Bucknell University Athletics
2002-03 Men's Swimming & Diving Recruits Announced
8/5/2002 8:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Aug. 5, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell men's and women's swimming and diving teams have twenty incoming freshmen joining the Bison this fall. This Class of 2006 includes nine men and 11 women hailing from seven different states.
The men's recruiting class is comprised of eight swimmers and one diver. The core of this group hails from the state of Pennsylvania. Todd Bauer (Harleysville, Pa.) was an all-state selection in both the 200 and 500 freestyles, as well as the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. During his high school career, Bauer was a member of the PIAA Championship 200 Freestyle Relay in 2001. Bauer was also an all-state water polo player from 1999-2001.
Brian Cole (Franklin, Pa.) will swim both butterfly and freestyle for the Bison. Cole has been a Pennsylvania District 10 champion, the 2002 Conference MVP, and an all-state designee throughout his high school career. Cole was also a four-time YMCA National Qualifier in the fly and freestyle events and he has been the recipient of two academic scholarships.
Dean DeLuca (Pittsburgh, Pa.) will contribute to the men's swimming and diving team in sprint freestyle and butterfly events. DeLuca was a member of the state champion Shadyside Academy squad in 2000. He is PIAA Championship finalist in the 100 Butterfly this past year as well as a member of two runner-up relay teams at the PIAA Championships. DeLuca is a nine-time varsity letterwinner in three sports (swimming, track and soccer).
Will Schilling (Murrysville, Pa.) swims both the breastroke and freestyle events. Schilling comes to Bucknell having been a PIAA Championships Qualifier in the 100 breastroke in 2001 and the 100 breastroke and 200 freestyle in 2002. He was a 2001 U.S. Open qualifier in the 200 breastroke as well as a 2002 Sectional Participant in the 100 and 200 breastrokes. Schilling was captain of Franklin Regional Senior High School swim team.
The last of the Pennsylvania natives, Ryan Fisher (Pittsburgh, Pa.), will swim both individual medley and freestyle events for the Bison. Fisher, captain of the Mt. Lebanon High School squad, was the top point scorer at the PIAA District 7 Championships for Mt. Lebanon. Over the course of his junior and senior years, Fisher was a District 7 finalist in the 200 IM, 100 fly, and both the 200 medley and freestyle relays.
Brooks Steadman (Richmond, Va.) brings a background of distance freestyle to Bucknell's program. Steadman has been a Virginia all-state selection in the 200 and 500 freestyles for three years. He was awarded the most valuable player of team at The Collegiate School.
Mark Kretzer (Northport, N.Y.) will bring additional versatility to Bucknell by swimming the backstroke, butterfly, and IM events. Kretzer was a finalist in the 100 butterfly and backstroke events at the New York High School State Championships. He is a county record holder in the 100 backstroke, as well as the YMCA State Champion in the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and the 200 IM. Kretzer has been awarded the Metro Swimming Scholarship.
Thomas Cassidy (Edison, N.J.) will add depth to the Bison Squad in the sprint freestyle events. Cassidy was captain of the New Jersey State Champion High School Team. He has been awarded All Conference and All Area Accolades. Cassidy is an Academic All-America recipient.
Completing the class is diver Jake Thompson (Freeport, N.Y.). Thompson will compete in the one and three-meter events. In his junior and senior years at Catholic High School, Thompson was a state championship qualifier, where he placed third in 11th grade and second in 12th grade.
