ATLANTA — Georgia Tech’s men’s swimming and diving team has bolstered its 1999-2000 recruiting class with seven new additions, including three who have signed national letters of intent.
Yellow Jacket head coach Seth Baron has announced that Jorge Oliver (Jacksonville, Fla.), Travis McQuinn (Cypress, Texas) and Josh Hersko (Marietta, Ga.) have all signed national letters of intent with the Institute.
“I think that this recruiting class has the potential to have several student-athletes become the top swimmers in their events for us,” said Baron, who will be entering his third year at Tech this fall. “Overall, our recruiting class will add great depth to our program and help us to improve in the Atlantic Coast Conference and in dual meet competition. We are very pleased that we are bringing in a very accomplished academic class that should be well suited for Georgia Tech. I believe that we have really helped ourselves in the short sprints and breastroke with the talent we are bringing in.”
Additionally, four recruited walk-on student-athletes have been admitted to Tech and are expected to contribute next season. They are Mark Campbell (Atlanta, Ga.), Ben Danneman (Tucker, Ga.), Ross Dye (Marietta, Ga.) and Scott Lenyk (Suwanee, Ga.).
Oliver, who swam scholastically for the Episcopal High School and the Bolles Sharks U.S.S. club team, won the Florida High School 4-A state championship in the 100 freestyle and was second in the 100 backstroke . He has qualified for this year’s Junior National meet in the 50 and 100 freestyles, 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley. A versatile swimmer, he will contribute in the freestyle and backstroke.
McQuinn swam for Cy-Fair High School and the Fleet U.S.S. club team. At this year’s Texas High School State Championship meet, he finished second in both the 100 breastroke and 200 individual medley.
Hersko comes to Tech from Pope High School and swims for SwimAtlanta-Cobb Co. U.S.S. club team. He is a sprint freestyle swimmer who has top times of 46.50 in the 100 freestyle and 1:41.98 in the 200 freestyle, which could help the Jackets right away. He also has qualified for the U.S. Junior National championship meet this summer.
Dye, a teammate of Hersko at SwimAtlanta-Cobb Co., is also from Pope High School. He has a top time of 21.10 in the 50 freestyle and will be used in the breastroke and individual medley as well. Campbell, from Mt. Zion High School, is a member of SwimAtlanta-Midtown and will be used in the middle distance freestyles and backstroke. Tech’s diving has gained a valuable addition in Dannemann, who is from Chamblee High School and placed fifth in the 1-meter springboard competition at the Georgia State High School meet this year. Lenyk comes from Greater Atlanta Christian School and is a tall (6-5) swimmer who contribute in the backstrokes.
Tech had two early fall signees in James Salazar (Huntsville, Ala.), and Robert Foster (Frankfort, Ky.), who are top prospects for the Jackets.
Salazar, who is from Grissom High School, swims for the Huntsville Swim Association U.S.S. club team. Last March, he placed 16th in the U.S. National Swimming Championships in the 400 meter individual medley with a time of 4:32.81. A versatile athlete, he has competed in the 200 backstroke, 200 individual medley, 200 butterfly, and the distance freestyle events.
Foster, who is from Franklin Co. High School, is a member of the Frankford Area U.S.S. club team. He swims the breastroke and has top times of 57.00 in the 100 yards and 2:06.94 in the 200 yards.
Tech was 6-7 overall in dual meets last year and was 1-1 in the ACC, including the program’s first conference victory since joining the league in 1979-80.
