Alabama Swimming and Diving Adds 11 for the 2018-19 Season
11/15/2017 2:12:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
The Crimson Tide inked four men and seven women to National Letters of Intent
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A total of 11 swimmers and divers have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Alabama swimming and diving teams head coach Dennis Pursley announced this week.
The Crimson Tide men signed four and the women inked seven in the fall period. That total includes 10 swimmers and one diver.
"We feel this class will help fill some holes for us, adding more balance and versatility to our lineup," Pursley said. "We are always looking for student-athletes who are not only talented in the pool, but who embrace the core values our program is built on – attitude, character and commitment – and this class certainly has those attributes."
WOMEN (7):
Kalia Antoniou, Freestyle/Backstroke/Butterfly, 6-1, Limassol, Cyprus, Pascal Greek School
- A semifinalist in the 50 freestyle at the 2017 LEN European Junior Championships, she represented Cyprus at the Balkan Junior Championships, winning four individual medals between 2016 and 2017, including a gold in the 100 freestyle
- Swims for former Alabama All-American Stavros Michaelides at Limassol Nautical Club
Morgan Liberto, Backstroke/Butterfly, 5-9, Elkridge, Md., Howard
- A two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, she won the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 200 butterfly and was runner-up in the 100 butterfly at the 2017 Chambersburg Sectionals
- Swims for Retriever Aquatic Club and Howard High School
Kensey McMahon, Freestyle/Butterfly/Individual Medley, 5-8, Jacksonville, Fla., Mandarin
- A USA National Junior Team member for 2016-17 and 2017-18, she earned a place on the 2016 USA FINA World Junior Open Water Championships team
- Swims for Mike Kuzma at Bolles School Sharks and Mike Dingfield at Mandarin High School
Cathryn Salladin, Freestyle, 5-11, Yorba Linda, Calif., Parkview
- A member of the USA World Championships Open Water team, she finished 10th in the 25-kilometer event
- Swims for Brian Brown at FAST and Parkview High School
Greta Szilvasi, Butterfly/Individual Medley/Freestyle, 5-6, Mezokovesd, Hungary, Bibó István
- A 2016 European Junior Swimming Championships finalist and 2016 Hungarian silver medalist in the 400 individual medley
- Swims for Attila Novotny and Zsolt Horváth at Kiskunhalas Swimming Association
Ashley Voelkerding, Butterfly/Freestyle, 5-7, Cincinnati, Ohio, St. Ursula
- A three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, she is a USA Swimming Junior National Qualifier
- Swims for Brad Isham at Cincinnati Marlins and for Ann and Erin Gartner at St. Ursula Academy
Rhyan White, Backstroke, 5-6, Herriman, Utah, Academy for Math, Engineering and Science
- A member of the 2017-18 USA Swimming Junior National Team and 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier, she won the 100 and 200 backstrokes at 2017 Mount Hood Sectional
- Swims for Ron Lockwood at Wasatch Front Fish Market Swim Team
MEN (4):
Noland Deas, Freestyle, 6-3, Johns Creek, Ga., Centennial
- A two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, he is also a six- time individual finalist at GHSA high school state championships (2015, 2016 and 2017)
- Swims for Andy Griffin and Aaron Middleton at Swim Atlanta and Slade Dale at Centennial High School
Zhenwei Li, Diving, 5-7, Fujian, China, Beijing Vocational
- Third place in the 13th Games Of The People's Republic Of China Diving Championships
- Dives for Xiaosong Wang and Jian Yu at Beijing Diving Team and at Beijing Vocational Sports School
Nicholas Perera, Individual Medley, 6-1, Cincinnati, Ohio, St. Xavier
- Ohio state record holder as part of the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay
- Swims for Kevin Weldon and Meghan Olson at Dayton Raiders Swim Club and for Jim Brower, Tim Beerman and Tom Keefe at St. Xavier High School
Spencer Walker, Backstroke/Freestyle, 6-2, LaGrange Park, Ill., Lyons Township
- The 2017 Illinois state 100 backstroke champion, who led Lyons Township to two IHSA team titles, he is a USA Senior National and World Championship Trials qualifier
- Swims for Mike Laurich at Academy Bullets and Scott Walker at Lyons Township High School
For all the latest information on the Alabama swimming and diving teams, follow AlabamaSwimDive on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
