Women's Swimming Signs Seven to National Letters of Intent
5/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Women's Swimming Signs Seven to National Letters of Intent
5/8/2000
PITTSBURGH - University of Pittsburgh head women's swimming coach Marian Cassidy Keen has announced the signing of seven recruits to national letters of intent for the 2000-01 season, including three local standouts in Ryan Redman, Jaymie Van Kooten and Emily Kaszycki.
Joining Redman, Van Kooten and Kaszycki are Carolyne Savini, Kristina DeWitt, Jennifer Livingstone and Kelli Tielking.
"I can definitely say that this is the strongest class we have ever signed here at the University," said Keen, who will begin her eighth season at the helm of the Panthers in 2000-01. "We are really looking forward to what these talented young women can add to our team and the future of our program."
A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Redman has qualified in the 100-meter breaststroke for the 2000 Olympic Trials to be held this summer. A member of Team Pittsburgh Swim Club, she also specializes in the 200-yard breast and 200 individual medley. At the 2000 PIAA State Championships, Redman placed second in the 100 breast and eighth in the 200 IM for North Hills High School.
Van Kooten will join Pittsburgh after a stellar career at Oakland Catholic High School where she claimed the state championship in the 100 butterfly in 1999. A Team Pittsburgh swimmer, she also placed second in the same event at the 2000 state championships. Van Kooten, a native of Sewickley, Pa., specializes in both the 100 and 200 fly, and is a Senior National qualifier as well as a Junior National qualifier.
A native of Greensburg, Pa., Kaszycki also swims for Team Pittsburgh and specializes in the distance freestyle events, including the 1000 and 1650 freestyles. She placed sixth at the PIAA state championships for Greater Latrobe High School, and is a Junior National qualifier in all three distance events.
Savini is a native of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., and trains with the Apex Swim Team in Atlantic City. She is a backstroke and individual medley specialist and placed third at the 2000 New Jersey State Championships in both the 100 back and 200 IM. Savini is a Junior National qualifier in three events, including the 100 and 200 back, and the 200 IM.
A native of Houston, Texas, DeWitt is a club swimmer for the Houston Elite Aquatic Team. She specializes in the 200 IM and breaststroke events and is a Senior National qualifier in the 100-meter breast.
Livingstone hails from Endwell, N.Y. She specializes in the sprint freestyls events for the Union Aquatic Club. At the 2000 New York State Championships, Livingstone placed fourth in the 50-yard free and fifth in the 100 free.
Tielking will join Pittsburgh from Damascus, Md., where she trains with the Monocacy Aquatic Club. She is a Junior National qualifier in the 100-meter fly and last summer, placed 13th at the Juniors Southeast meet in Orlando, Fla.
Also joining the Panthers will be walk-ons Megan Barkell (Jeanette, Pa.), Sarah Grant (Seven Fields, Pa.), Desiree Hileman (Camp Hill, Pa.), Abbey Schaeberie (York, Pa.) and Maryann Spindler (Pittsburgh, Pa.).