Nov. 21, 2006
Roger Dent (Long Island, N.Y.), Michael Gray (Owings, Md.) and Matt Gruszecki (Harleysville, Pa.) have each signed National Letters of Intent committing to Maryland for next season. They join Nick Cordes (Cedar Falls, IA), Andy Mears (Sterling, Va.), Haywood Miller (Bethesda, Md.), Eric Moore (Acworth, GA), Myles Poster (Queensbury, N.Y.) and Chris Sanford (Westerville, Ohio) as the 2007-08 recruiting class. On this group of recruits as a whole, head coach Dave Durden says, "We are extremely excited and pleased to have this group of men at this level join our program for the fall. We addressed a lot needs by adding this group to our program. I feel as though that we not only signed great athletes, but also great people. This group will be such a great asset to our program not only for next year, but for the coming years of Maryland swimming."
Nick Cordes:
Nick Cordes (Cedar Falls, IA) is a 2006 Iowa State champion in the 50-yard freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. Cordes competed at the Junior National Championships in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle and the 100 meter backstroke this past August finishing second in the 50 free with a senior national time standard of 23.58 LCM. Nick's career bests include: 50 free (20.55), 100 free (45.48), 100 back (50.28) and 100 fly (50.28).
Coach Durden on Cordes: "With Nick being the second fastest sprint freestyler in the nation, his impact on our program will be immediate. Our staff's short term goal was to redefine our sprint program to one that is consistent with success at the national level. Throughout this process, Nick has understood that goal and it is the big reason why he selected Maryland as the place for him to go after his dreams in this sport. With Nick Lakin's continued guidance, Nick will be set up for a great senior year."
Roger Dent:
Roger Dent (Long Island, N.Y.) is a Junior National Qualifier in 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter individual medley, and 200-meter butterfly. Dent is also the record holder in the 400-meter IM at the Eastern Zone Long Course Meter Championship Meet with a time of 4:38.59. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was an honor roll and Excellence of Character Award Recipient his sophomore and junior years at Kellenberg Memorial High School.
Dent currently swims for the Long Island Aquatic Club in the 400-meter IM (best time 4:38.59), in the 200-meter IM (best time 2:11.74), 200-meter fly (best time 2:09.59), 100-meter fly (best time 58.71), 200-meter breaststroke (best time 2:33.04), and 100-meter breaststroke (best time 1:10.33). Dent says he chose Maryland because, "During my visit to the campus, I realized Maryland was a school that offered both an excellent academic reputation and a strong, dynamic swim program. I am especially excited to work with the swim coaches and hope to contribute to the team's future success in a big way."
Coach Durden on Dent: "Roger has made some tremendous strides over the past couple of seasons and being under the tutelage of Dave Ferris at LIAC, he will make continued improvements this season. Roger's versatility is a wonderful asset in the collegiate environment. From the breaststrokes to the flys to the IMs, Roger adds a lot to our environment right off the bat."
Michael Gray:
Michael Gray (Owings, Md.) was named the TYR Age Group Swimmer of the Month by Swimming World Magazine in August 2006. He placed first in the 100-yard backstroke, third in the 50 freestyle, and fourth in the 100 free at the 2006 Speedo Eastern Zone Southern Regional meet at the Naval Academy. Gray was also named an All-Met Honorable Mention, Washington Post Southern Maryland Extra Swimmer of the Year, All-Conference First Team, and All-County First Team. In addition, Gray holds six out of eight high school records (50, 100, 200 freestyles, 100 fly, 100 back, 200 IM) at Northern High School where he was an All-Academic Second Team his sophomore and junior years.
Gray currently swims for Erik Collins at Maverick Swim Club in Largo, Maryland. He swims the 50 free (best time 21.45), 100 free (best time 47.46), 100 back (best time 52.26). On his commitment to Maryland Gray says, "I chose Maryland because it is close to home, it has a great engineering program, and Dave Durden wants to bring the Maryland men's program to the top of the ACC."
Coach Durden on Gray: "Watching Michael improve over the past year and talking with his club coach Erik Collins, I am excited to have Michael in our program starting next year. He is just coming into his own as an athlete. Also, with Michael being one of the top swimmers in Maryland, we are excited to keep him close to home."
Matt Gruszecki:
Matt Gruszecki (Harleysville, Pa.) was a member of the state-title winning team in the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays as a freshman. Gruszecki was elected the state MVP ("Mr. Waterpolo") as a senior. He was also a first team All-American in water polo as a senior and a second team All-American in water polo as a junior. He will graduate from Souderton Area High School in the spring. Gruszecki is a sprint freestyler and swims the 50 free (best time 20.90, split 20.40) and the 100 Free (best time 46.20, split 46.10). On his decision to be a Terp, Gruszecki says, "Maryland is a great academic school and it has an amazing coaching staff."
Coach Durden on Gruszecki: "Matt brings a lot of athleticism to our program in competing in both water polo and swimming during his high school career. He has great speed and we look forward to how Matt will impact our sprint events. He has the ability to impact our sprint relays immediately, so we are excited to welcome him to our program."
