June 22, 2012
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The East Carolina men's and women's swimming and diving team received nine commitments during the late signing period for its 2012-13 recruiting class. The Pirates inked six male and three female student-athletes for the upcoming season.
Justinas Bilis, Alex Clark, Tyler Goulden, Shawn Hunter, Austin Taylor and Nathan Walters will join the men's team, while Alexandra Doonis, Susan Justis and Sara Morgan Pou are set to join the women's team.
Bilis is a native of Lithuania and member of the country's national team. He is a two-time European Junior Swimming Championship finalist and is expected to compete in the backstroke and sprint freestyle events.
Clark earned the gold medal on the 1-meter springboard and platform at the 2010 Future Champions Invitational. He also earned a ninth-place finish on the 1-meter springboard at the 2012 Indiana High School Athletic Association Championships.
Goulden is a two-time high school state champion from Maine as well as a two-time Class A Diver-of-the-Year. He also qualified for the 2012 National AAU Junior Olympic Championships.
Hunter was the 2011 and '12 North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3A champion in the 100 freestyle. He also captured the gold medal in the 200 IM at the 2012 state championships.
Taylor is expected to compete in the breaststroke and IM events. He was a junior national qualifier and senior sectional qualifier.
Walters is transferring to ECU after spending his freshman season at UNC Wilmington, where he ranks among the school's all-time top-10 in the 500 and 1650 freestyle. As a student at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, he captured eight state titles.
Doonis was the 2012 National Catholic High School champion in the 100 freestyle and the Virginia state gold medalist in the 50 freestyle. She was also four-year all-state performer.
Justis was an All-Richmond Metro Area selection in the 100 and 200 backstroke and a National Swim Club Association (NCSA) finalist in both events. She was a member of the 2011 NCSA Junior National Champion 800 freestyle relay team.
Pou, a local product from J.H. Rose High School, was a Scholastic All-American and junior national qualifier. She finished fifth in the 200 IM at the 2012 state high school championships.
The Pirates signed 13 student-athletes during the fall period to bring its total recruiting class members to 22. A brief biographical sketch on all 22 members of the 2012 signing class is below:
Lauren Baker
Hometown/Previous School: Midlothian, Va./Cosby
Club: Quest
Events: Butterfly/Middle Distance Freestyle
Notable: Speedo Sectional qualifier, NCSA and USA Swimming Junior National qualifier
Coaches Thoughts: "Lauren is a very talented, well-rounded swimmer from the Richmond area. We are excited about her joining our program and see a very bright future for her as a Pirate."
Justinas Bilis
Hometown/High School: Panevezys, Lithuania/Panevezio "Zemynos" Secondary School
Club: Lake Plaukime Kartu
Event Specialty: Backstroke/Sprint Free
Notable: Lithuanian National Team member, Two-time European Junior Swimming Championship finalist
Coaches Thoughts: "Justinas should have an immediate impact on the team. His pure speed will be a tremendous asset to the team's relays, and he should compete for the top spot in the backstroke and sprint freestyle events."
Alex Clark
Hometown/High School: Elkhart, Ind./Northridge
Club: Lake Starz Diving
Events: Diving
Notable: Earned two gold medals at the 2010 Future Champions Invitational, Placed ninth at the 2012 IHSAA Championships
Coaches Thoughts: "Alex is a quality young diver with big meet experience. He will help set a foundation for our diving program in coach Ryan Hunt's first season."
Macon Crowder
Hometown/High School: Zebulon, N.C./East Wake
Club: Lake YMCA of the Triangle Area (YOTA)
Events: Middle Distance Freestyle
Notable: Two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, Multi-event NCSA Junior National Qualifier and YMCA National Qualifier
Coaches Thoughts: "Macon is a good swimmer, with a lot of potential. The YOTA program in Raleigh is producing some very fast swimmers, and we look forward to having Macon on our team."
Julien Dodu
Hometown: Oshawa, Ontario/East Dale C.V.I.
Club: Ajax Aquatic Club
Events: Freestyle/IM
Notable: Canadian Olympic trials qualifier, Canada Cup qualifier
Coaches Thoughts: "Julien was a major piece of our recruiting puzzle on the men's side. We are looking for him to fill a need for us next season in the distance freestyle and IM events."
Alex Doonis
Hometown/Previous School: Nokesville, Va./Seton
Club: Curl Burke
Events: Sprint Freestyle
Notable: 2012 National Catholic High School champion in the 100 free, 2012 Virginia state champion in the 50 free
Coaches Thoughts: "Alex will be a nice addition to our sprint group. We think she has a good upside and will help us in not only her events but relays as well."
Michael Dugan
Hometown/High School: Marietta, Ga./Marietta
Club: Stingrays
Events: Middle Distance Freestyle
Notable: USA Swimming Senior Sectional finalist and relay medalist, Georgia High School state championship finalist
Coaches Thoughts: "We are very excited about Michael joining the program. We anticipate him playing a large role in the success of our freestyle group."
Delaney Fox
Hometown/Previous School: Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett
Club: Delaware Swim Team
Events: Distance Freestyle/IM
Notable: Three-time Pennsylvania High School championship qualifier
Coaches Thoughts: "Delaney has the potential to be a significant scorer in the middle distance freestyle and IM events for us next dual meet season. She could be one to watch out for the next few years."
