Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. - The 23rd-ranked Virginia Tech men's swimming and diving team has signed four swimmers and one diver, to compliment the six female newcomers, to National Letters of Intent for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Emmett Dignan, hailing from Mystic, Conn., comes to Blacksburg from Robert E. Fitch High School where he trains under Coach Ken Berg, and also swims for the Rams Swimming Club under coaches Keri Cunningham and Drew Finneran. Dignan, a New England Oustanding Swimmer of the Year Finalist, has been an ECC state champion in multiple events. Dignan is a Junior National Finalist and has been ranked in the top-5 in New England in five events and is a high school All-American. He chose Virginia Tech over Maryland, Princeton, Ohio State and Purdue.
Top Times
100 Breaststroke: 56.83
200 Breaststroke: 2:02.56
100 Backstroke:51.75
200 Backstroke: 1:52.48
200 IM: 1:53.90
50 Freestyle: 21.26
“Emmett will be a great addition to our program and we are elated to have him join us next fall,” said head coach Ned Skinner. “We knew we had to recruit heavily for the breaststroke as we are losing our top two breaststrokers to graduation and Emmett is a perfect fit for our program. He has great size and a beautiful stroke. We are eager for him to develop further under our training and the use of our resources.”
Ryan Hawkins, a native of Charlotte, N.C., will join Virginia Tech from the Carolina Diving Academy where he trains under Coach Aaron Hintz. Hawkins is a multiple-time finalist at the Junior National level on all three levels (one meter, three meter and platform), and has also been a finalist on multiple levels at the Senior Nationals as well. In the 2009 Speedo Junior National Diving Championships, Hawkins placed in the top-5 on all three levels. Hawkins chose Virginia Tech over Ohio State, Kentucky and Georgia.
“I have watched Ryan progress through the sport since he was a beginner and his acrobatic ability is perhaps some of the best I have ever seen,” said head diving coach Ron Piemonte. “There isn’t anything he can’t do. He is strong and fast, which makes him capable of doing the most difficult somersaulting and twisting dives easily. In my opinion, Ryan is perhaps one of the most well-balanced (springboard and platform) recruits this year, and his impact on our diving program will be huge.”
Garrett Hehn, coming to Blacksburg from Murrysville, Pa., competes at Franklin Regional Sr. High School where he trains under Coach Vic Santoro and the Fox Chapel Killer Whales club team, where he is coached by Todd Clark. Hehn was a multiple-time finalist at the WPIAL Championships and PIAA Championships. A high school All-American, Hehn is the school record holder in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle events, as well as a share holder in the freestyle relay events. Hehn picked Blacksburg as his future home over Maryland, Northwestern, Princeton and Purdue.
Top Times
50 Freestyle: 20.91
100 Freestyle: 45.73
200 Freestyle: 1:40.41
500 Freestyle: 4:34. 45
1000 Freestyle: 9:38.96
100 Butterfly: 50.34
400 IM: 4:00.99
“We were very excited when Garrett told us he was coming to Virginia Tech,” Skinner said. “We have enjoyed recruiting him all along, but his trip to Blacksburg reinforced our interest. He will play an important role next year as a versatile threat in many areas. Garrett carries himself in a very professional manner and we feel he will mold into an outstanding leader. His range in the freestyle was a big factor in our recruiting of Garrett, and he will play an immediate role on our team, both individually and in the relay events.”
Nathan Hoisington, from Leawood, Kan., joins the H2Okies from Blue Valley North High School and the Kansas City Blazers club team. Under well-known coaches Pete Malone and Derek Burg, Hoisington has been a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, and was the 2007 and 2008 East Kansas League High School Champion in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has also made the Principal’s Honor Roll during his entire high school career to date. Hoisington is a high school All-American and picked Virginia Tech over Clemson, Georgia Tech and Minnesota.
Top Times
100 Breaststroke: 56.86*
200 Breaststroke: 2:06.12*
200 IM: 1:50.32*
400 IM: 3:57.49*
* Times converted from LCM
“We have never had a swimmer or diver on our program from Kansas, so welcoming Nathan is exciting” Skinner said. “He is a very intelligent and intuitive individual who fell in love with Virginia Tech on his visit, and we love that about him. He is already a Hokie true and true and will help fill our IM and breaststroke needs. Nathan’s improvement over the last couple of years under coaches Pete Malone and Derek Burg sets him up perfectly for college swimming. Adding power and strength to his routine, we are ready for Nathan to take off.”
Daniel Loftus joins the H2Okies from Newport News, Va., where he attends Menchville High School and swims for Coach Catherine Dowdy. Loftus also swims for the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins for coaches Jack Bierie and Steve Hennessy. He is the defending regional champion in the 100 breaststroke and is also a Junior National qualifier and school record holder for Menchville High School. Loftus chose to be a H2Okie over NC State and Connecticut.
Top Times
100 Breaststroke: 58.72
200 Breaststroke: 2:04.26
200 IM: 1:51.61
“Danny is another great person from the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins program and a pupil of Jack and Steve,” Skinner added. “We are looking forward to having him join us in the fall as he will join Nathan Hoisington in adding a new presence in the IM and breaststroke events. One aspect that we really like about Danny is his passion for racing. Since we are a racing-based program in all areas, we feel Danny will fit in very well within our program with his good size. For him, the sky is the limit.”