Dec. 1, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina's aquatics program has added eight recruits in the early signing period, which ended November 19, 2008. Head coach Rich DeSelm announced the signing of four women's swimmers, two men's swimmers and two men's divers who will enroll at the University in August 2009. All eight swimmers signed National Letters of Intent during the past week.

WOMEN'S SIGNEES

Rebecca Brooks
•Hometown: Rochester Hills, Mich.
•High School: Rochester Adams
•Club: Oakland Live Y'ers
•Club Coach: Coach Jeff Cooper
•Honors & Highlights
1. Three-time State Meet High Point Winner in the State of Michigan
2. Championship Finalist at the U.S. Swimming Junior National Championships
3. 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 100-Meter Backstroke
•Planned Major: Accounting
•Short Course Career Bests: 56.64 in 100-yard backstroke; 2:02.14 in 200-yard backstroke; 51.75 in 100-yard freestyle
•Long Course Career Bests: 1:04.45 in 100-meter backstroke; 2:21.31 in 200-meter backstroke; 58.70 in 100-meter freestyle.
•Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "Rebecca is a great person who, on her recruiting trip, immediately connected with UNC and our team. She is rapidly improving and will help us immediately. Her coach at OLY, Jeff Cooper, is a great coach who has had many swimmers go on to outstanding collegiate careers. Rebecca has all the tools to have a major impact during her career at UNC."
•Rebecca Brooks Says: "I already knew the University of North Carolina was great academically and was thrilled to find amazing team unity and friendliness on my visit. The coaching staff has such a positive energy it is easy to see myself being successful in the program. I can't wait to begin my career at UNC and am excited to see what I can achieve with Coach DeSelm."

Amber Leiker
•Hometown: Huntersville, N.C.
•High School: Hopewell
•Club: Mecklenburg Aquatic Club
•Club Coach: Coach David Marsh
•Honors & Highlights
1. Member of 2007-2008 U.S. Swimming National Junior Team
2. 2007 Scholastic All-America Selection
3. 2008 Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 200-Meter Butterfly
4. Two-event North Carolina state champion
5. 15-16 age group N.C. state record holder in 200 fly
•Short Course Career Bests: 55.78 in 100-yard butterfly; 2:01.57 in 200-yard butterfly; 1:51.20 in 200-yard freestyle
•Long Course Career Bests: 1:02.38 in 100-meter butterfly; 2:15.26 in 200-meter butterfly; 58.33 in 100-meter freestyle; 2:04.96 in 200-meter freestyle
•Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "It is great to have Amber join us at UNC and stay in state to attend UNC. Amber has some high goals for her academics and UNC offers her a great opportunity to pursue those. An Olympic Trials qualifier, she is rapidly improving and will join a strong group of fliers already in our program. Amber has a great college swimming career ahead of her and, training under Coach David Marsh at MAC, will continue to develop before enrolling at UNC next fall."
•Amber Leiker Says: "I chose UNC because it is a team on the rise to be one of the nation's best and has an amazing academic reputation. I love the coaches and I just felt at home while on my visit there."

Lauren Schmittle
•Hometown: York, Pa.
•High School: York Suburban
•Club: West Shore YMCA
•Club Coach: Mike Gobrecht
•Honors & Highlights
1. 2008 Pennsylvania High School State Champion in 100 and 200 freestyle
2. Four-time Pennsylvania All-State team member
3. Holds high school record in the 100 and 200 freestyle
4. USA Swimming Academic All-America team
•Planned Major: Biomedical Engineering
•Short Course Career Bests: 23.80 in 50-yard freestyle; 51.18 in 100-yard freestyle; 1:51.85 in 200-yard freestyle
•Long Course Career Bests: 28.01 in 50-meter freestyle. 1:00.32 in 100-meter freestyle; 2:13.69 in 200-meter freestyle
•Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "Lauren is a terrific student and rapidly improving swimmer. She has a tremendous future ahead of her and should thrive in college. Another great student, Lauren is a tremendous example of the term student-athlete. Swimming at West Shore YMCA with Mike Gobrecht, she will continue to improve and come to UNC well prepared for college swimming."
•Lauren Schmittle Says: "I signed with UNC because I know it has a great academic and athletic reputation. It's a program where I'll be pushed and challenged, so I know I can really improve there. Also, the team and coaches were a lot of fun so I know I'll enjoy swimming with everyone."

