Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Swimming and Diving Welcomes Nine Recruits to Program
6/1/2010 8:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
June 1, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell head swimming and diving coach Dan Schinnerer announced an impressive women's recruiting class on Tuesday. The Bison Class of 2014 includes nine student-athletes who hail from seven different states. The incoming recruits will join a Bucknell team that has been among the best in the Patriot League over the last decade, finishing in the top three at the championship meet every year since 2001. During that span the Bison have claimed four titles and finished second four times.
“We are very excited about the Class of 2014,” said Schinnerer. “Coming into this year's recruiting process, we knew we had a large and talented group of graduating seniors, thus we knew we needed a large and talented incoming class. This group of young women will add talent and depth to our team and help us remain competitive in the fast-improving Patriot League. These women have the ability to make an immediate impact on both our team and in the conference. I know they are going to help us toward our program's goals.”
In 2009-10, Bucknell posted a 7-3 record and was 4-2 against Patriot League competition. The Bison will lose nine seniors to graduation, five of whom were All-League selections this past February. Bucknell will return five All-League student-athletes as it vies for its first conference crown since 2006 next winter.
Bucknell Women's Swimming & Diving Recruiting Class
Melissa Besman – Solon, Ohio/Solon
Jennifer Brennan – Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy
Caroline Higgins – Wilton, Conn./Wilton
Alex Panzarino – Ossining, N.Y./JFK Catholic
Kelly Pontecorvo – New Providence, N.J./Mount Saint Mary Academy
Kristen Purdy – Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River
Alyssa Rollando – Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep
Kaitlyn Utkewicz – Montville, N.J./Montville
Emily Wright – Wayland, Mass./Wayland
Melissa Besman (Solon, Ohio/Solon) – Events: Distance Free, IM, Fly – Melissa Lauren Besman … born June 2, 1992 in Cleveland, Ohio … daughter of Doug and Sherri Besman … four-year swimming letterwinner at Solon High School … four-time state qualifier … three-time district champion … High School All-American … All-Ohio selection … team captain … Northeast Ohio Conference Scholar-Athlete … has two siblings, Matthew and Jenny.
Jennifer Brennan (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) – Events: Back, IM, Fly – Jennifer Ann Brennan … born Jan. 13, 1992 in Philadelphia, Pa. … daughter of John and Barb Brennan … PIAA all-state selection … NIASCA State Top-16 Award … Scholastic All-America selection … earned Suburban Aquatic League Senior Award … copped Lower Moreland Lightning Coaches Award … has two brothers, Brian and Tim.
Caroline Higgins (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) – Events: Sprint Free – Caroline McKenna Higgins … born July 31, 1992 in Livingston, N.J. … daughter of Lenny and Julie Higgins … earned four letters in swimming at Wilton High School … 2008 All-American in 200 medley relay and 400 free relay … two-time all-state selection … two-time all-area choice … three-time All-FCIAC … team captain in 2009 … Scholastic All-American and Connecticut Scholar-Athlete … has one brother, Sean.
Alex Panzarino (Ossining, N.Y./JFK Catholic) – Events: Fly – Alexandra Marie Panzarino … born July 17, 1992 in Bronx, N.Y. … daughter of Michael and Lori Panzarino … four-year member of swimming team at JFK Catholic High School … served as team captain for three years … four-time all-league selection … earned all-section honors once … has one brother, Michael, who will be a sophomore on the Boston College men's swimming and diving team in 2010-11.
Kelly Pontecorvo (New Providence, N.J./Mount St. Mary Academy) – Events: Distance Free – Kelly Marie Pontecorvo … born July 13, 1991 in Summit, N.J. … daughter of Martin Pontecorvo and Laura Noonan … two-year Scholastic All-American … third place at New Jersey Junior Olympics in 500, 1,000 and 1,650 free … top-10 finished in Quebec Cup … third-place finisher in Speedo Sectionals in 800-meter free … Junior National qualifier in the 1,000-yard and 800-meter free … nationally ranked in 800-meter and 1,000-yard free … helped club team, Berkeley Aquatic Club, to New Jersey Junior Olympic title … has one sister, Dana.
Kristen Purdy (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River) – Events: Fly, IM – Kristen Lee Purdy … born May 14, 1992 in Holland, Mich. … daughter of Timothy and Cynthia Purdy … earned eight total letters at Shoreham Wading River High School (1 swimming, 3 cross country, 4 track & field) … team captain in swimming, cross country and track … all-state in swimming and cross country … earned swimming Coaches Award in 2007 and 2010 … two-time swimming Scholastic All-American … competed at swimming Junior Nationals in 2009 and 2010 … member of USA National Ocean Lifeguard Team since 2008 … national champion in ocean distance swim and rescue race … competed with the international team in Japan in 2008 and 2009 … youngest competitor to ever represent the USA on international team … selected Rookie of the Year in 2008 … has two siblings, Dana and Evan … Dana is a member of the women's swimming and diving team at Lafayette and will be a sophomore in 2010-11 … father ran cross country at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Alyssa Rollando (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep) – Events: Fly, IM, Sprint Free – Alyssa Kirk Rollando … born Oct. 14, 1991 in Phoenix, Ariz. … daughter of Mike and Robin Rollando … four-year swimming letterwinner at Xavier College Preparatory … helped team to state title four times … placed at state meet four times … earned seventh in the 200 IM in 2008 and ninth in 2009 … notched ninth-place finish in 100 fly in 2008 and took 11th in 2009 … earned team's Most Spirited Award in 2008 … has one brother, Anthony.
Kaitlyn Utkewicz (Montville, N.J./Montville) – Events: Sprint Free – Kaitlyn Rose Utkewicz … born July 31, 1992 in Livingston, N.J. … daughter of Duane and Jodi Utkewicz … earned All-America, all-county and all-area recognition at Montville Township High School … school record-holder in 100 free … six-time finalist at New Jersey Meet of Champions … four-time team MVP … team captain in 2010 … member of Lakeland Hills YMCA swim team … Lakeland Hills won YMCA state title in 2007, 2008 and 2009 … YMCA national qualifier in four events … top-16 finalist at YMCA Nationals … part of 400 and 800 free relay squads that own team record … helped 200 and 400 free relays as well as 400 medley relay break New Jersey YMCA state meet records … has a younger brother, Brian.
Emily Wright (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) – Events: Sprint Free – Emily Wright … born Dec. 10, 1991 in Boston, Mass. … daughter of Thruston and Deborah Wright … three-sport student-athlete at Wayland High School, earning four letters in swimming, one in cross country and one in track & field … three-time All-American in the 200 free relay … received All-America consideration in 50 free … helped team to four consecutive state championships … holds North Sectional record in the 50 free … holds school records in the 50 free (23.97), 100 free (52.62), 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay … Boston Globe Swimmer of the Year in 2010 … highest point scorer in Wayland High School history … four-time state qualifier … four-time all-state and all-league selection … team captain as a senior … has two sisters, Priscilla and Heather … Priscilla is a member of the women's swimming and diving team at Union College and will be a junior in 2010-11.
