Roger Williams University adds 20 new swimmers in 2014!

The Roger Williams University Swimming & Diving program is proud to announce 13 additions to the roster on the women’s side and seven additions on the men’s side.

WOMEN

Mackenzie Webber is a 5-11 sprinter from Meadville, Pa. She was a four-year letterwinner in both swimming and soccer at Meadville Area Senior High School. Coach Emmert on Webber: “Mackenzie is arguably the best athlete we have brought into our program. Already she would have the school record in the 50 and 100 Free and will have an immediate impact on our relays as well as our program.”

Hannah Nolte is a 5-6 backstroker & IM’er from Elmhurst, Ill. At York Community High School, she was a four-time all-state qualifier, as well as being named academic all-conference. She also holds seven varsity school records. Coach Emmert on the addition of Hannah: “We couldn’t be more excited to add someone of Hannah’s ability to our program. Not only does she come in with four of our varsity school records, but she has an impeccable academic record. She’s the type of athlete that instantly impacts your program and we are stoked!”

Katharine Johnson comes to RWU from Weston, Conn. As a member of the Weston High School swim team, she was an all-state swimmer all four years. This past season, she was the anchor of a 200 Medley relay that broke the SWC and state record. She also helped lead her team to the 2014 SWC Team title. Coach Emmert on Johnson: “From the first time we met Katharine, we knew she was a perfect fit for our program. She’s an extremely positive and energetic person; not to mention she’s a very talented sprinter. Katharine is going to have an immediate impact on our program both in the water and out.”

Emily Hand is coming all the way to Bristol from Colorado Springs, Colo. She specializes in the backstroke events, but also has the ability to swim sprint and mid-distance freestyle events. She was a prominent leader for her high school team, Discovery Canyons Campus, and will be majoring in Marine Bio at RWU. Coach Emmert on Emily: “We were very excited when Emily committed to RWU; she’s got a ton of upside and can help us perform at a higher level at the NEISDA Championships in a variety of ways. She adds a lot of depth in our backstroke events, but also will be competing for a spot in all of our relays.”

Abby Sousa comes to RWU from Cromwell, Conn. She’s a 5-4 breaststroke specialist. She’s the Cromwell High School school-record holder in the 100 Yard Breaststroke and was named all-conference and a scholar-athlete in her senior year. Coach Emmert on Abby: “As a program, breaststroke has traditionally been one of our stronger events and we’re psyched to bring Abby in to add to that tradition. She’s got a lot of upside and will add valuable depth to our breaststroke legacy.”

Bethany Cripe is from Monterey, Calif. and will be coming all the way across the country to attend RWU. She was named team captain in her junior and senior year at Trinity Christian High School, while also earning a varsity letter all four years. Coach Emmert on Bethany: “I couldn’t be happier to add someone of Bethany’s character to our program. She’s versatile and could see action in several different events as a Hawk.”

Alyssa Bush comes to RWU from Adams, Mass. and Hoosac Valley High School. She is a butterfly specialist and finished in 7th place in the 100 Yard Fly at the YMCA New England Championships. Alyssa plans on majoring in Architecture. Coach Emmert on Bush: “Alyssa is a very mature and dedicated student-athlete. She’s going to provide us a lot of depth in the butterfly events as we are graduating a lot of our flyers in 2015.”

Shantelle Richards is coming south to RWU from Nashua, N.H. She’s a 5-7 sprint freestyle specialist. This past season she placed 3rd in the 50 Free and 4th in the 100 Free at the New Hampshire Division 1 State Championship meet. Coach Emmert on Richards: “Shantelle is an athlete, which means there’s a lot of room for her to get wicked fast! We’re confident that Shantelle is going to be competing for some of our relay spots and provide a lot of depth in our sprint events.”

Haley Goodrich comes to RWU from Glenmont, N.Y. where she was the captain of the Bethlehem Central High School Swim Team. This past season, she was named “Most Outstanding Senior Athlete” for her high school varsity swim team. She is also a two-time New York State YMCA Champion in the 400 Yard IM. Coach Emmert on Haley: “Haley can swim a ton of different events, which is going to be huge as a Hawk. She would be a conference finalist in a multitude of events, so it’s going to be fun and exciting to see where Haley will truly shine for the Hawks.”