Carly Smith
•Hometown: Chapel Hill, N.C.
•High School: Chapel Hill
•Club: North Carolina Aquatic Club
•Club Coach: Ryan Woodruff
•Highlights & Honors:
1. Member of 2007-2008 National Junior Team
2. Three-Time State High School Champion in the 100-yard backstroke; state record holder in the event; member of 2007-08 state high school championship team
3. High School All-America in the 100-yard backstroke
4. Southeastern Senior Section record holder in 200 backstroke
•Short Course Career Bests: 54.64 in 100-yard backstroke, 1:57.70 in 200-yard backstroke; 4:28.82 in 400-yard individual medley
•Long Course Career Bests: 1:03.75 in 100-meter backstroke; 2:18.09 in 200-meter backstroke
•Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "We have known Carly for years since she trains with Coach Ryan Woodruff and our local club team, NCAC. It is great to have another local product chose to stay home and join us at UNC. Carly is a talented swimmer who should thrive in the excitement of college swimming. Carly can become one of the best backstrokers in UNC history."
•Carly Smith Says: "I chose Carolina because of the great people, great education, and great swimming program. Coach DeSelm and his staff have a vision for the program that fell right in line with my goals. I am looking forward in helping a program that I have grown up with continue to be the best."

MEN'S SIGNEES

Will Colbert
•Hometown: Mequon, Wis.
•High School: University School of Milwaukee
•Cub: Schroeder YMCA
•Club Coach: David Anderson
•Planned Major: Business
•Short Course Career Bests: 57.06 in 100-yard breaststroke; 2:07.93 in 200-yard breaststroke; 21.93 in 50-yard freestyle
•Long Course Career Bests: 1:03.30 in 100-meter breaststroke; 2:37.09 in 200-meter breaststroke
•Highlights & Honors:
1. Second-place finisher at 2008 Summer Junior Nationals in 100-meter breaststroke
2. 2008 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100-meter breaststroke
3. Member of 2008-09 U.S.S. National Junior Team
4. Fastest 100-meter breaststroke time in Wisconsin swimming history
5. Swam on winning 400 medley relay at 2008 Junior Nationals; relay set national age group record by 4 seconds
6. Finished second in 100 breaststroke and swam on four winning relays at 2008 YMCA Nationals; swam on one winning relay at 2007 YMCA Nationals
7. Wisconsin 4A state champion in 100 breaststroke as a sophomore
•Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "Will is one of the fastest improving breaststrokers in the country. He is tall, has explosive power and is a strong freestyle sprinter as well. He will join teammates Victor Leclere and Steve Cebertowicz from Dave Anderson's Schroeder YMCA team. Will can make an immediate impact and we are excited to have someone with his ability coming to UNC!"
•Will Colbert Says: "I chose UNC because it is a place that I look forward to being part of for a lifetime. Though the academics are great and the campus is beautiful, it was the tight-knit and dedicated team of student athletes that made my decision incredibly clear. I look forward to the next four years and beyond as I join the Carolina legacy."

