Nov. 21, 2005

College Park, Md. - Maryland head coach Dave Durden announced today that Annie Broome, Patricia DeScenza, Andrea Lehner, Nina Rossi and Jennifer Vogel have signed National Letters of Intent to swim for the Terrapins beginning the fall of 2006.

"Having started here at the end of August, we are extremely pleased about the level of athlete we are bringing into our program for the fall of 2006," said Durden. "Not only will these athletes have an immediate impact on our program from a performance standpoint, but all of these young women are high-character people, further advancing what we are looking to establish here at Maryland for years to come."

Annie Broome will join the Terrapins after completing a successful swimming career at Bearden High in Knoxville, Tenn., where she won the 100-yard butterfly and was the 100 freestyle runner-up at the 2005 state championships. Broome said she choose Maryland because "it has a great facility, beautiful campus, and an awesome business school. I like the vision Coach Durden has for the swim program and it is something I want to be a part of."

At the Pilot Aquatic Club, Broome swam under Gardner Howland and qualified for U.S. Senior Nationals in the 100 and 200 fly. "Annie comes from a great swimming and family environment. Her personality is infectious," said Durden. "I look for Annie to make an immediate impact on our team through her performance and the energy level she will bring to the pool deck on a daily basis."

Patricia DeScenza will join the Terps in the fall. DeScenza, who is coached by Bill Schalz at the Academy Bullets Swim Club in Naperville, Ill., is also a national qualifier in the 100 and 200 fly and qualified for the 2004 Olympic Trials in the 200 fly. "Maryland has everything I am looking for in a college; a high-spirited team, very skilled coaches, state of the art facilities, high-ranked academics, and an amazing location. I feel that the combination of these things will help me to become the best swimmer and student I can be," said DeScenza.

The Rosary High senior is a member of Mu Alpha Theta and the National Latin Society. "We are looking forward to working with one of Bill's pupils in Patty. She is a dynamic and tough individual as one must be to swim the 200 fly," said Durden. "Patty is another athlete who will make people better just through her personality and willingness to excel."

Andrea Lehner has also signed to swim with the Terps after competing for Art Aungst at Orchard High in Orchard Park, N.Y. The New York State record holder in the 200 medley relay also won a state crown in the 500 free in 2003, and was the runner-up in the 100 backstroke in 2004. "Andrea comes from a great technical foundation. Having swum under Art's tutelage, I know she is cognitively aware of everything she is doing in the water. Andrea also has the athletic versatility to compete and excel in multiple events," said Durden. "We are excited to welcome her to our environment."

Nina Rossi will join the Terps after a successful career at Eastern Express coached by Jeff Lowe and Brent Matheson. Rossi, a native of Princeton, N.J., is a national qualifier in the 100 fly. She choose Maryland because "the campus is beautiful, and the coaching staff and team are extremely nice."

"We are looking forward to having Nina's toughness and versatility in our environment. Nina has great range competitively, and is obviously coming from a great club foundation. Nina will certainly impact our program immediately in helping elevate our team at the NCAA level," said Durden.

Jen Vogel rounds out the recruiting class. Vogel, a member of the South Shore YMCA team in Hingham, Mass., is a U.S. Open and national qualifier. The Notre Dame Academy senior's primary events are the 100 and 200 fly, and the 200 and 400 IM. "Jen is a fabulous addition to our program. As an athlete pursuing a degree in engineering, I already have a natural inclination toward working with her. We are excited that she chose Maryland as the environment for her to pursue her academic and athletic endeavors," said Durden.

"We certainly signed one of the top butterfly classes in the nation," said Durden. "These young women will continually push each other to help elevate this program at the NCAA level. This class, added to our returning All-American in the 100 fly, junior Gigi deToll, will certainly establish our program as a great environment for butterfliers. Add Andrea's versatility and we get better very quickly in moving this program forward."