Swimming & Diving Signs Six to National Letters of Intent
12/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Dec. 1, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State swimming and diving head coach Matt Gianiodis has announced the signing of a total of six student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The two men - Rob McGowan (Beverly Hills, Mich.) and Kyle Workman (Palos Hills, Ill.) - and four women - Rebecca Berman (Novi, Mich.), Shelby Lacy (Holland, Mich.), Alison Menzies (Pfafftown, N.C.) and Hannah Pugh (Macomb, Mich.) - will enroll at MSU in the fall of 2011.
"It's a small class, but it is a really good class," said Gianiodis. "We still have some work to do in the springtime. By and large, the most exciting thing for me was that each of these kids made their decisions after they visited MSU. They were all very impress with our team, our team environment and Michigan State in general. No one was sold on being a Spartan until they each visited, and I think the whole package sold them all on being here."
Rob McGowan
McGowan will arrive at MSU from nearby Beverly Hills, Mich., where he will graduate from Birmingham Groves High School. McGowan, the younger brother to current Spartan Nick McGowan, swam with the Birmingham `Y' Blue Dolphins clubs squad. Most Recently, McGowan placed second at the 2010 Michigan High School state meet in the 200 yard freestyle, third in the 100 yard freestyle and was a member of the winning 400 yard freestyle relay squad. McGowan also competed at the 2010 YMCA Short Course National meet.
Gianiodis on McGowan: "We know the family real well because of his brother, Nick. We feel he is a legitimate Big Ten kid and is going to be a good sprinter here. He is going to be a good student here, too, so we are pretty happy with that."
Kyle Workman
Workman will come to MSU from Palos Hills, Ill., where he will graduate from Palos Hills High School. Workman was also a member of the Hickory Willow Swim Association club team. At the 2009 Illinois High School state meet, Workman placed seventh in the 100 yard butterfly. Workman also posted a U.S. Open cut in the 100-meter freestyle in the spring of 2010.
Gianiodis on Workman: "Kyle is definitely good Michigan State type kid, flying a little below the radar. I look for him to have a good senior season, and come here and be a very versatile member of this team over four years."
Rebecca Berman
Berman hails from Novi, Mich., where she attends Novi High School and swims as a member of the Novi Sturgeons swim club. At the 2010 Michigan High School state meet, Berman placed seventh in the 500 yard freestyle. Berman finished first in the 1500 meter freestyle at the 2010 Michigan Long Course State Championships.
Gianiodis on Berman: "Rebecca is a very hard worker. She is definitely a Michigan State fan from a MSU family. She is going to add versatility next year, swimming a number of different events. We are pretty excited to welcome her next year."
Shelby Lacy
Lacy will graduate from West Ottawa High School in Holland, Mich. Lacy also swam as a member of the Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics swim club. At the 2010 Michigan High School state championships, Lacy placed first in the 100 yard breaststroke in a new Division I state record time. She was also fourth in the 200 yard IM this year. Lacy was ninth in the 100 yard breaststroke at the 2009 Short Course Junior Nationals. Lacy most recently qualified for the Senior Nationals.
Gianiodis on Lacy: "Shelby is definitely one of the biggest female recruits that we have had out of the state of Michigan in a long time. She is a state record holder and a very versatile kid. She has accolades not only at the high school level, but also at the U.S. swimming level with her swims last year at junior nationals in California. She really is going to do well here."
Alison Menzies
Menzies attends Ronald W. Regan High School in Pfafftown, N.C. Menzies also competes as a member of the Tar Heel Diving Club in Chapel Hill, N.C. Menzies won both the 2008 and 2009 3-A North Carolina High School state diving championships on the one-meter board.
Eric Best on Lacy: "Alison has been coming to my diving camp for the past three years. She is a great kid. Every time she came here for camp she would walk out of her having made incredible improvements after the week. She is very talented and is another former gymnast, which we tendency to have here. She is a very dedicated diver as she has to drive several hours each week to train as there is no board within several hours of her hometown. She is also a very good student."
Hannah Pugh
Pugh arrives at Michigan State from Macomb, Mich. Pugh swam at Macomb Dakota High School and as a member of the Macomb YMCA Marlins club team. Pugh placed fifth in the 500 yard freestyle at the 2010 Michigan High School state championships. She was also sixth in the 100 yard breaststroke at the event this fall. Pugh also competed in both the 2009 and 2010 YMCA Short Course National meets.
Gianiodis on Pugh: "Coached by a former athlete at MSU, Heather Mull, Hannah is another kid who brings a number of different events and versatility to the team next year. We are pretty happy about her as well."
Players Mentioned
