In a release today, Tim Murphy has announced his first women’s recruiting class as the head coach of Penn State with six signees. Significantly, that includes 5 in-state swimmers/divers and a couple of Pennsylvania State Champs.
This is important, because for the last couple of years, Penn State has not ‘owned’ their home-jurisdiction recruiting. Schools like Georgia, Michigan, and Cal have plucked some of the best and the brightest away. Penn State only has 10 women on their 2013-2014 roster (out of 38) from Pennsylvania, a sh0ckingly-low number.
And while they still didn’t grab the top few recruits this season (Gillian Ryan, Meaghan Raab, and Cierra Runge, for example), they are starting to turn the tide as the home-state’s best collegiate swim program. This is a state that is absolutely loaded with talent, and Penn State has done very well in the last few years even without getting most of that Pennsylvania talent. If they can start grabbing more swimmers from in state, then this is a team that will be winning Big Ten titles and fighting for the top 10 at NCAA’s.
The highlights of the class are two-time 100 fly PIAA champion Niki Price out of Northeastern high and the York YMCA program; and PIAA 200 free champion Tommie Dillione.
Below, see the top yards times for each of the 5 swimmers (plus 1 diver), and the full Penn State release.
- Niki Price – 100 fly (54.11), 100 back (55.14), 200 free (1:48.00), 100 free (50.79)
- Tommie Dillione – 200 free (1:49.44), 100 free (51.02), 500 free (4:55.51)
- Tara Rogers – 100 free (51.95), 200 free (1:50.49), 500 free (4:58.33)
- Hannah Harper – 100 fly (56.05), 200 fly (2:03.33) – the one out-of-state signee.
- Alyssa Bixler – 100 back (57.97), 200 back (2:02.74) – Bixler hasn’t gone a best time since 2011 when she was 15. If she catches fire again, she could be a steal for this program.
- McKayla Mawn – USA Diving Nationals qualifier
Full release below:
The Penn State women’s swimming and diving program and head coach Tim Murphy have inked six new swimmers and divers for the 2014-15 campaign. The class is full of local talent with five Pennsylvania products and one student-athlete from Virginia. The new class includes Pennsylvanians Alyssa Bixler (York, Pa.), Tommie Dillion (Newtown,Pa.) McKayla Mawn (Kennett Square, Pa.), Niki Price (Manchester, Pa.) and Tara Rogers (Lansdale, Pa.) while Hannah Harper joins the Nittany Lions from Charlottesville, Virginia.
Alyssa Bixler
York, Pa. • Dallastown Area HS • York YMCA
Honors and Highlights: Swam for Dallastown Area High School and head coach Richard Howley … Three-time York County YAIAA Swimmer of the Year … Owns the school record in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 500 freestyle and was a member of the school-record breaking 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams … PIAA Class AAA finalist in the 50 free at the 2014 state championships … Named team captain prior to her senior campaign … Also swam for the York YMCA club team under head coach Michael Brooks.
On Choosing Penn State:“I love everything that Penn State has to offer. I fell head over heels for the campus, the atmosphere, the team, the school itself and, especially, the Penn State pride. I am so excited to be a part of the Nittany Lion swimming and diving family.”
Tommie Dillione
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Tommie Dillione
Newtown, Pa. • Council Rock North HS • Eastern Express
Honors and Highlights: Swam for Council Rock North High School and head coach Ted Schueller … PIAA Class AAA Champion in the 200 freestyle in 2014 … Finished third at the state championships in the 500 freestyle … Garnered All-America status in the 200 and 500 freestyle … School record holder in the 50, 100, 200 and 500 freestyle as well as the 200 and 400 freestyle relays … Voted team MVP by her teammates all four seasons … Also swam for the Eastern Express club team … Was a Junior National qualifier in the 100 and 200 freestyle.
On Choosing Penn State:“I chose Penn State for the great balance of competitive athletics and academics. Along with this, the team and coaching staff could not be better.”
Hannah Harper
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Hannah Harper
Charlottesville, Va. • Albemarle HS • Virginia Gators
Honors and Highlights: Swam for Albemarle High School and head coach JJ Bean … Owns the school record in the 100 butterfly and 200 IM and was a member of the school-record setting 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay teams … Named team captain prior to her senior season … Two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American … Member of state champion 400 freestyle relay team and runner-up 200 freestyle relay team at the 2014 Virginia class 5A state championships … Finished third in the 100 butterfly at the state championships in her senior campaign … Named team MVP as a junior … Also swam for the Virginia Gators swimming club … Has qualified for the NSCA Junior Nationals in six different events.
On Choosing Penn State:“I chose Penn State because of the outstanding academic and athletic opportunities offered as well as the unmatched team and school spirit.”
McKayla Mawn
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McKayla Mawn
Kennett Square, Pa. • Unionville HS • West Chester Diving
Honors and Highlights: Competed at Unionville High School under head coach Billy Gordon … Owns the school record for diving … District qualifier all four seasons … Competed at the 2013 USA Diving Nationals … Also a member of the West Chester Diving club team.
On Choosing Penn State:“I chose Penn State because of the great academics and athletics. The school spirit was also another amazing aspect.”
Niki Price
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Niki Price
Manchester, Pa. • Northeastern Senior HS • York YMCA
Highlights and Honors: Swam for Northeastern Senior High School and head coach Dan Schaberle … Currently holds the school record in every event … Two-time PIAA Class AAA Champion in the 100 butterfly … Two-time All-American in the 100 butterfly … Named a YAIAA All-Star at the end of her junior and senior seasons … Selected as team MVP in 2013 … Also swam for the York YMCA club team under head coach Michael Brooks … Member of the 800 freestyle relay squad that broke the Junior National record in 2013 … Two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.
On Choosing Penn State:“I chose Penn State because I feel like it was the best fit for me, both academically and athletically. This is a unique school in that it has both a great swimming and diving program as well a great academic program. It felt like home when I walked on campus which was very important to me.”
Tara Rogers
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Tara Rogers
Lansdale, Pa. • North Penn HS • North Penn Aquatic Club
Highlights and Honors: Swam for North Penn High School and head coach Matt Weiser … Member of the school-record setting 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams … Three-time team MVP … Earned All-State recognition in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays all four seasons … State finalist in the 200 and 500 freestyle her junior and senior campaigns … Also swam for the North Penn Aquatic Club.
On Choosing Penn State: “Since both of my parents are Penn State alumni, I grew up attending football games, getting decked out in Penn State gear and eating creamery ice cream. They introduced me to the tradition of academic and athletic excellence that is Penn State University. Meeting the team and coaches and seeing the supportive family atmosphere proved that there was no other school for me. PSU will allow me to pursue both my academic and athletic goals.”