Virginia Cavaliers Add 2 Verbals: Kyle Ward and Bryce Shelton

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The University of Virginia men’s swimming and diving team has gotten a big jump on the 2015-16 recruiting season, securing verbal commitments from a strong and varied group of athletes. Now the Cavaliers can add two more names to the list: Oklahoma butterfly/freestyle specialist Kyle Ward and Virginia diver Ian “BryceShelton.

Kyle Ward

A senior at Bartlesville High School in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Ward is an Oklahoma state record holder, a Winter Nationals qualifier, and USA Swimming Scholastic-All American. Ward swims for Phillips 66 Splash Club in Bartlesville.

“UVA is everything I could ask for in a University. Between the amazing coaching staff, academics, and team dynamic it is a perfect atmosphere for success. I look forward to my future as a Cavalier!”

At the 2015 OSSAA Class 6A State Championships, Ward placed second in both the 200 free and 100 fly. Ward feels he has transitioned from a distance freestyler to a free/fly specialist. He proved his point this summer when he finished 20th in the 100m fly at Summer Juniors and broke the 17-18 age group Oklahoma state record in the event.

Ward’s top times are:

  • 100 fly LCM – 55.03
  • 200 fly LCM – 2:05.14
  • 100 fly SCY – 49.56
  • 50 free SCY – 21.28
  • 200 free SCY – 1:41.86

As for his plans for senior year, Ward said, “My goals include developing more power outside of the water and translating that into the water.”

Ian “Bryce” Shelton

Shelton is a three-time NISCA All-American diver from Falls Church, Virginia. A senior at George C. Marshall High School, Shelton is the two-time defending champion on the 1-meter board at VHSL 5A State Swimming & Diving Championships. He won with 526.60 points as a junior and with 412.35 points as a sophomore. He placed second as a freshman with 445.80 at the 2013 Virginia State AAA Swim & Dive Meet.

Shelton dives for Montgomery Dive Club, where he is coached by Robert Ketrick. He was a semi-finalist in the 16-18 Junior Olympic category in the 1-meter, 3-meter, and platform events at the 2015 USA Diving ATT National Diving Championships.

Ward and Shelton are part of a stellar recruiting class that also includes:

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email to [email protected]

 

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SoCo
8 years ago

Congrats from CT!!!

Joel Lin
8 years ago

Congrats to these two young men. Better times ahead for the Wahoos.

SwimGeek
Reply to  Joel Lin
8 years ago

Agreed. UVA is putting together a nice recruiting class should be able to rebound — though this is also not the ACC of 2005 either. NCState is a legit NATIONAL power now and looks to remain so. And Louisville was and Notre Dame are serious recent additions.

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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