Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech women's swimming and diving team announced the signing of eight swimmers and two divers to national letters of intent for the 2009-2010 academic year.
Sarah Ault, a native of East Petersburg, Pa., comes to Virginia Tech from Hempfield High School where she swims for Steve Beck and excels in the sprint freestyle. Ault, a six-time High School All-American and an eight-time All-State recipient, has only swam competitively for the past four years. She chose Virginia Tech over Penn State, East Carolina, Miami (Fla.) and Kentucky. Ault has top times of 23.80 in the 50 free and touches in with a time of 51.70 in the 100 free event.
“Sarah brings a hunger for speed to Virginia Tech,” says Head Coach Ned Skinner. “We love having swimmers here that want to swim super fast and Sarah has that desire. She has a great background of base training and is ready for the explosive side of the sport. With our guidance we intend on giving her that spark. Next season, we are losing some of the best sprinters we have ever had and Sarah will help fill much needed voids.”
Addie Carne comes from Simpsonville, SC and swims for Peter Wright out of YSSC (Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club). Carne is a multiple YMCA finalist, as well as a junior national qualifier. Coming off a great summer filled with success, Carne boasts many athletic and academic accolades. A very versatile swimmer, Carne chose the H2Okies over Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia Tech and Clemson. Carne comes to Virginia Tech with top times of 23.50 in the 50 free, 51.60 in the 100 free, 1:50.50 in the 200 free, 55.80 in the 100 fly, 2:01.80 in the 200 fly and 2:02.70 in the 200 IM. These times are converted from long course meters (lcm).
“We are very thrilled with Addie’s decision to join the H2Okies,” says Skinner. “She is a great individual with a lot of spunk and that makes it fun to coach an individual of her stature. She swims exactly the way we need in the loss of our senior class. We know she will make an immediate impact. Addie has really shined this summer and it really caught our eye as we feel she is on the verge of taking her talents to the next level. Our program has really grown within the YSSC family and we look forward to keeping that relationship going with a great team.”
Erika Hajnal, hails from Tulipan, Hungary and will join the H2Okies this upcoming spring semester. Excelling in the individual medley, butterfly and distance freestyles, Hajnal has represented her native country in multiple international competitions including the World Championships and European Championships. Hajnal posts times of 4:50.50 in the 500 free, 9:56.40 in the 1000 free, 16:43.20 in the 1650 free, 2:03.80 in the 200 IM, 4:13.30 in the 400 IM and 1:58.60 in the 200 fly event. These times are converted from lcm.
“Erika is an exceptional young lady and will give our women’s team a shot in the arm come January,” explains Skinner. “Coming off a great summer and just missing a spot on Hungary’s Olympic team, Erika is ready to bring her talents to the states and the ACC. We are very excited to have her join us wearing Maroon and Orange.”
Meaghan Holloway, a native of Williamsburg, Va, swims for Marc Rios and Unique Swimming. A student at Grafton High School, she has been named Virginia Swimmer of the Year from 2003-05 along with being named a High School All-American. Holloway competes in a wide range of events, proving to be a threat every time she hits the water. She picked Virginia Tech over North Carolina and Tennessee. Holloway clocked top times of 55.40 in the 100 fly, 2:00.60 in the 200 fly, 1:04.00 in the 100 breast, 2:18.40 in the 200 breast, 2:04.30 in the 200 IM, 4:24.40 in the 400 IM, 1:51.00 in the 200 free and 5:01.00 in the 500 free.
“Meaghan is a true talent and will play a major role for the H2Okies,” states Skinner. “With her range in the fly, IM and free events will help fill a void in areas where we are losing great swimmers to graduation. I have seen Meaghan grow since she was young and I have been waiting for this moment. Her great personality and desire will echo in Blacksburg.”
Dana Kalnins, from Manassas, Va., swims for Coach Pete Morgan and the Curl Burke Swim Club. Kalnins is an honor student at Osbourn High School and swims for Coach Don Reagenbogen. She is a multiple time junior national qualifier and also ranks in the top 10 in the state of Virginia in 4 different events. Kalnins chose to stay-in-state with the Hokies over LSU, Indiana, and Kentucky. Kalnins has times of 57.30 and 2:03.30 in the 100 and 200 fly events, respectively, while touching in with a time of 2:00.80 in the 200 back. The back event is converted from lcm.