Ryland Jones
•Hometown: Chapel Hill, N.C.
•Club: North Carolina Aquatic Club
•Highlights & Honors
1. Multiple Junior National Qualifier
2. Qualified for 2008 Senior Nationals
3. Three-time High School All-America
•Diving Coach Kevin Lawrence Says: "We were very fortunate to sign Ryland Jones and Jake Finzbach. Both of these divers will have an immediate impact on the diving boards. Beyond their ability to contribute immediately, they are outstanding people. They have the type of character and integrity that we search for while recruiting the best divers across the country. The essence of the swimming and diving program is bringing in incredible young men and women with character and heart and once again, we hit a home run. I'm excited that these two young men will be representing the University of North Carolina over the next four years. We are very fortunate to have them become Tar Heels."
•Ryland Jones Says: "I signed a National Letter of Intent to dive with UNC for many different reasons. I wanted to go to a school that had outstanding academics and UNC is consistently ranked very high academically. UNC has a highly competitive NCAA Division I swimming and diving program and I wanted to be a part of that. Along with a great program, the diving coach at UNC has an excellent track record, as recently evidenced by the development of Ryan Funderburk into an All-America. I am confident that Coach Lawrence can help me continue to improve my diving as well. It was important to me to find team members that made me feel welcome and were good people. Each of the team members I have met during my recruiting trips were quality people I would be happy to have as teammates and friends. In addition, the strong academic support infrastructure available to UNC student-athletes was a heavily influential aspect. Lastly, I have been a fan of UNC and have had a strong interest in attending Carolina since I moved to Chapel Hill in 2001.

Jake Kinzbach
•Hometown: Houston Texas
•Club: The Woodlands
•Highlights & Honors
1. Multiple Junior National Finalist
2. 2007 & 2008 Senior National Qualifier
3. Three-time High School All-America
•Diving Coach Kevin Lawrence Says: "We were very fortunate to sign Ryland Jones and Jake Finzbach. Both of these divers will have an immediate impact on the diving boards. Beyond their ability to contribute immediately, they are outstanding people. They have the type of character and integrity that we search for while recruiting the best divers across the country. The essence of the swimming and diving program is bringing in incredible young men and women with character and heart and once again, we hit a home run. I'm excited that these two young men will be representing the University of North Carolina over the next four years. We are very fortunate to have them become Tar Heels."
•Jake Kinzbach Says: "I decided to sign with UNC for many reasons. The school has a stellar reputation, the area is great and the team is fantastic. I felt so at home when I came on my visit and coach Lawrence is the best."

Tom Luchsinger
•Hometown: Mt. Sinai, N.Y.
•High School: Mt. Sinai
•Club: Three Village Swim Club
•Club Coach: Barry Roffer
•Highlights & Honors
1. USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team
2. Ranked 2nd in U.S. in 200-meter butterfly among high school men
3. USA Swimming Junior National Team Member in 2008-09
4. 2008 Pan Pacific Games Team Member, competing in Guam
5. 2007 & 2008 New York state champion in 200-yard freestyle; 2008 All-America in 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke; 2007 All-America in 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle
6. Finished 24th in 2008 Olympic Trials in the 200-meter butterfly
7. USA Swimming Junior National Team Member in 2007-08
8. 2007 International Youth Games Team Member, competing in Mexico
•Planned Major: Education
•Short Course Career Bests: 1:39.38 in 200-yard freestyle; 1:49.58 in 200-yard backstroke; 1:49.89 in 200-yard butterfly
•Long Course Career Bests: 1:55.59 in 200-meter freestyle; 4:05.57 in 400-meter freestyle; 57.06 in 100-meter butterfly; 2:00.99 in 200-meter butterfly
•Coach Rich DeSelm Says: "Early in the recruiting process, we felt Tom was a perfect fit for UNC. He has developed into one of the best fliers in this years' recruiting class and is versatile. He has a great freestyle and backstroke. He comes from Three Village Swim Club. Barry Rofer, his coach there, does a great job developing his club swimmers and preparing them for college."
•Tom Luchsinger Says: ""I choose UNC because from the moment I stepped on campus, I felt like a member of the team. The coaches were welcoming, and their philosophy and goals matched my own. In every aspect it was a perfect fit. I know that having a degree from UNC will open doors professionally for me in the future."