Andy Mears:
Andy Mears (Sterling, Va.) is a Virginia All-American State champion in the 100-yard freestyle and a NCSA Junior National finalist in the 200 free. He will graduate from Potomac Falls High School and currently swims for Curl Burke Swim Club. His primary events and career bests include: 50 free (21.97), 100 free (47.1), 200 free (1.42.03), and 500 free (4.38.13). Mears says that he chose Maryland because "The coaches captivated me with the idea that Maryland is building up their swim team, and that is something that I very much want to be a part of. Fear the turtle!"
Coach Durden on Mears: "Andy comes from a solid club environment in Curl Burke under the direction of John Flanagan. As a coach, this foundation will translate to a great college career for Andy and we look forward to working with him come next fall. Andy is another athlete that has great range in his events that will impact our team on many levels."
Haywood Miller
Haywood Miller (Bethesda, Md.) is a two-time All-Metro Honorable Mention, two-time All-Gazette Honorable Mention, and All-Gazette First Team. He will graduate from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School where he is an honor student and recipient of the Cum Laude Award on the National Latin Exam. He currently swims for the Aqua Hoya Swim Club in the 100-yard breaststroke (best time 59.50), 200 breast (best time 2:08.20), 200 individual medley (best time 1:56.00), 400 IM (best time 4:11.00), 500 freestyle (best time 4:49.00), and 1000 free (best time 9:44.00). Miller decided on Maryland "because I thought it was the best fit for me and it is a big-time school."
Coach Durden on Miller: "Anytime we can sign a real good swimmer with great character from the state of Maryland, we jump at the chance. And we have found such a swimmer with Haywood. His versatility and range is wonderful and we look to continue the work that Jon Rogers (Aqua Hoya Swim Club) has started with Haywood. Haywood is going to have an immediate impact Haywood on our program in multiple events."
Eric Moore:
Eric Moore (Acworth, GA) is a third-place finisher at the Junior National Championship in the 200 freestyle LCM and was named to the Junior National All-Star Team. Moore holds one national age group record and 14 Georgia state age group records. He has been ranked in the nation's top 16 a total of 28 times and was notched the number one ranking six times. In addition, he was the Georgia High School State champion in the 100 butterfly as a freshman, his only year of high school swimming. Moore will graduate from Harrison High School this May as a Georgia Hope Scholar. He is currently coached by Ian Goss at Stingrays Swimming in the 100 free (best time 46.78), 200 free (best time 1:40.67), 500 Free (best time 4:35.53), and 100 Fly (best time 50.35) On his decision to be a Terp, Moore says, "I chose Maryland because the team and the coaches are all looking to move the program forward."
Coach Durden on Moore: "Eric is a great story. After having a fantastic 2005 summer season, he has had a bit of hard luck with a couple of injuries over the past year. Both Eric and Ian Goss (Eric's club coach) are itching to get going in training to have a monster year. Eric possesses such great range in the freestyle events as well as having a stout 100 fly, we can't wait to get him up here in the fall."
Myles Poster:
Myles Poster (Queensbury, N.Y.) is an eight-time YMCA All-American, a third-place finisher in the 200-yard butterfly at the 2006 YMCA Long Course Nationals, a nine-time YMCA New York State Champion, and a Junior National Qualifier in the 200 fly. He is an honor roll student at Queensbury High School and currently swims for the Glens Fall YMCA Gators. His primary events and top times include: 200 fly (2:09.20 LCM, 1:55.49SCY), 200 backstroke (2:11.89 LCM), and 100 fly (58.74 LCM). On his decision to come to Maryland, Poster says, "I chose Maryland becauseof the excellent academic reputation along with the chance to work with what I believe is one of the best up-and-coming coaching staffs in the country."
Coach Durden on Poster: "We have just been excited to recruit Myles over the past couple of months. Myles has competed at our Epply Natatorium here on campus many times, so this is a homecoming of sorts for him. We look to continue the improvements that Myles has made in his swimming over the past couple of years specifically in the butterfly events."
Chris Sanford:
Chris Sanford (Westerville, Ohio) is a four-time All-American and Junior National Qualifier. Sanford placed fifth in the 100-yard backstroke and was a member of the fourth place 200 medley relay team at the 2006 Ohio High School State Championships. Sanford will graduate from The Columbus Academy in the spring. Currently he swims for the New Albany Aquatic Club in the 100 back (best time 51.81), 200 back (best time 1:52.79) and 100 butterfly (best time 53.64). On his decision to come to Maryland, Sanford says, "I chose Maryland because of the great coaching staff and facilities."
Coach Durden on Sanford: "Chris is a great addition to our program plus it keeps our Ohio connection alive and well (both Chris Rouchard and Cindy Gangloff are Ohioans). He will immediately impact our backstroke core and we are excited to watch him progress in his senior year. He comes from a great program in New Albany Aquatic Club and we look forward to begin to work with him next fall."
