Fresno State Athletics
Fleck Announces 2016-17 Signing Class
12/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
By Jason Kelm
jakelm@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State swimming and diving head coach Jeanne Fleck announced the signing of four student-athletes for the 2016-17 season on Friday.
The Bulldogs received National Letters of Intent from swimmers Manuela Mendolicchio (Bari, Italy), Emily Niles (Clovis, Calif.) and Claire Brooks (Salt Lake City, Utah), along with diver Serena Sedillo (Phoenix, Ariz.).
"This is a really great class for us," Fleck said. "We are still looking for a couple more swimmers to round us out, but I'm very pleased so far."
Manuela Mendolicchio (Bari, Italy)
Mendolicchio specializes in the breaststroke and won a silver medal at the Italian Nationals for the "Cadetti" category.
Her best times in long course meters and yards, respectively, are:
100m breast (2:30.65, 2:12.11)
200m breast (1:11.95, 1:03.01)
200m IM (2:22.12, 2:05.15)
"I'm so excited about this incredible new adventure in the NCAA and I can't wait to come to the U.S. to join the Bulldogs," Mendolicchio said. "I chose Fresno State because I was very impressed with what Coach Fleck is doing with the team and how they treat the athletes."
"Manuela is going to be a great addition to our program," Fleck said. "She will come in as a freshman poised to break school records in the breaststrokes. She is a great student-athlete who will do well both in and out of the pool."
Emily Niles (Clovis, Calif.)
Niles specializes in distance freestyles and was a California-Nevada sectional champion in the 800m free and the 1500m free with Junior National qualifying times.
Her best times in yards and long course meters, respectively, are:
500y/400m (4:56.21, 4:22.29)
1000y/800m (10:01.07, 8:58.29)
1650y/1500m (17:02.84, 17:12.16)
"Fresno State is a really great fit for me," Niles said. "I love the coaching staff and the team is amazing. It's somewhere I feel that I can really grow as an athlete, student and person. I'm very excited to be a Bulldog next year."
"I cannot say enough great things about Emily," Fleck said. "She is the first top recruit we have gotten from Clovis and she is going to be instrumental for our program. We are so happy she is going to be a part of the Bulldog family."
Claire Brooks (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Brooks specializes in sprint freestyles. She began swimming in Pennsylvania from age six through 2009. She then moved to Utah and began swimming for the Wasatch Front Fish Market club team.
She is a Utah state senior record holder in the 200 and 400 free relays, anchored the Utah 4A state record-breaking 200 free relay in 2014 as a sophomore, while also breaking the Utah 4A state record in the 400 free relay. As a junior in 2015, Brooks placed second in the 50 and 100 free at the Utah 4A state meet. She has also helped lead Skyline High School to three state swimming titles and is currently a team captain.
Her best times include:
50 free (24.2 seconds)
100 free (52.4 seconds)
"We fell in love with Claire when she came to visit," Fleck said. "She fits in with our program and will help us out in the sprint freestyles. Her coach from Salt Lake, Ron Lockwood, swam at Fresno State, so I'm sure that helped in her decision to sign as a Bulldog."
Serena Sedillo (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Sedillo is a diver coming from Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, Ariz.
"Serena is going to help give us so much depth on all three boards in diving," Fleck said. "We are excited to have her talent join our program."
"Serena has only been diving for a couple years, but is already showing that she has immense potential to be one of the best in the Mountain West and even at the national level," Fresno State head diving coach Taryn Patrick said. "She is going to contribute a lot to our team."
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