The College of Charleston swimming & diving program has completed its signing class with 17 new additions for the 2014-15 season, head coach Bora Yatagan announced.
College of Charleston set 21 school records at the 2014 CAA championships, led by the two individual titles and CAA record-setting performance of outgoing senior Sarah Boyle.
“Next year we will have a very strong sprint group on the women’s side,” Yatagan said. “Our men will have some depth and a lot of talent in the IM races. I am very excited about next year. I know that we will take the great steps from this season and continue to move toward our team goals.”
On the women’s side, CofC adds new student-athletes from Arizona to New Jersey. Molly Bullington (Phoenix, Ariz.) comes in to help replace some of CofC’s freestyle sprinters lost to graduation. She posted a 24.6 in the 50 freestyle, 53.1 in the 100 freestyle and 1:55.4 in the 200 freestyle. Another sprint freestyler, Chloe Colligan (Manassas, Va.) had high school times of 24.38 in the 50 free and 52.57 in the 100 free.
Abby Deal (Aiken, S.C.) comes to CofC as a sprint freestyler and a very accomplished distance swimmer. She will be one of the team’s most versatile swimmers. She posted times of 56.00 (100 butterfly), 24.20 (50 freestyle) and 52.00 (100 freestyle). Kathryn Comer (Watchung, N.J.) enters CofC as a transfer from the Parsons School of Design in New York City. She specializes in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 200 IM.
Clare Fleming (Tampa, Fla.) and Mariah Mitchell (Phoenix, Ariz.) join the team’s sprint corps. Mitchell is a very accomplished stoke swimmer and has the potential to be an impact swimmer in the future. She has times of 1:08.0 (100 breaststroke), 2:09.1 (200 IM), 53.6 (100 free) and 1:53.9 (200 free).
In the distance events, Alexa Namestnik (Pittsburgh, Pa.) comes south to add strength to the Cougar distance program. She has a 5:08 in the 500 free and 17:24.8 in the 1650 freestyle. Maddie Wohlforth will also add depth to the Cougar distance swimmers.
Kim Cortellessa (Fairfield, Conn.) joins CofC’s divers after a solid senior season where she overcame injury to place in the top 15 in her conference championships.
On the men’s side, Alec Rutkowski (Chapin, S.C.) can come in and be an impact performer in the sprint freestyle and IM events. He posted times of 1:54.92 (200 IM), 21.91 (50 free) and 4:44.77 (500 free).
Adam Impson (Taylors, S.C.) joins CofC’s very accomplished group of IM and butterfly competitors. He had a 1:53 (200 butterfly) and 4:04 (400 IM) in high school. Alfonso Castillo (Suwanee, Ga.) adds versatility as an accomplished stroke swimmer. He posted times of 15:53.2 (1650 freestyle), 4:36.9 (500 freestyle) and 1:53.6 (200 butterfly).
Blake Proffitt (Lynchburg, Va.) comes in from out-of-state to compete in the breaststrokes and 200 IM. Ben Hillebrand (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) and Jack Story (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) come downtown after careers at Wando and Bishop England, respectively, with Hillebrand specializing in sprints and Story in distance events.
James Willmingham (Chapel Hill, N.C.) will come to Charleston to compete as a male diver.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SWIMMING & DIVING
WOMEN’S SIGNEES
Molly Bullington, Freshman, Phoenix, Ariz., Sprints
Chloe Colligan, Freshman, Manassas, Va., Sprints
Kathryn Comer, Sophomore, Watchung, N.J., Sprints
Kim Cortellessa, Freshman, Fairfield, Conn., Diving
Abby Deal, Freshman, Aiken, S.C., Sprints
Clare Fleming, Freshman, Tampa, Fla., Sprints
Mariah Mitchell, Freshman, Phoenix, Ariz., Sprints
Alexa Namestnik, Freshman, Pittsburgh, Pa., Distance
Maddie Wohlforth, Freshman, Distance
MEN’S SIGNEES
Alfonso Castillo, Freshman, Suwanee, Ga., Distance
Ben Hillenbrand, Freshman, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Sprints
Adam Impson, Freshman, Taylors, S.C., Distance
Blake Proffitt, Freshman, Lynchburg, Va., Distance
Alec Rutkowski, Freshman, Chapin, S.C., Distance
Jack Story, Freshman, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Distance
James Willmingham, Freshman, Chapel Hill, N.C., Diving
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