RENO, Nev. - The University of Nevada swimming and diving team had six student-athletes sign national letters of intent earlier this week to study and compete at the University of Nevada beginning in 2011-12. This year's recruiting class includes swimmers from across the nation, including Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.
"I couldn't be more excited about this class," head coach Mike Richmond said. "This is literally the best early signing class in the history of the program. There's a general theme to this class, which is great academics, great talent, great potential and outstanding character. With this group of signees and the foundations we currently have in place, this is the most exciting time in Wolf Pack swimming and diving since the late 1990s, when our team was ranked in the top-20 nationally."
Monica Capozzo
Martinez, Calif.
HS: Alhambra High School
Club: Terrapins Swim Team
Monica Capozzo joins the Wolf Pack from Martinez, Calif. Capozzo swam for the Terrapins Swim Team, where she was a sectional qualifier. The Alhambra High School senior was a California Interscholastic Federation North Coast Section qualifier and voted MVP of her high school team. Capozzo's top-times come in the 50-yard (25.31) and 100-yard (55.60) freestyle events and the 100-yard butterfly (1:00.05). Out of the pool, Capozzo is involved in leadership and philanthropy efforts through her school. She is also a member of the Superintendent's Honor Roll.
What Coach Richmond says: "From the very first conversation we had, I knew Monica was a Wolf Pack girl. She's going to not only be a great asset for us in the pool, but an outstanding ambassador for our program as well."
Taryn Collura
Phoenix, Ariz.
HS: Sunnyslope High School
Club: Phoenix Swim Club
Taryn Collura brings speed and experience to Nevada's 2010 signing class. Collura was a two-time individual Arizona High School State Champion in 2010, taking first in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races. The Phoenix native represented her club team, the Phoenix Swim Club, at the 2009 US Open and Junior Nationals. Collura was also a 2009 Scholastic All-American honoree. The Sunnyslope High School senior recorded personal records in the 50-yard (23.66) and 100-yard (51.00) freestyle events and the 100-yard butterfly (58.38).
What Coach Richmond says: "Taryn is a lock-down sprinter. She can anchor a relay in a tight meet and look to her left and right and say, 'Not today. No one is beating the Pack today.' Taryn is also a great person, has a great work ethic and I think she's going to help take our program to unprecedented heights."
Jocelin Drennan
Midland, Texas
HS: Midland Greenwood High School
Club: City of Midland Aquatics
Jocelin Drennan comes to Nevada from the City of Midland Aquatics club team where she is coached by former Wolf Pack swimmer and Nevada Hall of Fame inductee, Susan Whitehouse. Drennan has qualified for sectionals and the grand prix series in her tenure at the City of Midland Acquatics. The Midland, Texas native represented Midland Greenwood High School at the Texas High School State Championship in 2009 and 2010 where she swam the 200-yard IM and 100-yard butterfly. Drennan was also voted her high school's Athlete of the Year in 2008 and 2009. Drennan has recorded top-times in the 100-yard (59.69) and 200-yard (2:11.93) butterfly events and the 200-yard IM (2:13.17).
What Coach Richmond says: "Jocelin has an incredible work ethic, and her attitude to not only athletics, but life overall is just outstanding. She's a girl that is going to really hit her full potential in her college years."
Melanie Larson
Placentia, Calif.
JC: Orange Community College
Melanie Larson comes to Nevada with junior college experience. Larson swam for Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif., where she competed in sprint freestyle events. In her two years at OCC, the Placentia, Calif. native helped the Pirates to a California Community College Athletic Association Championship in 2010 and a third-place finish at the championship in 2009. Larson has recorded personal records in the 50-yard (24.61) and 100-yard (54.23) freestyle events.
What Coach Richmond says: "Melanie is extremely coachable and passionate about the sport. Plus, the training program at OCC is very similar to ours, so she'll have a big advantage coming in next year."
Katelyn Lawson
Estero, Fla.
HS: Estero High School
Club: Gulf Coast Swim Team
Katelyn Lawson is a team captain from Estero High School, where she holds three relay records. Lawson represented her high school in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle races at the 2010 Florida High School State Championship. The Estero, Fla. native has etched her name in the Gulf Coast Swim Team's record books, too. Lawson appears on the team's top-ten fastest times list 18 times, including second-place rankings in the 1,000-yard and 1,650-yard freestyle events. She swam the 200-yard, 500-yard, 1,650-yard and 400-yard relay freestyle races at the 2009 Junior National Championships. Lawson's top-times come in the 200-yard (1:54.03), 500-yard (5:00.59) and 1,650-yard (17:11.77) freestyle events.
What Coach Richmond says: "With Katelyn, one word comes to mind: leadership. She is going to excel at the collegiate level, but she is going to give back to the program far more than just being an outstanding athlete. She's excited about being part of our Wolf Pack family, and she has a lot of passion for Nevada swimming."
Natalie Wong
Pleasanton, Calif.
HS: Amador Valley High School
Club: Livermore Aqua Cowboys Club
Natalie Wong hails from Pleasanton, Calif., near the San Francisco Bay Area. Wong was a sectional qualifier for the Livermore Aqua Cowboys Club, where she is the 2010-11 team captain. The Aqua Cowboys honored Wong with the 2009 Leadership Award. Wong's other honors include a 2010 National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association All-American nod in the 400-yard freestyle relay, and Pacific Swimming Western Zone All-Star Team selections in 2006 and 2008. The Amador Valley High School senior qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation North Coast Championship to help her team to a sixth-place team finish. Wong has recorded top times in the 100-yard freestyle (52.39) and 100-yard (59.46) and 200-yard (2:09.78) butterfly events.
What Coach Richmond says: "Natalie is just a great individual. She works hard and has an outstanding attitude. She has as much potential as any athlete on our roster, so I am extremely excited for her career at Nevada."