Tyler Goulden
Hometown/High School: Arundel, Maine/Thornton Academy
Club: Southern Maine Diving
Events: Diving
Notable: Two-time state champion, Junior Olympic National Championship qualifier
Coaches Thoughts: "We are very excited to add Tyler to the diving group. His abilities and talent will add depth and competition on a daily basis."
Shawn Hunter
Hometown/High School: Wilson, N.C./Hunt
Club: Wilson Barracudas
Events: Sprint Freestyle/IM
Notable: Three-time state champion, USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
Coaches Thoughts: "Shawn is a kid with a ton of potential and versatility. He should only improve as his career progresses."
Trevor Irish
Hometown/High School: College Park, Md./DeMatha Catholic High School
Club: Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club
Events: Sprint Freestyle
Notable: Multi-event NCSA Junior National qualifier, Holds three high school records
Coaches Thoughts: "Trevor has shown good improvement this season. We look forward to watching his sprinting abilities continue to progress, and are intrigued by the potential he has to become a major part of our sprint group."
Alexandra Jones
Hometown/Previous School: St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast
Club: St. Petersburg Aquatics
Events: Backstroke/Freestyle/IM
Notable: NCSA Junior National qualifier, USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
Coaches Thoughts: "Alexandra is someone who seems to get faster every time she hits the water. She has a lot of versatility and can swim a number of different events very well. We are expecting her to be a significant scorer for us throughout the year."
Susan Justis
Hometown/High School: Chesterfield, Va./Cosby
Club: St. Petersburg Aquatics
Events: Backstroke/Freestyle/IM
Notable: Two-time all-metro selection in two backstroke events, Member of the 2011 NSCA 800 free relay championship team
Coaches Thoughts: "Susan has the ability to take her swimming to the next level. Her times coming in put her at or near the top of the depth chart, and she has the potential to set school records as a freshman."
Cara Leeney
Hometown/High School: Munster, Ind./Munster
Club: Starz
Events: Diving
Notable: Finished among the top-20 at the 2012 state championships, Two-time regional and sectional finalist
Coaches Thoughts: "Cara has a ton of potential, and we are looking forward to seeing that potential come to the surface next season."
Cara Leeney
Hometown/High School: Munster, Ind./Munster
Club: Starz
Events: Diving
Notable: Finished among the top-20 at the 2012 state championships, Two-time regional and sectional finalist
Coaches Thoughts: "Cara has a ton of potential, and we are looking forward to seeing that potential come to the surface next season."
Caitlin Mehaffey
Hometown/High School: Clyde, N.C./Tuscola
Club: Smokey Mountain Aquatic Club
Events: Butterfly
Notable: USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, All-confernece performer, High school record holder
Coaches Thoughts: "We are excited to have Caitlin follow in her brother's footsteps and join the ECU swimming family. Caitlin will be a nice addition to a talented and deep group of butterfly swimmers."
Bailie Monahan
Hometown/High School: Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge
Club: Stingrays
Events: Butterfly
Notable: USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, NSCA and USA Swimming Junior National qualifier, YMCA National finalist
Coaches Thoughts: "We are excited about adding Bailie to this class. We expect her to come in and compete for our top spot in the 100 Butterfly as a freshman, and add depth in other events. She should have an immediate impact on the Pirate relays next season as well."
Sara Morgan Pou
Hometown/High School: Greenville, N.C./J.H. Rose
Club: Greenville Swim Club
Events: IM
Notable: USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, Junior National qualifier
Coaches Thoughts: "Sara Morgan is one of Greenville's own. She has shown flashes of her potential throughout her high school career. We are looking for her to come in and commit to getting faster."
Sean Piacente
Hometown/High School: New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South
Club: West Point Diving Club
Events: Diving
Notable: Three-time state championship qualifier, 2011 USA Diving Summer Junior Region II Championship qualifier
Coaches Thoughts: "Sean is a very talented diver who should challenge our returners for the top spot on the depth chart next season."
Megan Sellers
Hometown/High School: Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley
Club: Maverick Swim Club
Events: Breaststroke
Notable: Four-year finalist at the Illinois High School Association championships ... Earned All-American and all-state honors each season
Coaches Thoughts: "We have a need to replace some very talented breaststroke swimmers next season. Megan has shown the in-season consistency and speed we are looking for and we expect big things from her in the fall."
Austin Taylor
Hometown/High School: Columbia, Md./Atholon
Club: Eagle Swim Team
Events: Breaststroke/IM
Notable: Senior Sectional finalist, Junior National qualifier
Coaches Thoughts: "Austin joins a young group of breaststrokers. He will have the opportunity to train with the best in ECU history, and develop into a significant contributor for us in both the breaststroke and IM events."
Nathan Walters
Hometown/Previous School: Raleigh, N.C./UNC Wilmington
Club: YMCA of the Triangle Area
Events: Middle Distance/Distance Freestyle
Notable: Three-time YMCA National Champion, 2010-11 Cardinal Gibbons High School Male Athlete-of-the-Year
Coaches Thoughts: "We are looking forward to adding Nathan to our roster. While we were unable to sign him out of high school, his decision to join us following his first year at UNCW is exciting. He is a good middle distance/distance swimmer and should definitely help us this season."
Jillian Williams
Hometown/High School: East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids
Events: Diving
Notable: All-American and all-state performer, Member of two state championship teams
Coaches Thoughts: "Jillian is one of Michigan's best high school divers; we are looking forward to adding her talents to our diving group next season."
