Five Sign To MSU Women's Swimming And Diving
11/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Nov. 29, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The women's swimming and diving program recently announced that five student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and swimming careers at Michigan State. Those suiting up as a Spartan in 2006 include: Jenny Korn (Grand Rapids, Mich./East), Emma Schaefer (West Bloomfield, Mich./Lahser), Erinn Wertz, (Rockford, Mich.), Laura DeFord (Bay City, Mich./John Glenn) and Nicki Golen (Alphretta, Ga./Chatahoochee).
"We are thrilled with the kids we signed and we think they are going to be great additions to our program," stated head coach Matt Gianiodis. "They are real Spartans-good students, hard workers and kids with no illusions about what our program is about. We still have a lot of work to do for the spring; we have a lot of events to fill with the departure of eight seniors."
A high school All-American, Jenny Korn was State runner-up in the 100 freestyle and the 200 freestyle in 2005.
"Jenny comes from a Green and White family," Gianiodis commented. "Her uncle was a Big Ten champion here at MSU and she has come to our camp. She is a good person and she can be a great swimmer. She'll help with all of our relays."
Emma Schaefer has a strong background in club swimming. Schaefer should be able to adapt well to Michigan State, contributing in several events.
"Emma swims for Oakland Live Y'ers, a great club with a great coach in Jeff Cooper. She has good background to handle training at the Big Ten level. She also has good versatility and she will be able to swim multiple events. We look forward to her swimming the IM events."
A 2005 State finalist in the 50 and 100 freestyle, Erinn Wertz will look to fill voids due to a strong graduating class in the sprint events.
"Erinn is a great kid and we feel like she is going to provide some real depth in our sprint freestyle events."
Also a State finalist, Laura DeFord primarily swims the 200 and 500 freestyle events.
"Laura is a hard worker and good competitor. She has improved a lot in the last year and we look forward to having her swim in our distance group."
Nicki Golen also has a strong background in club swimming and is the lone out-of-state swimmer of the group.
"Nicki swims for Swim Atlanta, a solid club in Georgia. She is a very solid trainer and she will provide us some good depth in the butterflys and distance events."
"In all it is a very good beginning, along with a few committed walk-ons we are off to a good start," Gianiodis added. "We do have a lot of work to still do in the spring. Hopefully we'll sign a few more dedicated student-athletes."