Swimming and Diving Adds Seven For 2006-07 Season
11/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 28, 2005
PITTSBURGH-Head Swimming and Diving Coach Chuck Knoles announced the signing of seven athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2006-07 season. The seven newcomers include six student-athletes for the women's team in Hanna Bratton, Sophie Cross, Ryann Kishbaugh, Tiffany Malatesta, Lisa McDonnell and Sara Sullivan, and one student-athlete, Adam Plutecki, for the men's team.
"This first signing period of our 2006-07 season," Knoles said. "Our future-for Pitt swimming and diving was a very successful beginning to this year's recruiting campaign to bring the best athletes to Pitt. With the excitement we have established about our program, the second-half of the recruiting year will no doubt be as successful."
Joining the Panthers will be a diver, three sprinters and two multi-event specialist on the women's side, while the men will add a sprinter of their own.
Bratton (Lincoln, R.I./Moses Brown School) is a diving standout, who in three years of competition at the New England Prep School Championships has finished with at least a silver medal and is a 2005 NISCA Diving High School All-American.
"Adding Hanna to our women's diving program will help accelerate our success in women's diving. She is a consummate talent and will be successful under Assistant Head Coach for Diving Julian Krug's guidance," Knoles added.
A former teammate of current Pitt freshman Ruth Seiffert, Cross (Thornton, Pa./Garnet Valley High School) was a finalist in both the 100 free and 200 IM at the 2005 Pennsylvania State Championships, placing third in the 200 IM.
"Sophie will give us a great Pennsylvania swimmer who's versatility in the sprint and IM will help the team immediately. We are always very pleased to add one of the state's successful athletes to our roster," Knoles commented.
Kishbaugh (Danville,Pa./Danville High School) is a sprint specialist, who competed in the finals at the 2005 Pennsylvania State Championships in both the 100 back and 100 fly, earning 2005 NISCA High School All-American honors in the 100 back.
"Ryann is a successful multi-sport athlete who will now concentrate on swimming in college. Her already proven sprint ability in the back and fly will add depth for us in those events. The fact that she is a Pennsylvania gal is a bonus for Pitt," Knoles said.
Malatesta (Vineland, N.J./Vineland High School) is also a sprint specialist and the reigning New Jersey state champion in the 100 free. She has earned All-American honors eight times and most recently was named an All-American as a member of both the 200 free and 400 free relay teams.
"Tiffany is an untapped talent having focused on swimming mainly during the high school swimming season. Adding the New Jersey High School 100 free champion to our squad is great for Pitt," Knoles added.
McDonnell (Columbia, Pa./Hempfield High School) is a multi-talented athlete who excels at almost every event. At the Pennsylvania state meet, she advanced to the finals in several events. This past season she earned All-American honors in the 100 back, 100 fly, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. This past year, NISCA ranked her as the fourth fastest junior backstroker in the country.
"Being able to list Lisa as one of our most successful signees this year is significant for the program. She will bring to Pitt an already nationally successful history. Lisa will undoubtedly be able to make an immediate impact at Pitt, in the Big East and in the NCAA on the national scene," Knoles noted.
Another sprint specialist, Sullivan (Longmont, Co./Longmont High School) is the Colorado state champion in the 50 free, and runner-up in the 100 free. She has advanced to the finals in the sprint events at the Colorado state meet all three years of high school.
"Sara's sprint success will be a welcoming addition to our already deep sprint program here at Pitt. Having the Colorado high school champ choose Pitt will insure that continuing success," Knoles said.
Plutecki (Zielona Gora, Poland), a member of the Polish National Team, is the lone men's swimming recruit in the fall signing period. He most recently competed for Poland at the 2005 World University Games. His best converted times are: 1:37.96 in the 200 free, 44.87 in the 100 free, 55.37 in the 100 breast and 1:48.38 in the 200 IM.
"Adding Adam to our team will begin moving the men's program back into being one of the top programs in the country. His versatility in being able to cover a range of events will be felt in both dual and championship meets. He will join us in January of 2006," Knoles said.
Pitt will resume action this week with the U.S. Open on Dec. 1 in Auburn, Ala.
Players Mentioned
