Women's swimming looking to increase team depth.

May 7, 1999

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina women's swimming and diving program has announced an outstanding recruiting class for freshmen who will enroll in the fall of 1999. The group includes several student-athletes who have signed national letters of intent as well as a large group of recruited non-scholarship student-athletes.

"We are very pleased with this glass of outstanding young women," says North Carolina head swimming coach Frank R. Comfort. "We were particularly focused on improving our diving situation this year and we signed three outstanding young divers. And with the large senior class we had, we were also focused on increasing our numbers and making us a stronger women's swimming team overall. I feel we accomplished most of our goals in that area."

North Carolina finished the 1998-99 season with a 7-4-1 overall record. The Tar Heels finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship and 20th in the NCAA Championship.

The Incoming Tar Heel Women's Swimming and Diving Recruits Are As Follows:

Ashley Benner - Moultrie, Ga. - Diver.

Beth Colacurcio - Rocky River, Ohio - Swims for Lake Shore Swim Club - Best Times - 24.24 in 50-yard freestyle.

Laura Collier - Brentwood, Tenn. - Swims for Nashville Aquatic Club - Best Times - 1:59.91 in 200-yard backstroke; 4:27.38 in 400-yard individual medley; 58.01 in 100-yard backstroke.

Molly Freedman - Washington, D.C. - Swims for Curl Burke Swim Club - 1998 U.S. National Champion in 200-Meter Butterfly.

Jenny Goodman - Cary, N.C. - Diver.

Leigh Sanders - Morgantown, W.Va. - Swims for Mountaineer Aquatic Club - Best Times - 4:53.00 in 500-yard freestyle; 9:54.09 in 1000-yard freestyle; 16:34.84 in 1650-yard freestyle; 4:23.44 in 400-yard individual medley; 2:03.37 in 200-yard backstroke.

Katie Scoggins - Raleigh, N.C. - Swims for Tar Heel Aqua Racers - Best Times - 52.66 in 100-yard freestyle; 1:52.89 in 200-yard freestyle; 5:01.64 in 500-yard freestyle.

Danley Stone - Cary, N.C. - Swims for Tar Heel Aqua Racers - Best Times - 4:59.12 in 500-yard freestyle; 17:08.37 in 1650-yard freestyle.

Janna Turner - Raleigh, N.C. - Swims for Tar Heel Aqua Racers - Best Times - 1:05.21 in 100-yard breaststroke; 2:21.87 in 200-yard breaststroke; 4:27.10 in 400-yard individual medley; 57.82 in 100-yard backstroke; Sister of UNC Junior, Jonah Turner.

Christy Watkins - Winter Springs, Fla. - Swims for Trinity Aquatic Club - National Independent High School Record Holder in the 100-Yard Backstroke--Best Times - 54.69 in 100-yard backstroke; 23.72 in 50-yard freestyle; 51.13 in 100-yard freestyle; 2:00.88 in 200-yard backstroke; 55.46 in 100-yard butterfly; 2:02.57 in 200-yard individual medley.

Marjorie Witter - Madison, Wis. - Swims for Madison Aquatic Club - Best Times - 1:55.24 in 200-yard freestyle.

Valerie Rogers - Somerville, N.J. - Diver.