RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan head swim Coach Walter Olsewski ('68) has announced the signing of nine swimmers as part of the 2016 recruiting class. Four women will join the Jaspers in the fall of 2012 while five men will look to help improve upon a record breaking season in program history.
"I am thoroughly excited, as is our staff and team, about the young swimmers we are bringing in," said Olsewski. "They will give us both front-line performers on both teams plus much needed depth which you need to win dual meets and score points at the MAAC's"
Paige Raccioppi (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) will look to strengthen the women's team ability in sprints and butterfly events. Michaela Schatz (Tuscon, Ariz./Salpointe) is going to be relied upon to help with middle distance freestyle races as well as the backstroke.
Nicole Maher (West Nyack, N.Y./Pearl River) follows in the footsteps of her older sister, and captain to be, Nadine Maher, and will greatly improve the Jaspers performance in the freestyle sprints. The final recruit on the women's side is Lauren Sciarrotto (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt. Sinai) and adds depth to the Individual Medley and butterfly events.
On the men's side, four swimmers will compete with a roster that returns all of its major competitors from 2011-2012. Highly touted Lance Neuendorf (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee) will bolster the backstroke events for Manhattan as well as the Individual Medley. A two-time state champion, Neuendorf helped lead Tappan Zee to consecutive NYSPHSAA titles while capping off his career by helping to break the state record in the 4x100 freestyle relay in March.
Dallan Treanor (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) is yet another state finalist taking his talents to Riverdale. He will be relied on to help in sprints and relays while performing in his specialty, the 100 yard breaststroke. Coach Olsewski has added a Pacific flavor to his coming roster with the addition of Marcus Gilliland (Kailua, HI/Kamehameha) and is a specialist in the freestyle distance events ranging from 500 to 1650 yards. Gilliland is the first swimmer from Hawaii in program history.
James Harasym (Coram, N.Y./Longwood) is going to add depth to the Individual Medley and backstroke events while Thomas Dougherty (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) brings versatility to the team and will compete in both the butterfly and freestyle events.
The Jaspers will look to move up the ladder in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) this coming year and improve upon a historic year in program history with the help of these newcomers.
To follow Manhattan Athletics on Twitter, go to twitter.com/GoJaspers or visit Manhattan's Facebook fan page.
