Dec. 8, 2011

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina swimming and diving program inked five men and eight women during the early signing period, announced by head coach Rick Kobe on Thursday afternoon.

Lauren Baker (Midlothian, Va.), Macon Crowder (Zebulon, N.C.), Julien Dodu (Oshawa, Ontario), Michael Dugan (Marietta, Ga.), Delaney Fox (Kennett Square, Pa.), Trevor Irish (College Park, Md.), Alexandra Jones (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Cara Leeney (Munster, Ind.), Caitlin Mehaffey (Clyde, N.C.), Bailie Monahan (Stafford, Va.), Sean Piacente (New City, N.Y.), Megan Sellers (Aurora, Ill.), Jillian Williams (East Grand Rapids, Mich.) all signed national letters-of-intent last week.

"All of these swimmers and divers will help us next year and the coaching staff has done a great job in getting these recruits," said Kobe. "All of these athletes are a great addition to the team."

Baker, a senior at Cosby High School, is a freestyle and butterfly swimmer who qualified for sectionals in eight events, including five freestyle races. She is a National Club Swimming Association (NCSA) Junior National Qualifier in three events as well as a USA Junior National Qualifier in the 200 fly.

Crowder competes in middle distance freestyle and backstroke events as a senior at East Wake High School in Wendell, N.C. A multi-event NCSA Junior National Qualifier and YMCA National Qualifier, he is also a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.

Dodu is middle distance freestyle competitor from Oshawa, Ontario. He is a former Canadian Olympic Trials participant and Canada Cup qualifier.

Dugan, a senior Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga., is a Georgia state individual finalist and relay medalist. Heis expected to compete in the sprint and middle distance freestyle events at ECU.

Fox, a resident of Kennett Square, Pa., is expected to compete in the 200 free and 200 IM for the Pirates. She is a two-time Pennsylvania High School Championship Qualifier.

Irish attends DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md. He is NCSA Junior Qualifier in the 50, 100 and 200 free. He helped his 400 freestyle relay team to a fifth-place finish at junior nationals.

Jones, a native of St. Petersburg, Fla., attends Northeast High School. She is a NCSA Junior National Qualifier, Southern Sectional Finalist and Scholastic All-American. She holds the school record in the 200 IM (2:04.69) and is a four-year Florida High School Championship Finalist.

Leeney is a senior diver at Munster High School in Munster, Ind. She tallied a third-place finish at the conference championships during her junior season and finished fourth at the sectional championships. She was also the recipient of the team's Most Improved Award.

Mehaffey, the younger sister of former ECU swimmer Hunter Mehaffey, is regarded as one of the top butterfly swimmers in the state. She is an all-conference performer, school record holder, zone qualifier and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. Monahan, a native of Stafford, Va., is currently a senior at Colonial Forge High School. She was a finalist in four events at the 2011 YMCA National Championships and recorded four top-10 finished at the Virginia State AAA High School Championships the past two seasons. She is a multi-event NCSA Junior National Qualifier and holds 23 individual team records.

Piacante is a diver from New City, N.Y. During his prep career he has qualified for the New York State Championships and the 2009 USA Diving Spring Junior East Championships.

Sellers, a native of Aurora, Ill., is a senior at Metea High School. He is a four-time finalist in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Illinois High School Championships, which included a second-place finish last season. He is also a four-time All-American and three-time NCSA Junior National Qualifier.

Williams is an All-American diver from Grand Rapids, Mich. She helped East Grand Rapids High School to a state championship. She earned a third-place finish on the one-meter board at the 2011 state championships.

The Pirates will return to competition after the New Year as ECU faces New York University on Jan. 5 in Jupiter, Fla.

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