Swimming and Diving Announces Six Newcomers
12/6/2013 10:20:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
STATESBORO, Ga.- Georgia Southern swimming and diving head coach Nathan Kellogg is proud to announce six new additions to the team next year. "We are excited that these young ladies will join the Eagle Swimming & Diving program next year. They all bring different things to the table, but the one thing they have in common is they are all fantastic people. This class is probably the best we've ever had and will undoubtedly help us get to the next level. We were focused on the diving, breastroke, sprint and middle-distance freestyle events, which I believe we have addressed those areas very well."
Name: Amber Cortazzo
Hometown: Sinking Spring, PA
High School: Wilson High School
Club Team: Lancaster Aquatic Club
Club Coach: Casey Coble
Intended Major: Marine Biology
Best Times: 50 Free - 24.33, 100 Free - 53.11, 200 Free - 1:54.91, 500 Free - 5:00.68, 100 Breast - 1:06.53, 200 Breast - 2:24.72, 100 Fly - 57.79, 200 Fly - 2:06.02, 200 IM - 2:07.11, 400 IM - 4:32.36
Quote From Kellogg: "Amber is a fantastic fit for Georgia Southern and will provide an immediate impact in multiple events. With her versatility, she has the ability to swim just about any event at our conference championship meet and be competitive. The intangible that attracted us to her was that she is a racer and loves to anchor relays. Amber's future is very bright and she will definitely help our program take a step forward."
Name: Erin Hembree
Hometown: Duluth, GA
High School: Duluth High School
Club Team: Atlanta Diving Association
Club Coach: Grant Segal and Webb Worthington
Intended Major: Exercise Science
Best Scores: 1-Meter 11 dives (351.70), 6 dives (221.70)
Quote From David Giambra: "We are extremely excited that Erin is going to be an Eagle. She is an extremely positive person and exhibits a strong work ethic which will allow her to reach her potential. Erin comes from the Atlanta Diving Association after spending 12 years as a gymnast. Erin has been diving for only 2 years but has shown that she has a tremendous amount of talent. We believe that Erin will be become an important part of diving team and can't wait for her to be on the team."
Name: Madison Lichtefeld
Hometown: Louisville, KY
High School: Sacred Heart Academy
Club Team: Lakeside Seahawks
Club Coach: Mike DeBoor
Intended Major: Exercise Science
Best Times: 50 Free - 24.53, 100 Free - 53.03, 200 Free - 1:51.16, 100 Breast - 1:05.24, 200 Breast - 2:19.57, 100 Fly - 57.99, 200 IM - 2:04.36
Quote From Kellogg: "We are couldn't be more excited for Madison to join our program. She has received an outstanding background from her club program - the Lakeside Seahawks. She comes into our conference with times capable of scoring in the top-8 in a variety of events, including the 200 IM, 200 Free, and 200 Breast. Madison is a fantastic young woman whose best swimming is still ahead of her and she'll play a key role in our future success."
Name: Caroline Neely
Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL
High School: Northeast High School
Club Team: Saint Petersburg Aquatics
Club Coach: Fred Lewis
Intended Major: Exercise Science
Best Times: 200 Free - 1:54.96, 500 Free - 5:00.46, 1000 Free - 10:24.24, 1650 Free - 17:27.17, 100 Back - 58.10, 200 Back - 2:09.85
Quote From Kellogg: "Caroline's outgoing personality is a perfect match for our team. We expect her to be a staple in our distance group and contribute immediately. Her club team, Saint Petersburg Aquatics, has produced a number of world class swimmers over the years. Caroline's background and competitive nature will serve her well in the college environment. We are very excited to have her at Georgia Southern."
Name: Ali Snover
Hometown: Greer, SC
High School: Southside Christian School
Club Team: Y-Spartaquatics
Club Coach: Peter Wright
Intended Major: Undecided
Best Times: 50 Free - 23.77, 100 Free - 51.36, 200 Free - 1:52.27, 100 Fly - 55.76
Quote From Kellogg: "We are ecstatic that Ali has chosen to be an Eagle. She clicked with our team right away and is a great fit for our program and Georgia Southern University. She comes from a powerhouse club program, Y-Spartaquatics, who produces tremendous student-athletes. We expect Ali to contribute significantly in the sprint events and relays. Her attitude, work ethic, and talent are exactly what we are looking for in a student-athlete."
Name: Kaylyn Thomas
Hometown: Cumming, GA
High School: North Forsyth High School
Club Team: Dynamo Swim Club
Club Coach: Rich Murphy/Franz Resseguie
Intended Major: Nutrition
Best Times: 100 Free - 52.35, 200 Free - 1:51.52, 500 Free - 5:08.20, 100 Fly - 59.09, 200 Fly - 2:08.62, 100 Back - 59.53, 200 Back - 2:06.70
Quote From Kellogg: "We are beyond thrilled that Kaylyn will join our family next fall. Kaylyn brings a huge upside with her, as she has only been swimming competitively for a short time, but has made major improvements in that time. She is a powerful swimmer who we believe is only beginning to scratch the surface of her potential. Kaylyn comes from one of the best club programs in the country, Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta, and we are delighted to keep her in-state."
