Fresno State Athletics
Swimming Inks Seven in Early Signing Period
12/21/2000 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 21, 2000
FRESNO,Calif. - With seven seniors graduating, Fresno State will add seven signed recruits for the fall 2001 season, the largest class in recent hisory.
"We worked hard to sign these girls and we are very proud of this incoming class," head coach Daniella Irle said. "They are the future school record holders and national qualifiers of this program. They will be charged with upholding our great traditions of swimming fast, being exceptional role models and being great students."
Two of the class will be coming from out of state. Ashleigh Raley from Austin, Texas, and Katie Haney from Bend, Ore. Raley is a diver who was recruited by Big 10 and Pac 10 programs. Haney is a distance and mid. freestyle swimmer who is coming off a huge of year improvements.
"These two girls are really amazing," Irle said. "Ashleigh will halep our young diving program planted in the WAC and Katie is one of the best kept secrets in Division I recruiting."
The 'Dogs will add two to the strong core of backstrokers. Kim Hitch from LaCrescenta, Calif., and Carolyn Wigginton from Carmichael, Calif. Both swimmers are rebuilding and are returning their top form of the past.
Topping off the class will be Tawne Fishback from Glandale, Stacy Brock from Manteca, and Jennifer Palmberg from Simi Valley. Palmberg is a freestyle sprinter that Irle expects to be a heavy hitter for the 'Dogs in the future. Fishback will be expected to take the number one spot in the butterfly sprint which will be left vacant by a graduating senior. Brock was recruited by a number of Division I programs and work to add punch to the breaststroke.
"Tawne is the fastest sprint flyer to every sign with our program," Irle said. "Stacy was critical in filling in the breaststroke with us losin two good swimmers. We got lucky with Jennifer. She is going to be a national level sprinter."
With the seven swimmers that the already small team will lose to graduation, the large signing class is critical, but the job is not over. Irle and her assistants will need to continue working around the clock for recruits to sign in the next period.
Although Irle is excited about the class for next year, she is still a little preoccupied with the current season. The 'Dogs hold a 5-1 dual meet record with six meets in the next month. In two months, Fresno State will face the WAC championships in San Antonio, Texas. Next up for the 'Dogs will be a road trip to the U.C. Irvine Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 6.
