Virginia head swimming and diving coach Augie Busch has announced that 14 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Cavaliers in the Fall of 2017.
Keefer Barnum, Dylan Cudahy, Matthew Otto, Edward Rudman, Sam Schilling and Cooper Wozencraft will join the men’s program, while Erin Earley, Paige Madden, Marcie Maguire, Anna Pang, Jocelyn Porter, Abby Richter, Emma Siberlich and Kyla Valls have signed to join the women’s team.
“I am so excited to welcome this group of individuals to our program at UVA,” Busch said. “This was such a fun recruiting season and I give so much credit to my staff and team for their efforts in helping form this strong class. These young men and women are all top-notch students, athletes and people who will add so much value in so many ways to our university and team. As a unit, they will fill a lot of holes for us athletically. We will lean on them immediately to make impacts in almost every area. There is sure to be amazing things coming from these individuals in the near future and we can’t wait to help guide them along the path of reaching their awesome potential.”
Keefer Barnum
Breast/IM
Louisville, Ky. – Saint Xavier High School
Lakeside Swim Team
• Kentucky state champion in 100 breast
• USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
• Three-event champion at NCSA Summer Championships (50m, 100m and 200m breast)
“We are very excited to have attracted Keefer to UVA over some of the nation’s top programs. He has raw power you hope to see in a breaststroker, but is still able to swim a nice 200 and has some IM potential as well. He will very quickly add great depth to a young and talented breaststroke unit. We look forward to watching him continue to develop here on our men’s team.” – Busch
Dylan Cudahy
IM/Distance Free
Herndon, Va. – Herndon High School
Machine Aquatics
• Virginia 6A state runner-up in the 500 free
• Olympic Trials qualifier in the 400 IM
• 2016 NCSA Summer Swimming champion in 400m IM
“Dylan was our first men’s commit in this process and we were so happy to receive it. Dylan has already shown his potential by winning NCSA’s this summer. When you watch him swim, it’s hard to find a weakness in any of the four strokes. He loves the sport and it shows in his training and racing. He will join a young, but talented IM crew and will undoubtedly make his mark immediately.” – Busch
Matthew Otto
Breast/Free
Newark, Del. – Salesianum School
Delaware Swim Team
• Three-time Delaware state champion
• 2015 USA Swimming Winter Junior National East runner-up in the 200 breast
• 2016 NCSA Summer Swimming champion in 100m breast
“Along with Keefer, Matt is set to add talent and depth to our breaststroke group. Matt’s excitement about our team and program was evident from the start which in turn made us very excited about him. He has a beautiful stroke, untapped IM potential and a great attitude that is all about team. The team and coaches loved him from the very beginning of the process. We are so enthusiastic about what he will bring to the table here at UVA.” – Busch
Edward Rudman
Free
New Canaan, Conn. – New Canaan High School
New Canaan YMCA
• High School All-American
• Two-time All-FCIAC performer
• Connecticut Class L record holder in 50 free
“Edward is a former football player who not long ago made a full commitment to swimming. The speed he has already shown in a short period of time is very impressive. His size, athleticism and explosiveness are gifts that will surely add significant firepower to our sprint relays. We’re so excited he chose to join our program.” – Busch
Sam Schilling
Free
Shorewood, Minn. – Minnetonka High School
Aquajets Swim Team
• Speedo Junior National Champion in 400 free relay
• Four-time Minnesota state champion
• High School All-American
“Sam’s talent absolutely jumps out when you watch him swim. He is such a gifted freestyler who will come in and make relay impacts immediately. It was so fun getting to know him during this process. My staff and I could not have been more impressed with his attitude and personality. We can’t wait for Sam to get to Grounds and start his UVA career.” – Busch
Cooper Wozencraft
Back/Fly/Free
Houston, Texas – Memorial High School
Dads Club Swim Team
• Texas 5A state runner-up in 100 back
• NISCA All-American
• USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
“Cooper is a tall guy who can really move underwater, which is a great combination for his specialties, butterfly and backstroke. The excitement he showed about our program from the start made it very fun to recruit him. He is all about UVA and is eager to make his mark, which I know he will do very quickly.” – Busch
Women
Erin Earley
Back/Free/IM
Orange, Conn. – Hopkins School
Hopkins Mariner Swim Team
• Member of 2015-16 U.S. National Junior Team
• Olympic Trials qualifier in 100m and 200m back and 400 IM
