Nov. 26, 2003
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech swimming and diving team signed seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2004-05 season during the early signing period, announced head coach Seth Baron. The Yellow Jackets will add four local standouts from the Atlanta area for their fourth year of competition as a combined program.
Joining the men’s team next fall will be Chris Ewald (Alpharetta, Ga.), Rob Miller (Alpharetta, Ga.), Evan Stowers (Independence, Ky.) and Onur Uras (Istanbul, Turkey). The women’s swimming and diving team will add Megan Campbell (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Amanda Gannon (Evans City, Pa.) and Elizabeth Stowe (Lawrenceville, Ga.) to its roster next season.
“Overall, for both the men and women, we’re pleased with the commitments we received,” said Baron. “Our staff did a wonderful job during the early signing period, especially in the Atlanta area, but also nationally and internationally. Every one of these athletes will be able to make a significant contribution to our program as freshman in 2004-05.”
“Highlighting the recruits is Chris Ewald who is a member of the U.S.A Junior National team and will be competing for the United States, in Brisbane, Australia, this January 2004,” said Baron. “To receive a commitment from someone of Chris’ talent, no doubt is a sign that we’re committed to finding the best available athletes to compete at Georgia tech. Hopefully this is the first of many that will join our program.”
Megan Campbell, Providence Christian Academy, Swim Atlanta
A senior at Providence Christian Academy, Campbell’s top times of 57.34 (100 butterfly) and 2:07.60 (200 butterfly) would rank her third and fifth in Tech’s all-time top 10 lists. She is a member of the Swim Atlanta Club and carries lifetime-best times of 2:07.27 (200 IM) and 4:25.78 (400 IM), which currently stand third on the Rambling Wreck squad.
Chris Ewald, South Forsyth High School, Dynamo Swim Club
A Georgia state champion in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events, Ewald will add much needed strength to the Tech distance events. Ewald holds career-best times of 1:41.65 and 4:28.18, in the 200 and 500 freestyle events. The Alpharetta, Ga., native is a member of the U.S.A Swimming National Junior Team and carries top times in the 1000 free (9:17.30) and 1650 free (15:41.78).
Amanda Gannon, Oakland Catholic High School, Team Pittsburgh
Gannon will become the second Pennsylvania native to join the Tech women’s swimming team (Laura Heiser). The Evans City, Pa., native will swim multiple events when she joins the Jackets next fall in the freestyle, butterfly and individual medley. Gannon’s career-best time of 17:04.15 in the 1650 free would be a school record at Tech and she would stand second on the team with her 500 free time of 5:03.20. A member of Team Pittsburgh, Gannon also has top times in the 200 fly (2:09.92) and 400 IM (4:35.63).
Rob Miller, Chattahoochee High School, Dynamo Swim Club
Miller is another middle-to-distance freestyler that the Yellow Jackets are adding for the fall of 2004. His lifetime-best times of 4:37.92 (500 free), 9:25.48 (1000 free) and 15:44.03 (1650 free) all rank him in the top 10 at Georgia Tech. Miller, who has only been swimming for three years, competes with the Dynamo Swim Club along with future teammate, and current signee, Ewald.
Elizabeth Stowe, Dacula High School, Swim Atlanta
Stowe is a highly touted distance freestyler that will make an immediate impact on the Atlantic Coast Conference for Tech. Her career-best 1650 free time of 16:50.92 would have placed her in the top eight at last year’s ACC Championship meet and would be an NCAA ‘B’ cut time. A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Stowe also carries top times in the 200 free (1:54.92) and 500 free (4:56.28).
Evan Stowers, Simon Kenton High School
Stowers will add strength and much needed depth to the men’s diving squad in 2004-05. He finished 12th on the one- and three-meter boards at the Junior Olympic Zone Meet this past summer.
Onur Uras, German High School, Galatasaray Swimming Club
Uras is the only international recruit during the course of the early signing period for the Yellow Jackets. Uras is a Turkish National champion in the 100- and 200-meter butterfly events with times of 55.37 and 2:02.78. The Istanbul, Turkey, native holds a top time of 52.80 in the 100-meter freestyle.
