Pirates Sign 10 Prospects For Next Season
December 02, 2008 | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 2, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- East Carolina has signed 10 prospective student-athletes to national letters-of-intent Pirate head swimming coach Rick Kobe announced on Tuesday.
"This is the largest and most talented early signing class we've ever had," said Kobe. "We're extremely excited about this group of student-athletes. The tradition of East Carolina swimming and diving is in good hands. We expect to sign another large class in the spring."
Among the early group of signees are five ladies from North Carolina: Kayla Ford (Wilmington), Stephanie Hughes (Cary), Hannah Lee (Wake Forest), Elizabeth Oliver (Zebulon) and Ashley Wagoner (Charlotte). Ford, Lee and Oliver were each Junior National Qualifiers, while Hughes and Wagoner were each sectional qualifiers.
Also signing with the Pirates were Holly Berenotto (Egg Harbour Township, N.J.) and Kirstie Russell (Feura Bush, N.Y.). Berenotto claimed the New Jersey individual state championship in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle this past season, while Russell is a two-time national qualifier as a diver.
"This is a very diverse group of ladies," explained Kobe. "We have signed some young women that will help us in sprint, middle-distance and distance events."
Tyler Dunsmore (Newville, Pa.), Patrick Lytle (Gainesville, Va.) and Michael Krone (Cincinnati, Ohio) are the first three men to sign with ECU. Lytle is a Junior National Qualifier and Senior Sectional Finalist, while Krone is a three-time All-America performer and YMCA National Qualifier. Dunsmore is a three-time all-state diver and was a finalist at the 2008 Pennsylvania High School Championships.
"We are thrilled to have signed each of these young men during the early period," Kobe stated. "All three are exceptionally talented and have the potential to become some of our most outstanding athletes."
