he William and Mary men’s swimming team has added six outstanding freshmen this summer, head coach Matt Crispino ’02 announced today. The Tribe, second in the closest CAA Championships ever last winter, graduated the league’s top individual scorer but as a team lost just 15% of its points, third-best in the conference. Each of the six freshmen comes in with times that would qualify for at least one championship final, and the class on average would qualify for 4.5 finals apiece.
“We believe the new additions to the men’s team will make an immediate and meaningful impact on our program,” said Crispino. “They are top-notch students, talented swimmers, and team-first people. These six swimmers collectively cover every single event in a championship program, and address some of the needs we have following last year’s graduations. We can’t wait for these six men to join the Tribe Swimming family.”
Following is a brief look at each member of the class:
Evan Baker – 6-0, Free/Fly
Chantilly, Va./Chantilly
100 Fly – 48.94
50 Free – 21.15
200 Fly – 1:47.93
100 Free – 46.08
Prep: Prep All-American in the 100 fly … Won the Virginia 6A state title in the 100 fly as a senior … Added a silver medal in the 50 free … Qualified for Short Course Nationals … Named second-team All-Met by the Washington Post, after earning honorable-mention accolades as a junior … Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Son of Brian and Donna Baker … Enjoys baking, scuba diving, and playing frisbee … Undecided as to his collegiate major.
Brett Barden – 5-7, IM/Free
Henrico, Va./Mills E. Godwin
400 IM – 3:53.76
200 IM – 1:50.45
200 Breast – 2:04.49
Prep: Scholastic All-American … Picked as the most-improved swimmer at NOVA Aquatics in 2011 … Chosen to the zone select camp … President of the Beta Club at Godwin.
Personal: Son of Ron and Diana Barden … Father played baseball for the Tribe before graduating in 1985 … Great aunt, Virginia Elmendorf, graduated from W&M in 1949 … Enjoys music and participating in his youth group … Plans to major in either chemistry or physics.
Wyatt Grubb – 5-7, Fly/IM
Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee
100 Fly – 50.32
200 Back – 1:49.20
400 IM – 4:00.28
200 IM – 1:53.83
Prep: Scholastic All-American … Junior National qualifier … Short Course National qualifier … Virginia state champion in the 100 fly as a senior … Also took second in the 100 back in 2014 … Member of the FFA … Reporter for the school newspaper.
Personal: Son of Mark and Katherine Grubb … Mother graduated from W&M in 1990 after playing on the club field hockey team … Enjoys watching Nascar, football, playing cornhole, and performing magic … Plans to major in business.
Tommy Kealy – 5-9, Fly/Free
Wilton, Conn./Wilton
50 Free – 21.05
100 Free – 45.81
200 Free – 1:40.11
100 Fly – 49.04
Prep: Junior National qualifier … Helped the Wilton Y Wahoos win YMCA National Team Championships in both short course and long course in 2013, and short course again in 2014 … Won the state title in both the 50 free and 100 fly each of his last two years of high school … Three-time first-team all-conference selection … Volunteered with Meals on Wheels and Swim Across America … Also served as a campaign board member for Socks for Soldiers and Homes for the Brave.
Personal: Son of John and Annamarie Kealy … Aunt, Molly Lodge, graduated from W&M in 1981 … Enjoys golfing, sailing, and traveling … Plans to major in business.
Kyle Neri – 6-3, Free
Wallingford, Conn./Lyman Hall
50 Free – 21.17
100 Free – 45.99
200 Free – 1:41.50
Prep: Scholastic All-American … Won both the 50 free and the 100 free at the Connecticut State Championships as senior … Won the YMCA National title in 2011 at the 400 free relay … As a senior, added a runner-up finish in the 400 free relay and bronze medal in the 200 free relay … Named all-state each of the last three years … Won the conference title in the 100 free three times … Conference runner-up in the 50 free three times also … Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Son of James Neri and Carolyn Dallas … Plans to major in either economics or finance.
Conrad Zamparello – 5-10, Breast/Free/IM
Midlothian, Va./James River
400 IM – 3:53.9
200 IM – 1:51.3
100 Breast – 57.0
1000 Free – 9:18
1650 Free – 15:48
Prep: Scholastic All-American … Junior National qualifier … Earned first-team All-Met honors from the Richmond Times-Dispatch as a senior … Also earned second-team honors in 2013 … Member of the National Honor Society … Member of the Athletes Who Care Club.
Personal: Son of Jim and Jackie Zamparello … Father played football at C.W. Post … Enjoys watching movies, watching sports, and playing video games … Undecided as to his collegiate major.
This is an unedited press release courtesy of William & Mary Athletics.
Tribe Pride! Hoping to see the men take the title from UNCW after a near-miss last year. Looks like a pretty solid group.