Dec. 14, 2011
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech swimming & diving head coach Courtney Shealy Hart has announced that 10 student-athletes have signed letters-of-intent during the fall signing period: Kate Clark (Martinez, Ga.), Darelle Cowley (Ajax, Ontario), Katie Evans (Hoschton, Ga.), Katherine Kerman (Atlanta, Ga.), Ricky Lehner (Lilburn, Ga.), Shannon Lumbra (Flower Mound, Texas), Jaclyn Rohal (Alpharetta, Ga.), Erika Staskevicius (Woodstock, Ga.), Carla Sweeney (Dallas, Ga.), and Sara Williford (Marietta, Ga.).
Kate Clark (Martinez, Ga./Greenbrier HS)
Clark was four-time team MVP at Greenbrier High and holds seven school records, and three records for her Aiken Augusta club team. The freestyler helped her high school team to the CSRA women’s championship in 2010.
Coach Shealy Hart on Clark:
“Kate’s improvement in middle distance freestyle over the last year has us very excited.”
Darelle Cowley (Ajax, Ontario/Pickering HS)
Cowley is her club’s age-group record holder in the 800 free (short-course meters) of 9:03.53, the 1500m free (both short-course and long-course meters) of 17:23.78 and 17:32.25, respectively.
Coach Shealy Hart on Cowley:
“Darelle is a game changer for our team in so many events.”
Katie Evans (Hoschton, Ga./Home School)
Evans, whose sister Jordan is a senior for the Yellow Jackets, won the 2010 Age Group Southern Zone Championship in the 100 breast. Evans is a Senior National qualifier.
Coach Shealy Hart on Evans:
“Katie’s ready to come in and compete in the ACC right away.”
Katherine Kerman (Altanta, Ga./Westminster School)
Kerman, who comes from a swimming family, was a First Team Georgia Swimming All-State pick in 2010-11 and was a four-time Georgia Swimming All-Star at Westminster School. Her brother David swam at Davidson College, her cousin Sarah Lozier swam at Miami, her aunt swam at Ohio University and grandfather swam at Duke.
Coach Shealy Hart on Kerman:
“Katherine made an impression with her swimming over the last year and we think she’s headed in a great direction.”
Ricky Lehner (Lilburn, Ga./Parkview)
Lehner helped Parkview to a narrow runner-up finish at the 2011 Georgia State Swimming Championship and was a two-time team MVP selection. He twice earned All-America honors in the 100 breast, setting the state record in the event in 2011 and winning the state championship in it in both 2010 and 2011. Lehner was a three-time bronze medalist at the Junior Nationals in the 200 and 400 medley relay and the 100 breast.
Coach Shealy Hart on Lehner:
“We are really excited to have the fastest breaststroker in the state of Georgia coming to Tech.”
Shannon Lumbra (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound HS)
Lumbra is a highly-touted diver from Flower Mound High in Texas, who has already qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. She finished sixth in the 3 meter and ninth in the 1 meter at the Junior Nationals.
“The addition of Shannon to the team will help the divers reach the national success we had in 2008,” said GT diving coach John Ames. “She had the combination of athletic skill and academic focus that has been a recipe for success in the diving program in the past.”
Coach Shealy Hart on Lumbra:
“We are very excited to get one of the best female divers in the country coming to GT next year.”
Jaclyn Rohal (Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta HS)
Rohal comes to Tech after setting school records in the 200 IM, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay for Alpharetta High. She is a U.S. Open qualifier and a Scholastic All-America selection.
Coach Shealy Hart on Rohal:
“What I like most about Jaclyn is her versatility; she’s going to be able to contribute across multiple strokes.”
Erika Staskevicius (Woodstock, Ga./Woodstock HS)
Staskevicius was a four-time Georgia All-Star selection and three-time All-County pick for Woodstock High in Woodstock, Ga. Also a standout in the classroom, Staskevicius ranks fifth in her class and serves as senior class president.
Coach Shealy Hart on Staskevicius:
“Sprinters are the lifeblood of college swim teams and Erika will come in and help our sprinting right away.”
Carly Sweeney (Dallas, Ga./North Paulding)
An accomplished backstroker, Sweeney comes to the Flats as a NCSA Junior Nationals qualifier. She scored in three events at the 2011 Georgia High School State Championship as a junior.
Coach Shealy Hart on Sweeney:
“We’re very pleased that a backstroker of Carly’s caliber decided to stay close to home.”
Sarah Williford (Marietta, Ga./Lassietr HS)
Williford was a Scholastic All-America pick and a U.S. Open qualifier who comes to the Flats after a prep career at Lassiter High in Marietta.
Coach Shealy Hart on Williford:
“I was really impressed by what Sarah is going to bring to this team both as a student and an athlete.”
