Courtesy: James Madison Athletics
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison swimming & diving Head Coach Dane Pedersen announced its 2019 commits as eight Dukes join the program for the 2019-2020 campaign.
“We’re very excited about this incoming class,” Pedersen said. “They are the perfect blend of talent, future potential and ability. Above all, they related and will contribute to our team culture which is ultimately, I believe, the guiding factor that draws so many to our team. While they all arrive to JMU in their own unique way, they all picked JMU for similar reasons: they felt they would be challenged, supported, and happy in every endeavor at JMU. We cannot wait for their new energy and influence to arrive on campus in the fall. They will all make immediate impacts both on our athletic performance but also in our team culture.”
Joining the back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association champions are six swimmers and two divers. Pedersen enters his sixth season at the helm of the program, John Wolsh begins his fourth as the diving coach and Paige Conrad heads into her second season as an assistant coach.
“Both young ladies are outstanding students and a lot of fun to be around,” Wolsh said. Most importantly, these two fit our culture and are welcomed into our swimming and diving family with open arms.”
Lindsey Hammar
Height: 5’4”
Hometown/High School: Denver, CO/South HS
Career Highlights: Four-year honor roll athlete…Competes on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards…As a senior she set the Denver Public Schools six-dive record (295.05) and won first place at the league meet…Competed with the Mile High Dive Club in Colorado.
Devan Taylor
Height: 5’10”
Hometown/High School: Pittsburgh, PA/Plum Senior High
Career Highlights: Swim team captain on her high school team…Was a two-time finalist at the WPIAL AAA Championship her junior and senior year…Holds her high school’s 200 individual medley school record… Member of the National Honors Society.
Sarah Gaudet
Height: 5’2”
Hometown/High School: Lynbrook, NY/Lynbrook Senior HS
Career Highlights: Four-year varsity letterwinner for the Lynbrook swimming program…State qualifier all four years in the 100 fly…Swam for the Long Island Aquatic Club…Member of the National Honors Society, National Art Honors Society and received the Principal’s Honor Roll.
Karen Siddoway
Height: 5’7”
Hometown/High School: Pittsburgh, PA/Avonworth HS
Career Highlights: First place in the 100/200 Free at the WPIAL AA Championship as a junior and senior…Team record holder in the 50/100/200/500 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly and 200 IM…Swims for the Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics club…USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.
Isabel Anbar
Height: 5’9”
Hometown/High School: Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon HS
Career Highlights: As a senior she earned a 2nd-place finish in the 200 back at the Connecticut SC Senior Invite…Finished 6th in the 200 back at the YMCA Long Course National Championships her junior year.
Alaina Park
Height: 5’9”
Hometown/High School: Burke, VA/Lake Braddock Secondary School
Career Highlights: As a senior she finished 4th at the Virginia 6A State Championship in the 200 medley and 200 free relays…2019 VHSL Patriot District champion in the 100 back…Received All-American consideration…Four-year Potomac Valley Swimming Scholar-Athlete, four-year National Honors Society and Principal’s List.
Felicity Ryan
Height: 5’3”
Hometown/High School: Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs HS
Career Highlights: Team Captain and the 2019 MVP as a senior while being the divisional runner up…Was a NYSPHSAA Finalist as a sophomore and junior…As a freshman she was the NYSPHSAA Section II champion on the 1-meter board…Competed for the Flip and Rip Dive team…Member of the National Honors Society.
Height: 5’7”
Hometown/High School: Charlottesville, VA/The Covenant School
Career Highlights: Swam for Saint Francis University for two seasons…At the NEC Championships in 2019, she earned a silver medal in the 100 breast and a bronze in the 200 breast…As a freshman at the NEC Championships, she finished 2nd in the 200 breast and third in the 100 breast…Competed on the Covenant School’s varsity swim team and was a team captain.
Go Lindsey!
Coach Joe