Sydney Borges is coming to RWU from nearby Middletown, R.I. She was captain of the Middletown varsity swim team this past season, as well as being named the Middletown High School Outstanding Senior. She was undefeated in the 100 Yard Breaststroke and 200 Yard IM in dual meet competition her entire senior year. Coach Emmert on Sydney: “Sydney is a hard worker and extremely dedicated to the sport of swimming as a team sport. She’s got a lot of potential to grow as a student-athlete and we’re confident she will flourish as a Hawk!”

Claire Kalletta comes to RWU from Manorville, N.Y. She is a butterfly specialist who has consistently qualified for the Junior Olympic Meet since the age of 7. Claire also has qualified for the Zone Championships in the 100 Meter Butterfly. Coach Emmert on Claire: “Claire is a talented flyer who will provide us with a lot of depth in those events. She’s got a lot of upside and with hard work she could easily be a conference finalist in the butterfly races at the NEISDA Championships.”

Emily Kleckner is the second commit from the Keystone State, coming from Reading, Pa. She is versatile in the butterfly and IM. This past season, Emily was honored as an academic all-american, as well as went four for four with best times in her final meet. Coach Emmert on Emily: “As an IM’er, Emily is going to be utilized in a lot of different areas for us. She’s a strong academic student, who will bring more to our program than just what she can do in the pool.”

Maddison Behan is a transfer from nearby Assumption College, originally from Seekonk, Mass. Maddy is a breaststroke and IM specialist, but would also post top times for the Hawks in mid-distance freestyle and backstroke events. Coach Emmert on Behan: “We’re very excited to have Maddy transfer into our program. She’s a very solid swimmer in a multitude of events, which will give us a lot of options when it comes time to pick our NEISDA Championship team.”

MEN

Connor Lautenschlager is the lone incoming diver from Watertown, Conn. He’s a Connecticut State qualifier and fairly new to the sport, which has diving Coach Dave Galatzer-Levy very excited. Coach Dave on Connor: “Connor has a lot of potential in the sport of diving, we’re eager to get him on the boards and push him to the limits of what he is capable of. He’s going to have big shoes to fill with us graduating our top male diver, but I’m confident Connor will rise to the challenge.”

Jim Gauthier is a 6-0 breaststroke & IM specialist from Bishop Fenwick High School in Massachusetts. As a longtime member of the YMCA of the North Shore Sharks, his current coach Chris Morgan says, “Jim is an awesome teammate and he has an impeccable track record for attendance and dedication. He will be missed on our team, but our loss will be Roger Williams’ gain!”

Griffin Pelky is a 6-3 sprint specialist coming from Torrington, Conn. This past season, he was coached by RWU Swimming alum Rob Schapp ’12 at Torrington High School and was an Connecticut All-State swimmer this past season. Coach Emmert on Griffin: “We’re very excited about Griffin’s potential; he’s got a lot of upside because first and foremost he’s an athlete!”

Gabriel Pasqualucci is a 5-11 comes to RWU with experience in the mid-distance freestyle and sprint butterfly. He was a Connecticut All-State swimmer his junior and senior year, as well as All-American in his Senior year. Coach Emmert on Gabriel: “We’re very excited to have someone of Gabe’s caliber come to RWU. Already on paper, he would be a school record holder in the 100 Yard Butterfly and will add immediate depth to our freestyle relays.”

Andrew Gillie comes to RWU from the prestigious St. John’s Prep in Mass. He’s a 5-5 athlete that competes in the breaststroke, butterfly, and IM. At St. John’s Prep, he was part of a four-time sectional, state, and Catholic Conference championship team. Coach Emmert on Andrew: “Andrew is an extremely versatile swimmer who will provide us a lot of depth in a lot of different areas. He is epitome of a team player and will play a huge role in building our team chemistry outside of the pool.”

Ryan Cremin is Emmert’s second recruit from Pomeraug High School in Southbury, Conn. Cremin is freestyle specialist who can sprint as well as swim up to the 500. He and teammate Gabe Pasqualucci had a very successful career leading Pomeraug to multiple division championships. Coach Emmert on Cremin: “You can never have too many freestylers with the versatility of Ryan. He comes from a great high school program and we know that he will continue to get faster as a Hawk!”

Jack Pontrelli comes to RWU from DePaul Catholic High School in New Jersey. Pontrelli comes in as extremely versatile in the sprint freestyle and breaststroke. Coach Emmert on Pontrelli: “Jack has a ton of upside and potential to be a great collegiate swimmer. He’s going to add some immediate depth on our sprint relays, as well as in our breaststroke events. We’re looking for big things from Jack as a Hawk!”

College Swimming News courtesy of Roger Williams University.