• New England Prep School (NEPSAC) Division I champion in 100 back and 200 IM
“We are so excited Erin decided to join us. She swims a variety of events well, particularly in the middle-distance range. I think someday she will develop into a very capable relay candidate. She will add needed depth to our backstroke and middle distance freestyle sectors. We’re so pumped to get to work with her.” – Busch
Paige Madden
Free/Back
Mobile, Ala. – UMS-Wright Preparatory School
City of Mobile Swim Association
• USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
• Member of 2015-16 U.S. National Junior Team
• Represented U.S. All-Star Team at 2015 Irish Open
“Paige is going to come in as a first-year and make huge impacts. Her talent reveals itself quickly in her kicking ability and she is also blessed with a tremendous aerobic capacity. I have been very impressed with her in every way throughout this process. She will fit very well with this group of women and I believe will have tremendous success here.” – Busch
Marcie Maguire
Back/Free
Ridgefield, Conn. – Ridgefield High School
Ridgefield Aquatic Club
• Two-time Connecticut HS Coaches Association Swimmer of the Year
• 5-time Connecticut state individual champion
• High School All-American
“Marcie can come in and make a difference for us, particularly in backstroke. She has great size and length, which obviously bode well at the next level. She has been such a pleasure to get to know during this process and I am confident her personality will add great value to our team dynamic. We cannot wait to have Marcie on Grounds to help her realize her awesome potential.” – Busch
Anna Pang
Free/Fly/Back
Singapore, Singapore – United World College of South East Asia
Aquatech Swim Club
• British Olympic Trials qualifier in 2012 and 2016
• Finished fourth in 50m free and 50m fly at 2016 British Nationals
• Five time British Nationals qualifier
“Anna is a remarkable talent who can do special things at the next level. She is just scratching the surface with what she will accomplish in the sport. Her drive and determination come through quickly when spending time with her. Coupled with God-given explosiveness and impeccable sprint technique, she will be poised to impact our ‘A’ relays from the start. We are excited for her to come and be a part of the program for the next four years.” – Busch
Jocelyn Porter
Diving
Cornelius, N.C. – W.A. Hough High School
Carolina Diving Academy
• 10th on 1-meter at 2016 Junior Nationals
• North Carolina state champion on 1-meter
• Eighth on 3-meter at 2015 Junior Nationals
“Jocelyn will be a great addition for our women’s squad. She is quick, strong and has great lines. She’s already achieved much success at the national level and should make an immediate impact for us.” – UVA head diving coach Jason Glorius
Abby Richter
Back/IM
Henderson, Nev. – Green Valley High School
Boulder City Henderson Swim Team
• Nevada state champion in 100 back and 200 free
• USA Scholastic All-American
• Olympic Trials qualifier in 100m and 200m back and 200 IM
“Abby was our first women’s commitment back in the spring and we were so delighted when it happened. She will come in and battle for ‘A’ relay spots immediately. She has great length and great ability underwater which is an awesome combination. What has been the most fun in recruiting her is the attitude and spirit she has about life in general. She is truly a joy to be around. Equally good is her approach to swimming – full of competitiveness, eagerness to learn and wants to be a great teammate.” – Busch
Emma Seiberlich
Back/Fly/IM
Audubon, Pa. – Episcopal Academy
Phoenixville Area YMCA
• 2016 YMCA long-course national champion in 200m fly
• Member of 2015-16 U.S. National Junior Team
• USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
“Emma has great versatility and a freestyle potential that is untapped but significant. I have no doubt she will absolutely shine at the college level. She is a great fit for UVA in many ways, and her personality and attitude exude unselfishness. She is excited to be a part of our program and we’re equally excited to have her.” – Busch
Kyla Valls
Free/Fly
Miami, Fla. – Ransom Everglades High School
Miami Swimming
• Two-time Florida 1A state champion in 200 free
• 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier in 50m, 100m and 200m free and 200m fly
• High School All-American
“Kyla is a very talented swimmer and even better person. She has range from the 50-500 freestyle, and will likely be a mainstay on our free relays from the very beginning. Since signing, she has already swum incredibly fast, which further confirms her capabilities and the instant mark she’ll make on our team. Her positive nature and unselfish attitude are so refreshing to be around, and it makes me confident we have a great future teammate in Kyla.” – Busch
News courtesy of Virginia Athletics.