ATHENS, Ga. — Seven swimmers recently signed their national letters of intent to join the Georgia program, according to an announcement Wednesday by Coach Jack Bauerle.
“We’re extremely excited to have these young men and women signed on,” Bauerle said. “They have had exceptional performances in the pool and in the classroom, and they will be great additions to our teams.”
Additional signees will be announced later this week.
€ Olivia Anderson, Mississauga, Ontario: Anderson attends Lorne Park Secondary and competes for Coach Kevin Thorburn with Etobicoke Swimming. She was ranked No. 2 in the 1,500-meter freestyle and No. 6 in the 800-meter freestyle in the world among 17-year-olds last year. Anderson represented Canada at 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships and earned a silver in the 1,500 and a bronze in the 800.
€ Aaron Apel, Scottsdale, Ariz.: Apel attends Pinnacle High and swims for Scottsdale Aquatic Club under Coach Kevin Zacher. Apel is a two-time United States National Junior Team member and a Scholastic All-American. He was the 2015 junior national champion in the 1,500-meter freestyle. Apel is the top-ranked 17-year-old in the 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle and stands fourth in the 1,650-yard freestyle, sixth in the 400-meter and 1,000-yard freestyles, and 11th in the 500-yard freestyle.
€ Donna Blaum, Fayetteville, Ga.: Blaum attends Starr¹s Mill High and swims under Coach Robby Huggins. She also competes for Southern Crescent Aquatic Team under coaches Jamey Myers and Stu Wilson. Blaum is a three-time Georgia high school champion in the sprint freestyle and butterfly events. She is the state¹s top-rated 16-year-old 50-yard butterflier and stands second in the 50-yard freestyle and fourth in the
100-yard butterfly.
€ Sammie Burchill, Carmel, Ind.: Burchill attends Carmel High and competes for Coach Chris Plumb for Carmel Swim Club. The younger sister of current UGA freshman Veronica Burchill, she was the nation¹s No. 3-ranked 16-year-old in the 200-yard individual medley. She also stood 12th in the 100-yard backstroke and the 400-yard individual medley.
€ Courtney Harnish, York, Pa.: Harnish attends West York Area High and swims for York YMCA under Coach John Nelson. A member of the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team, Harnish was the second-ranked 16-year-old nationally in the 500-yard freestyle. She also ranked third in the 400- and 800-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly and fifth in the 200-yard freestyle and the 200-yard butterfly.
€ Camden Murphy, Novi, Mich.: Murphy attends Novi High and swims for Coach Brad Brockway with Kingfish Aquatic Club. He is the top-ranked 16-year-old in the 100-yard butterfly and stands second in the 100-meter and 200-yard butterfly, and No. 12 in the 200-meter butterfly.
€ Emmaline Peterson, Hickory, N.C.: Peterson attends Hickory High and competes for Hickory YMCA Seahorse Swim Team under Coach Jon Jolley. A Scholastic All-American, Peterson is the nation¹s top 16-year-old in the 1,650-yard freestyle. She ranks second in the 1,000-yard freestyle, third in the 1,500-meter freestyle and 10th in the 500-yard freestyle.
News courtesy of Georgia Athletics.
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