Name: Amber Cortazzo
Hometown: Sinking Spring, PA
High School: Wilson High School
Club Team: Lancaster Aquatic Club
Club Coach: Casey Coble
Intended Major: Marine Biology
Best Times: 50 Free - 24.33, 100 Free - 53.11, 200 Free - 1:54.91, 500 Free - 5:00.68, 100 Breast - 1:06.53, 200 Breast - 2:24.72, 100 Fly - 57.79, 200 Fly - 2:06.02, 200 IM - 2:07.11, 400 IM - 4:32.36
Quote From Kellogg: "Amber is a fantastic fit for Georgia Southern and will provide an immediate impact in multiple events. With her versatility, she has the ability to swim just about any event at our conference championship meet and be competitive. The intangible that attracted us to her was that she is a racer and loves to anchor relays. Amber's future is very bright and she will definitely help our program take a step forward."
Name: Erin Hembree
Hometown: Duluth, GA
High School: Duluth High School
Club Team: Atlanta Diving Association
Club Coach: Grant Segal and Webb Worthington
Intended Major: Exercise Science
Best Scores: 1-Meter 11 dives (351.70), 6 dives (221.70)
Quote From David Giambra: "We are extremely excited that Erin is going to be an Eagle. She is an extremely positive person and exhibits a strong work ethic which will allow her to reach her potential. Erin comes from the Atlanta Diving Association after spending 12 years as a gymnast. Erin has been diving for only 2 years but has shown that she has a tremendous amount of talent. We believe that Erin will be become an important part of diving team and can't wait for her to be on the team."
Name: Madison Lichtefeld
Hometown: Louisville, KY
High School: Sacred Heart Academy
Club Team: Lakeside Seahawks
Club Coach: Mike DeBoor
Intended Major: Exercise Science
Best Times: 50 Free - 24.53, 100 Free - 53.03, 200 Free - 1:51.16, 100 Breast - 1:05.24, 200 Breast - 2:19.57, 100 Fly - 57.99, 200 IM - 2:04.36
Quote From Kellogg: "We are couldn't be more excited for Madison to join our program. She has received an outstanding background from her club program - the Lakeside Seahawks. She comes into our conference with times capable of scoring in the top-8 in a variety of events, including the 200 IM, 200 Free, and 200 Breast. Madison is a fantastic young woman whose best swimming is still ahead of her and she'll play a key role in our future success."
Name: Caroline Neely
Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL
High School: Northeast High School
Club Team: Saint Petersburg Aquatics
Club Coach: Fred Lewis
Intended Major: Exercise Science
Best Times: 200 Free - 1:54.96, 500 Free - 5:00.46, 1000 Free - 10:24.24, 1650 Free - 17:27.17, 100 Back - 58.10, 200 Back - 2:09.85
Quote From Kellogg: "Caroline's outgoing personality is a perfect match for our team. We expect her to be a staple in our distance group and contribute immediately. Her club team, Saint Petersburg Aquatics, has produced a number of world class swimmers over the years. Caroline's background and competitive nature will serve her well in the college environment. We are very excited to have her at Georgia Southern."
Name: Ali Snover
Hometown: Greer, SC
High School: Southside Christian School
Club Team: Y-Spartaquatics
Club Coach: Peter Wright
Intended Major: Undecided
Best Times: 50 Free - 23.77, 100 Free - 51.36, 200 Free - 1:52.27, 100 Fly - 55.76
Quote From Kellogg: "We are ecstatic that Ali has chosen to be an Eagle. She clicked with our team right away and is a great fit for our program and Georgia Southern University. She comes from a powerhouse club program, Y-Spartaquatics, who produces tremendous student-athletes. We expect Ali to contribute significantly in the sprint events and relays. Her attitude, work ethic, and talent are exactly what we are looking for in a student-athlete."
Name: Kaylyn Thomas
Hometown: Cumming, GA
High School: North Forsyth High School
Club Team: Dynamo Swim Club
Club Coach: Rich Murphy/Franz Resseguie
Intended Major: Nutrition
Best Times: 100 Free - 52.35, 200 Free - 1:51.52, 500 Free - 5:08.20, 100 Fly - 59.09, 200 Fly - 2:08.62, 100 Back - 59.53, 200 Back - 2:06.70
Quote From Kellogg: "We are beyond thrilled that Kaylyn will join our family next fall. Kaylyn brings a huge upside with her, as she has only been swimming competitively for a short time, but has made major improvements in that time. She is a powerful swimmer who we believe is only beginning to scratch the surface of her potential. Kaylyn comes from one of the best club programs in the country, Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta, and we are delighted to keep her in-state."
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