Aug. 23, 2010

PHILADELPHIA - The Swimming and Diving program recently announced that 15 swimmers and divers will continue their careers at La Salle during the 2010-11 season.

On the men's side freshmen Cameron Cabrera, Nick Caruso, Dave Derr, Greg Fischer, Robert Freeling, Robby Gravel, Sean McCall, Matthew Nickerson and Tyler Reiker will join the team, along with graduate student Charlie Zettel. The women's team will welcome Megan Baylis, Courtney Gress, Shauna Hannings, Katie Snee and transfer Jessica Simunek.

Cabrera broke school records in the 200 free, 100 fly and 100 back while competing for the Westminster Christian School in Miami, Fla. During his senior season, he finished 6th in the 100 free and 7th in the 50-free at the state championship meet and was named a 2009-10 Miami Herald All-Miami Dade County First Team selection.

Caruso notched an All-American time as part of the silver medal 200 medley relay team at the Nebraska State Swimming and Diving Championships. A four-time All-City team selection and Junior Nationals qualifier, Caruso also took home gold in the 100 back at the state championship meet his junior year.

Gravel is coming off a successful senior season at Scarborough High School in Maine where he won the 200 IM and 100 breast and was part of the first-place 200 free relay at the State Class A Championships.

Swimming for Emmaus High School, Fischer is a member of the district and state record-holding 200 medley relay squad and helped the team to three district championships during his time there.

McCall broke seven school records during his high school career at Gloucester Catholic in New Jersey and was the State High School Swimming champion in the 500 free in 2009. Also a member of the Greater Philadelphia Aquatic Club team, McCall received All-State, All-South Jersey and All-Conference accolades.

Zettel joins the Explorers after a successful swimming career at Pittsburgh, where he twice helped the Panthers to a third place finish in the Big East. While swimming at Conestoga High School, Zettel was the 200 IM Central League champion and a state qualifier. Zettel will finish out his athletic eligibly at La Salle while pursuing an MBA.

Freeling, Nickerson and Reiker will be diving for the squad. Freeling, a top 15 finisher at the 2010 Boys' PIAA Championships for McDowell High School in Erie, Pa., also won the District 10 1-meter dive championships three times. Nickerson was a district finalist in both his junior and senior seasons while competing for Central Bucks South High School. Reiker, who attended Milton Hershey High School, finished second at the 2010 District 3-AA Diving Championship and then went on to place 13th at States.

For the women, Baylis comes to La Salle after finaling at states in the 100 breast and 200 IM all four years while swimming at Newtown High School in Connecticut.

Snee will swim the free at La Salle and is coming off a senior season at James M. Coughlin High School in Pa. where she placed sixth in the 50 free at the PA State Championships. She finished seventh in the same event at the 2009 State Championships and holds four school records.

Simunek transferred to La Salle after swimming one season at Rutgers where she finaled in the 100 fly and 100 and 200 breast at the Big East Championships. At Cherry Hill East High School, Simunek earned All-American honors in the 100 fly and 100 breast and was a four-time team MVP.

Gress and Hannings will be diving for the squad. Gress notched a sixth place finished at the 2010 PIAA State Diving Championships while competing for Dover Area High School. Hannings, a 15th place finisher at the 2010 PIAA State Diving Championships, competed for North Penn High School and was named to All-League, All-District and Honorable Mention All-State teams.

The Explorers kick off their 2010-11 campaign Oct. 22 at Villanova.