Swimming And Diving Announces 2013-14 Class

May 10, 2013

GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The East Carolina swimming and diving program will welcome 17 newcomers, consisting of seven men and 10 women, to the roster for the 2013-14 season announced head coach Rick Kobe. The incoming class includes 13 swimmers and four divers with five newcomers residing in North Carolina.

Joining the ECU men's squad next season will be Will Beliveau, David Craig, Adam Dear, Joey Lupacchino, Bailey Maloney, Jake Pierce and Johann Shim. The women's team will add Tori Angermeier, Lily Armstrong, Liz Browne, Lauren Early, Taylor Hague, Isabelle Little, Jera Majeric, Alicia Roueche, Ashley Sams and Anna Marie Svanbergsson.

"We are extremely excited about the incoming class we have assembled," Kobe said. "All 17 of these young men and women will have the opportunity to have an immediate impact on our program.

"With this group alongside our talented core of returnees, we're anticipating a stellar season in 2014; it could be the best we've ever had."

The men's team will get a boost to its distance freestyle group next season with the addition of North Carolina products Craig and Pierce, who were each three-time USA Swimming Junior National Qualifiers. Craig was also a multi-event National Club Swimming Association (NCSA) qualifier and four-time team MVP at Millbrook High School in Raleigh. Pierce, meanwhile, won the high school 3A state championship in the 500-yard freestyle as a senior at Fred T. Foard High School in Hickory.

Shim and Lupacchino, both Virginia natives, will add depth in the breaststroke events, while Dear will face the task of contributing to the butterfly group. Maloney, the Pirates' second signee from Raleigh, will be part of the sprint freestyle group after winning the high school 3A state championship in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle. Beliveau is the lone diver to join the Pirates.

On the women's side, ECU brings in Svanbergsson, a freestyle swimmer from Denmark, who is expected to make an immediate impact on the sprint group. She was a two-time Danish champion in the 50 free and three-time Nordic Championship Qualifier. Majeric is the Pirates' only other international signee. A member of the Slovenia National Team, is a strong backstroke swimmer that participated in the 2010 and '11 European Junior Championships.

Hogue will also be part of the backstroke group along with Majeric with Early and Little joining the breaststroke swimmers. Angermeier and Browne are expected to contribute to the freestyle group as well.

Armstrong, Roueche and Sams are three extremely talented divers. Armstrong and Roueche are both AAU All-American divers. Sams, a Greensboro native who the coaches expect to come in and compete for the top spot on the boards, is a two-time AAU National Qualifier and USA Diving Zone Qualifier.

On Will Beliveau...

"Will should come in as our top guy on the boards. He is an extremely hard working individual. We are looking for some special things out of him next season, and throughout his career." "

On David Craig...

"David is a very talented and well-rounded swimmer from just down the road in Raleigh. His expertise is in the IM & Distance freestyle events. We expect David to come in a push our returners for the top spot in his events."

On Adam Dear...

"Adam is an exciting prospect for us. He will have the task of filling in for one of our great flyers from the past 2 seasons. Adam has the talent to compete with, and become one of the best in school history."

On Joey Lupacchino...

"Joey is another young breaststroker we have next season. His impact will be seen more in the 200, but he is guy that has a great deal of strength and size which will help him develop his sprinting. Has the potential to be one of the top 200 guys in the conference next season."

On Bailey Maloney...

"Bailey is from one of the top programs in Raleigh and we are excited to have him with us next season. Tons of potential. He will need to get a little stronger, but definitely someone to watch out for in the coming years."

On Jake Pierce...

"Jake is a great guy; he has tons of energy and a nice upside. He will come in to challenge and compete with a young group of distance swimmers. His presence should help that entire group take another step forward next season."

On Johann Shim

"We are excited about Johann. Towards the end of his senior season he had some significant time drops. We think he can have an immediate impact on the 100 breaststroke & medley relays."

On Tori Angermeier...

"Tori has a great deal of potential. Her coach at home had nothing but great things to say about her. She will add depth to a very young group of sprinters, and should be someone to count on in relays as her individual events continue to get faster."

On Lily Armstrong...

"Lily is one of three incoming freshman divers. At 5-foot-7 she displays long lines, and creates a strong visual component for judges. The only thing out matching her talent is her personality. She will bring a great attitude every day and it will be contagious with the other divers."

On Liz Browne...

"Liz was one of our first commitments on the year. She will have a great opportunity to come in and compete with a talented group of female distance swimmers. She will challenge some of our returners and could develop into a great addition for us."

On Lauren Early...

"Lauren is another one of our early commitments this year. Is getting fast at the right time. Her senior year was her best so far and we are counting on that trend to continue. Lauren should have an immediate impact next season, and add depth and strength to a very talented group of ladies."

On Taylor Hague...

"Taylor was a late catch for us. Under the radar for most of the year, she had a strong spring meet in Virginia and we couldn't be happier about her joining us next season. She comes from an extremely athletic family and we are really looking forward to her progress over the next four years."

On Isabelle Little...

"Isabelle is a very talented breaststroker from Richmond. She has all the physical tools to be special. She has had some great results at times in her career and we look for her to return to that level in our program."

On Jera Majeric...

"Jera will be our first Slovainian swimmer. She has a strong background in the backstroke events and will come in with the opportunity to set school records in her freshman season."

On Alicia Roueche...

"Alicia is a tremendously talented diver. We think she can come in and have an immediate impact on our roster. Looking forward to adding her to a young group that can push each other and take ECU Diving to the next level."

On Ashley Sams...

"Ashley is super talented. We are expecting her to come in and compete for the top spot on the boards next season. She comes from an outstanding club background which has provided her with a great deal of big meet experience."

On Anna Marie Svanbergsson...

"Anna Maria is someone we are very excited to get in our program. She will immediately have an impact on our sprint group next season. Her contributions on relays could play a significant role in our team's overall success next season."

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