Sacred Heart University women’s swimming and diving head coach John Spadafina announced his first recruiting class this afternoon.
The Pioneers welcome Kaylyn Cuozzo (West Milford, N.J.), Amanda Graf (Newton, Mass.), Dee Henry (West Allenhurst, N.J.), Taylor Lotito (Massapequa, N.Y.), Katherine Mariano (Newton, Mass.), Kendall Maylor (Chester, N.Y.), Jaclyn Pianese (Massapequa, N.Y.), Jessica Poole (Shelton, Conn.), Renee Russo (Medford, N.J.), Nicole Sauve (Walpole, Mass.) to the Class of 2019 at Sacred Heart University.
“I am pleased that these 10 young ladies have agreed to join the Pioneer family,” said Spadafina. “They bring talent and depth to every event and I am anxious to watch them contribute to our program over the course of their four years at SHU.”
Cuozzo is a senior at West Milford Township High School, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society. A freestyler, she swam for Jersey Flyers Aquatic Club.
Graf, a senior at Newtown North High School, will compete in the backstroke and individual medley events. She was the 2014 MIAA Division I State champion in the 200 IM and 100 back and was a member of the State Championship winning 200 medley relay. Graf swims for Bernal Gator Swim Club and is an NSCA Junior National qualifier.
Henry is completing her scholastic career at Ocean Township High School, where she served as a team captain for the swim team and earned the Spartan Scholar Academic Award. She competed for the Central Jersey Aquatic Club and is expected to swim the breaststroke events for the Pioneers.
Lotito is a butterfly and breaststroker that attending Massapequa High School, where she earned All-Conference accolades. She swam club for Long Island Express over the course of her career.
Mariano is a senior at Newtown North High School, where she was a four-time MIAA Division One State Championship qualifier. A freestyler, she also excelled in the classroom, where she is an Honor Roll student.
Maylor attends Warwick Valley High School where she is on the Honor Roll. She qualified for the Section IX Championship meet and is expected to contribute in spring freestyle and IM events while at SHU.
Pianese is a senior at Massapequa High School where she was earned All-Conference accolades. A member of Long Island Aquatic Club, she will swim freestyle and butterfly events as a Pioneer.
Poole is completing her scholastic career at Shelton High School where she was a versatile swimmer, competing in breaststroke, butterfly and the individual medley’s. At the 2014 Class LL State Championship she placed fifth in the 100 breaststroke and ninth in the 100 fly. Poole swims for the SOCO Aquatic Club and was an Eastern Zone Spring Speedo Sectional qualifier.
Russo is graduating from Shawnee High School this spring and will swim backstroke, breaststroke and individual medley as a Pioneer. She swims for South Jersey Aquatic Club, where she qualified for the 2015 Short Course YMCA Nationals in the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke.
Sauve, who is graduating from Walpole High School, will swim backstroke and distance freestyle events for the Pioneers. A member of the Hockomock Area YMCA, she qualified for the 2014 Long Course YMCA National Championships.
In Spadafina’s first season at the helm, 2014-15, the Pioneers combined for 16 school records and scored the most championship points since 2011 at the NEC Championship. At the NEC Championship, the Pioneers combined to post 24 lifetime bests and 33 collegiate best times
Swimming news courtesy of Sacred Heart University Swimming.
