014 NCSA Junior Nationals … finished first in the 200 individual medley and second in the 100 breast at the state meet as a junior … named The Bergen Record Swimmer of the Year and The Star Ledger North Jersey Swimmer of the Year … broke the 100 breast and 100 back records at the Passaic County Championships as a freshman, the 200 IM and 100 free records as a sophomore and the 200 free and 100 fly records as a junior … currently holds six of the eight individual records … named first team all-Passaic County three times and first team all-North Jersey twice … received school’s Minds in Motion Award (maintaining a 4.0 GPA while participating in a varsity sport) all three years … placed third in 100 breast and eighth in 50 free at state meet as a sophomore … named The Star Ledger North Jersey Swimmer of the Year … claimed fifth in the 100 breast at the state meet as a freshman … swims for the Cougar Aquatic Team during club season … was a USA Swimming Senior National Qualifier in 2014 and a USA Swimming Junior National Qualifier in 2013 and 2014 … tabbed a Scholastic All-American in 2013 and 2014 … also played soccer as a freshman … out of the pool, participated in National Honor Society, Television Club and Relay for Life … also was a peer leader at Wayne Valley and was a Hope For Autism Swimming Volunteer … was a Merck Science Test participant in 2014 … Meaghan Keri O’Donnell was born in Morristown, New Jersey to Paul and Keri O’Donnell … has one older brother, Paul Jr., and one younger sister, Kaitlyn … uncle, Dennis Mylan, graduated from Notre Dame in 1967 … cousin, Kathleen Mylan, also attended Notre Dame and graduated in 2002 … uncle, John O’Donnell, played football at Wisconsin … aunt, Lori Stocker, played softball at the United State Military Academy at West Point … will enroll in First Year of Studies.

Sofia Revilak

Haymarket, Virginia / San Luis Potosi, Mexico

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Set to graduate from the Christa McAuliffe School of Arts ands Sciences in the spring of 2015 … specializes in the freestyle, butterfly and individual medley events … member of the Mexican Junior National Team … during lone year of high school in the United States as a freshman at Battlefield High School, won Virginia 3A state titles in the 100 free (51.44) and 200 medley relay (1:45.57), with the latter setting a state record and earning the foursome All-American honors … moved back to Mexico for sophomore, junior and senior years of high school without a school swimming team … swims for Acuatica Nelson Vargas swim club … previously swam for the CUBU/Nations Capital Swim Club from 2010-12 … won junior national championships at 2014 Mexican LC Nationals in the 100 fly, 100 back, 50 back and 50 fly … was a finalist at the 2014 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in the 100 free, 100 fly, 50 free and 200 IM … also made the finals in the 4×200 free relay at the 2013 FINA World Jr. Swimming Championships in Dubai … best long course meters times include 1:01.84 in the 100 fly, 57.5 in the 100 free, 28.48 in the 50 fly, 30.16 in the 50 back and 2:23.17 in the 200 I.M … best short course meters times include 26.28 in the 50 free, 1:02.93 in the 100 back, 2:18.14 in the 200 fly and 2:17.20 in the 200 I.M … was a `B’ finalist in the 100 free at 2012 NCSA Short Course Junior Nationals … club team CUBU won national championship at same meet … Tayde Ana Sofia Revilak Fonseca was born in Mexico City to Alfredo and Tayde Revilak … has one older brother, Andreas, and one younger sister, Tatiana … will enroll in the First Year of Studies with an intended major in political science.

Kyra Sarazen

North Hampton, New Hampshire

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Set to graduate from St. Thomas Aquinas High School (N.H.) in the spring of 2015 … earned three letters in swimming … specializes in the backstroke and freestyle events … qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the 200 back when she was 15-years old, placing 90th … best short course times include 55.47 in the 100 back, 1:58.19 in the 200 back, 24.03 in the 50 free, 51.74 in the 100 free, 1:49.89 in the 200 free and 2:02.24 in the 200 IM … best long course times include 1:03.11 in the 100 back, 2:15.63 in the 200 back, 26.60 in the 50 free, 57.82 in the 100 free, 2:06.33 in the 200 free and 2:22.84 in the 200 IM … two-time New Hampshire state champion in the 200 IM (FR, JR) … state runner-up in the 100 back as a freshman before winning state title in the same event as a junior … set the New Hampshire state record in the 100 back (55.47) and 200 IM (2:03.71) as a junior while also earning All-America accolades in the 100 back … helped team win state championship as a freshman … competed for Seacoast Swimming Association club team … was a junior national finalist in 200 back … out of the pool is a member of the National and Spanish Honor societies … ranked third in class … Kyra Marie Sarazen was born in New London, Connecticut to David and Cathy Sarazen … has a older sister, Jillian, and a younger sister, Mackenna … sister, Jillian, swims at Oberlin College in Ohio and is a junior in 2014-15 … will enroll in the First Year of Studies with an intended major in pre-professional studies.