“In losing three butterfly members at the conclusion of the season, Dana’s arrival is perfect,” says Skinner. “She is coming off a great summer and will make an instant impact in the fly events for us. We are also excited about the progression she has made in the 200 backstroke and feel that is a viable event for her when she arrives to Blacksburg.”
Sarah Mokhtari, comes to the Hokies from Houston,TX and represents the Cougar Dive Club coached by Todd Mulzett. Mokhtari was a high level gymnast who has made a fantastic transition to the sport of diving. As a junior national qualifier in 2008, she is on the verge of blossoming into a very strong competitor in both springboard and platform events at both the junior and senior national level. Sara will prove to be an extremely valuable addition to the H2Okie squad.
“I have been aware of Sara ever since she became involved in the sport,” says head diving coach Ron Piemonte. “Her determination, work ethic, personality, and physical ability, made an impression on me from the start. She is someone I really want to work with. Sara’s best diving is yet to come, and I’m thrilled that she will be doing it as a H2Okie.”
Carissa Santora, hails from Somers Point, NJ, and comes to Virginia Tech as a strong high school, AAU, and USA Diving competitor. In the 2008 at the AAU Nationals, Carissa was the 17 year-old 3-meter champion, and bronze medalist on 1-meter. Santora will add some serious depth to the Virginia Tech diving squad. She currently represents Spinner Diving coached by Larry May, and chose the Hokies over Drexel and Rutgers.
“Carissa is going to be an impact player on next year’s squad,” states Piemonte. “She is becoming a very accomplished springboard diver and also possesses all the attributes of becoming a very solid platform diver as well. I couldn’t be happier that Carissa is joining us next season.”
Laura Simon, from Simpsonville, SC, is a distance freestyle swimmer and a 400 IM specialist. Along with teammate Addie Carne, Simon also swims for Peter Wright and YSSC along with attending Mauldin High School. An honor student, Simon was named a scholastic high school All-American. The 2008 YMCA Champion in the 800 free and the 400 IM, Simon chose the H2Okies over Clemson, Virginia and Georgia Tech. Simon had top times of 4:53.00 in the 500 free, 10:03.00 in the 1000 free, 16:48.00 in the 1650 free and 4:22.20 in the 400 IM.
“We are excited about Laura joining our program next fall,” said Skinner. “With our distance program growing, Laura will bring an added desire and passion to a group of distant swimmers that will help our girls become even more hungrier to train and swim fast. The ACC is a great distance conference and we are ready for Laura to jump in and aid in our growth.”
Keri Sink, a native of Elgin, Ill., currently lives in Roanoke, Va. where she swims for Greg Lake and Doug Fonder with the Roanoke Gators. Sink attends Roanoke Catholic where she is an honors student. Making the trek across the country to keep her training with Lake, Sink has continued to excel and is a high school All-American in the pool and also a scholastic high school recipient. Sink chose the Hokies over Florida State, Purdue, and Wisconsin. She posts times of 1:03.30 in the 100 breast, 2:16.30 in the 200 breast, 2:03.00 in the 200 IM, 4:20.40 in the 400 IM, 2:03.60 in the 200 back and 2:04.20 in the 200 fly.
“Keri was a lot of fun on her trip and we loved her attitude toward the school and program,” Skinner mentions. “She made a huge commitment to the sport in leaving her immediate family in Illinois, but we know that will pay great dividends. She has one year under her belt of managing the separation and ee look forward to having Keri in the pool next fall.”
Katie Steeves, hails from Newark, Del., and swims for Delaware Swim Team under Coach Bruce Gemmell. An honors student at St. Mark’s High School, Steeves joins her sister in the ACC as a junior national qualifier, US Open qualifier, high school All-American and State Champion. Steeves chose Virginia Tech over Georgia Tech, Rutgers and Pittsburgh. She has registered times of 1:06.30 in the 100 breast, 2:21.00 in the 200 breast, 2:04.00 in the 200 fly, 2:07.60 in the 200 IM and 4:27.40 in the 400 IM. These times are converted from lcm.
“Katie will provide needed depth in the IM events and overall versatility,” adds Skinner. “We are thrilled to be adding someone with such great range and a great improvement record. She made a huge impact on our women’s team on her recruiting trip and we are happy she will be a H2Okie come fall.”