Dec. 2, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head coach John Hargis is proud to announce the early signing of nine swimmers to join the men's swimming team. Luke Bushman, Greg Daniele, Dustin Folio, Jeff Gomez, Jamie Grennan, Ben Hengals, Graham Riley, Wade Satanik and Ted Walker will begin their Nittany Lion careers as freshmen next fall.
"This immediate impact class will bring in a lot of talent, much needed depth and is going to help reestablish a new direction for Penn State men's swimming," said head coach John Hargis.
Hailing from Green Bay, Wis., Bushman is expected to make an immediate impact at Penn State. He is a two-time Wisconsin Senior Male Swimmer of the Year and a Junior and Senior USA Swimming National Qualifier. He holds state records in the 400 IM, the 1000 freestyle and the 800 freestyle. In the past three years he has accumulated 15 Wisconsin State Championships with a combination of sprint and distance events. An excellent student, Bushman was named a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American for 2008.
TOP TIMES
500 Free - 4:30.32
1650 Free - 15:34.94
200 Back - 1:49.77
200 Fly - 1:48.79
400 IM - 4:00.22
Greg Daniele will provide depth in sprint freestyle and butterfly. Daniele was third in the 100 fly at the 2008 YMCA Short Course Nationals and ninth in the 100 free at Long Course Nationals. From Middletown, N.J., Daniele will be looked upon to fill relay spots for the Nittany Lions as well.
TOP TIMES
100 Fly - 49.63
100 Free - 45.69
Folio will join the Nittany Lions as a sprinter specializing in the freestyle and backstroke. This local talent is a five-time PIAA District IV champion, a five-time YMCA district champion and a YMCA state champion. Folio also holds the PIAA District IV record and the YMCA state record in the 200 free, as well as five team records with Selinsgrove Area High School. Additionally, he is a High School All-American in the 200 free and 100 back.
TOP TIMES
200 Free - 1:41.00
100 Back - 51.68
200 Back - 1:52.74
Gomez is a versatile swimmer who is expected to provide more depth in backstroke and relay events. The Morristown, N.J. native holds team records in the 100 back, the 200 IM, the 500 free and the 400 free relay. As a junior, he earned All-America accolades in the 100 back. With the Cougar Aquatic Team, he claimed first place in the 200 back and third place in the 100 back at the N.J. Junior Olympics, and went on to Junior Nationals in the same events.
TOP TIMES
100 Back - 51.68
200 Back - 1:50.24
Grennan is primarily a freestyle sprinter. Coming out of Milford, Pa., he claimed the 2008 state championship in the 50 free, and went on to take third place in the 100 free. He holds district records in the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free relay, while also holding stake in Delaware Valley High records in the 200 medley, 200 free and 400 free relays in addition to the 50 and 100 free, the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke.
TOP TIMES
50 Free - 20.67
100 Free - 46.33
Hengels specializes in middle distance and holds Glenbrook South records in the 500 free and 200 IM. The Glenbrook, Ill. native is one of the top swimmers in the state as he has been named to the All-State team every year since he was a freshman. Last year, he claimed third place in both the 500 free and 200 IM events at the state championships. In addition, he has been named an All-American in the 500 free and 200 IM. He is the team captain of the swimming team as well as the water polo team where he has earned a second All-America nod.
TOP TIMES
500 Free - 4:30.93
200 IM - 1:53.18
Risley joins Hengels from Illinois and will provide an immediate impact in the sprint fly, free, and backstroke events. He owns several high school records at Brookfield and was a top eight finalist at Junior Nationals. From Riverside, Risley owns five U.S. Open cuts and will be instrumental in Nittany Lion relays for many years to come.
TOP TIMES
100 Free - 45.80
200 Free - 1:40.23
100 Back - 51.27
200 Back - 1:51.65
100 Fly - 49.94
Satanik specializes in the backstroke and IM events. Hailing from Easton, Pa., he holds team records in the 100 back and 200 IM. He has claimed PIAA silver medals in those same events and later went on to earn All-America honors. In his time with the Atlantic Aquatic Club he competed at Junior Nationals in the 200 and 400 IM, and the 100 and 200 back. Satanik swam the 100 back in the open division at Senior Nationals.
TOP TIMES
100 Back - 51.20
200 IM - 1:53.69
Another dual sport athlete, Walker rounds out the Nittany Lions class of 2013 as a freestyle specialist and will be a third generation Nittany Lion. He has earned four varsity letters for swimming and three for water polo at LaSalle College High School in Philadelphia. He has led the team to three Philadelphia Catholic League Championships placing first in 11 events. At the Eastern Championships in 2008, he finished in the top five in the 200 free relay, the 400 free relay, and the 100 and 200 free. In addition, he is a seven-time All-American with six relay honors and one in the 100 freestyle.
TOP TIMES
100 Back - 51.20
200 IM - 1:53.69
The Nittany Lions will continue their 2008-09 campaign at the Ohio State Invitational this Friday through Sunday while the divers will head to Piscataway, N.J. for the Rutgers Diving Invitational.