Nicole Smith

Munster, Indiana

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Set to graduate from Munster High School (Indiana) in the spring of 2015 … earned four letters in swimming … versatile swimmer who can swim the freestyle, butterfly and individual medley strokes … is a nine-time All-American, a three-time Scholar Athlete and a two-time Scholastic All-American … helped squad win conference championship all three years … best times include 53.81 in the 100 fly, 4:53.72 in the 500 free and 23.86 in the 50 free … named a team captain as a junior and senior … placed fourth in the 100 fly (53.81), sixth in the 500 free (4:53.72) and seventh in the 200 and 400 free relays at the state meet as a junior … named all-conference and earned team MVP … earned All-America honors in the 100 fly and 200 IM and the 200 and 400 free relays as a sophomore … placed fifth in the 100 fly and ninth in the 200 IM at the state meet … named all-conference, team MVP and The Ti mes Swimmer of the Year … earned All-America honors in the 200 medley relay and was ranked ninth nationally as a freshman … relay team claimed second at state meet … competed for the Munster Swim Club during the club season … won state titles in the 200 and 400 IM and the 100 fly at the 2012 Indiana Age Group State Championships … competed in the 100 and 200 fly at the 2013 Junior National Championships … placed 31st in the 100 fly at the 2013 AT&T Winter National Championships … broke the Indiana Association record in the 200 fly in 2014 … competed at the 2014 Junior National Championships in the 100 and 200 fly … participated in the German Club, National Honor Society and Class Executive Council … earned the German and Physical Education department awards … Nicole Eileen Smith was born in Hammond, Indiana to Timothy and Patti Smith … has two older brothers, Jacob and Sam … brother, Sam, plays soccer at the Illinois Institute of Technology … will enroll in the First Year of Studies with an intended major in business.

Alice Treuth

Salisbury, Maryland

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Set to graduate from James M. Bennett High School (Maryland) in the spring of 2015 … specializes in the backstroke … competed at the 2012 Olympic Trials … has also qualified for the world championship trials and the U.S. Open … named a Scholastic All-American as a junior … won both backstrokes and finished third in the 200 free at the Maryland Short Course State Championships in the open age group as a junior … ranked 13th nationally for 16 year olds in the 200 back … placed 11th in the 200 long course meter backstroke (2:15.56) at junior nationals in 2014 … ranked eighth nationally in the 200 long course meter backstroke for 17 year olds … finished first in the 500 free and 200 back and second in the 200 free, 1,000 free and 100 back in the 13-14 age group at the state meet as a freshman … qualified for the AT&T Winter Nationals twice … was an NCSA junior National and Open Wate r 5K Nationals participant as a freshman … swam with the Coastal Aquatics Swim Team, and was a team captain for three years … participates in the National and Spanish Honor societies … also a member of Mu Alpha Theta and worked on the Appalachia Service Project … earned the President’s Award for Educational Excellence in ninth, 10th and 11th grades … Alice Lee Treuth was born in Houston, Texas to Mark and Margarita Treuth … has two younger brothers, William and Gregory … mother, Margarita, competed in synchronized swimming at Arizona and is in the school’s athletics hall of fame … will enroll in the First Year of Studies.

Deidre Worth

The Woodlands, Texas

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Set to graduate from The Woodlands College Park High School (Texas) in the spring of 2015 … earned two letters in diving …competed for The Woodlands Diving Academy national team …was a Junior National Team member from 2008-12 and a National finalist in 2009 and 2012 … earned High School All-America honors after becoming a state finalist as a sophomore … named team MVP as a freshman … member of the National Honor Society and Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society … also wrote for the school newspaper, worked on the yearbook staff and was a Lifeteen member at St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church … was the junior class president of The Woodlands Chapter of the National Charity League … Deidre Anne Worth was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Andrew and Patricia Worth … has two younger sisters, Erin and Heather … cousins, Christine (’98) and Kathleen (’04), both attended Notre Dame … father, Andrew, was a swimmer at Arizona State … grandfather, John Hourican, played baseball at St. John’s … cousin, Thomas Hourican, played lacrosse at Villanova … other cousin, Kevin Hourican, played volleyball at Penn State … will enroll in the First Year of Studies with an intended major in political science.

College Swimming News is courtesy of Notre Dame Swimming and Diving.