Swimming and Diving Inks Six
November 30, 2004 | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 30, 2004
The University of Louisville swimming and diving team have signed six athletes to continue their athletic careers as Cardinals. Ashley Jackson of Lawrence, Kan.; Abby Miller of Pomona, Calif.; Elizabeth O'Sullivan of Manchester. Mo.; Leslie Van Winkle of Evansville, Ind.; Jennifer Schimenti of Marietta, Ga.; and Stephanie Sylvester of Huntsville, Ala. have all signed letters of intent according to Arthur Albiero, U of L head coach.
"We are thrilled with the caliber of this class not only in the pool but because of their overall goals and aspirations, " said Albiero. "This group did their homework and completed the whole process of visiting many schools and felt Louisville was the best environment for them. They bring competitive experience and a great enthusiasm for the sport. We look forward to watching them grow along with the program."
Ashley Jackson swims freestyle and butterfly for Free State High School and Coach Jim Crady. She is also a member of the Lawrence Aquahawks where she swims for Coach Mike Soderling.
"Ashley has a reputation of being a great racer and has leadership potential, said Albiero.
She was the 2003 Kansas State Champion in the 200-free and is a solid distance freestyler.
"I chose to sign with the University of Louisville because the team made me feel right at home and I know I can be comfortable with them and make them my new family. Also the surroundings of the school and the city were absolutely amazing and I would change nothing about them," said Jackson.
Abby Miller of Pomona, Calif. swims the individual medley for the highly regarded Industry Hills Swim Club and Coach Rick Shipperd.
"Abby comes from a great club background and her impact on the team will be immediate. Her work ethic in both the pool and classroom and her versatility of strokes will create many opportunities for her to contribute to our team goals," said Albiero. "She has great goals and aspirations and within our team setting this will be a great partnership."
Miller achieved Olympic Trial qualifying times in the 400-IM in August of 2004.
"I chose to sign with the University of Louisville because the Louisville swim team is a family that I want to be a part of," said Miller. "I share common goals with the team and will take pride in representing U of L next year. The coaches and swimmers inspire me to do great things both in and out of the pool. I am so excited about becoming a member of the Louisville family."
Elizabeth O'Sullivan is a diver from Manchester, Mo. where she competes for Parkway South High School for Bobby Wolf and the Lightning Diving Club for coach Amy Gosney.
"Elizabeth is young in the sport of diving but her determination to succeed in the sport of diving will be a great catalyst to her college career," said Albiero.
Jennifer Schimenti swims the freestyle, butter fly and individual medley for Lassiter High School in Marietta, Ga. She is also a member of the Marietta Marlins Swim Club for Coach Yit Aun Lim.
"Jenny was a Georgia State High School Finalist," said Albiero. "She is a versatile swimmer who swims a solid freestyle, butterfly and is an IMer too. She is passionate about swimming and collegiate swimming will be a great stage for her. "
"I chose to sign with U of L because I believe it is a growing program that I want to be a part of," said Schimenti.
Stephanie Sylvester swims freestyle and butterfly for Huntsville High School for Coach Lee Farless and the Huntsville (Ala.) Swim Association for Coach Brooke Pate.
"She comes from a highly respected club and will add great depth in the freestyle and butterfly. Her bubbly personality is a good fit for the Cardinal family."
She was top eight state championships in the in 100-free, 200-free and 50-free.
"I chose to swim for U of L because of the superior academics and the state of the art facilities which will be available to the swim team for training and competition," said Sylvester. "I followed Arthur Albiero to Louisville from Alabama where I met him when I was younger. He and his staff have a unique opportunity."
Leslie Van Winkle swims for William Henry Harrison High School for Coach Erin Jankowski in Evansville, Ind.
"Leslie brings great speed and versatility, she has been a proven top competitor at the Indiana State High School Meets. She comes in with dreams and aspirations and our team and academic environment will be a great match for her," said Albiero.
Van Winkle was a USS /YMCA Club swimmer with the Newburgh Sea Creatures for Coach John Hart. She was the state champion in the 100-breast as a freshman and was second in the 200-IM and third in the 100-free in the high school state meet as a junior.
She was a Junior National Participant and a Senior National Qualifier and USA Open Qualifier as well.
"I felt right at home with the entire team immediatly. The coaches are great, the program is on the move, and Coach Albiero is so dedicated to have a winning team,"said Van Winkle. "They're building a new pool and the coach has a great history of building swimmers. It is a program on the rise."
