Spartan Swimming and Diving Announces Six Signees
11/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Nov. 26, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State swimming head coach Matt Gianiodis announced Wednesday (Nov. 26) the signing of six high school student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The six new Spartans that will make their debuts for the Green and White next season include: Lauren Baisden (Exton, Pa.), Josh Geschwendt (Holland, Mich.), Jacob Jarzen (Jacksonville, Ill.), Alexandra Pierce (Hendersonville, Tenn.), Jenny Rusch (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) and Kelsie Schooley (Holt, Mich.).
"We're really happy about this class and it's a great start for us. Most of the credit really has to go to our recruiting coordinator, Manny Noguchi. He has done an unbelievable job in terms of communicating and presenting Michigan State and all we have to offer."
Below is a breakdown of each signee in alphabetical order.
Lauren Baisden
Baisden currently swims for West Chester (Pa.) Henderson High School and head coach Jeff Bottt and is a three-time Idaho state champion in the 500 free. She is also the Idaho state record holder in the 200 freestyle. Baisden is a U.S. Open qualifier in the 200 butterfly.
"Lauren will be a real help for us," Gianiodis said. "She will be a good IM swimmer and she will really help us in our distance events."
Josh Geschwendt
Zeeland High School senior Josh Geschwendt placed third at last year's Michigan high school state finals in the 200 free and took fifth in the 100 fly. Geschwendt earned all-state accolades in water polo last year and has chosen to focus on swimming going forward.
"He can be a great Michigan State swimmer," Gianiodis said. "He has the skills to really develop well."
Jacob Jarzen
Jarzen, a Jacksonville, Ill., native, is the Illinois state champion in the 100 backstroke and is also a U.S. national qualifier in the 100-meter backstroke. He also placed fourth in the state last year in the 200-yard IM. Jarzen, who swims for head coach Jared Lamb at Jacksonville High School, will swim in the US Short Course Nationals in Atlanta, Ga., early next month.
"Jacob has the potential to be the best recruit we've had at MSU in 20 years," Gianiodis said. "He is just a great swimmer. He swims everything and will really help us in the relay events. We expect him to contribute right away."
Alexandra Pierce
A Hendersonville, Tenn., native, Pierce currently swims for the Nashville Aquatic Club and Hendersonville High School. She was an All-American in the 100-yard backstroke in 2007.
"Alex does a number of strokes very well," Gianiodis said. "She is a good backstroker and she does the IM well, and too. We're excited Alex is going to be a Spartan."
Jenny Rusch
Rusch is a senior at Grosse Pointe North High School where she swims for head coach Tom Mulhern. She finished third in last year's state finals in the 50 freestyle and also placed fifth in the 100 free. She also swims for Pointe Aquatics and Coach Michael O'Connor.
"Jenny has a great work ethic and will do really, really well here," said Gianiodis. "She was a state finalist in both the 50 and 100 free last year so she is a good swimmer."
Kelsie Schooley
Schooley is a two-time state champion in the 50 freestyle for coach Marty Pohl at Holt High School. Last season, she was named Girls Swimmer of the Year by the Lansing State Journal and earned All-America honors in the 50 freestyle.
"We are really familiar with Kelsie," said Gianiodis. "She has great potential and can come here and do really well. She's a good kid and a hard worker and I think she will thrive being so close to home."
