Seattle University men's swimming coach Craig Nisgor announced Friday that three swimmers - Alec Banard of Everett, Wash., Michael Cox of Maple Valley, Wash., and Connor Webb of Hood River, Ore. - signed National Letters of Intent during the November signing period and will swim for the Redhawks starting in the 2013-14 school year.
"Overall we have signed a very strong early class," said Nisgor. "With two junior national qualifiers, we know that we are moving in the right direction. All three will contribute immediately, and we are excited to have them joining us next year as they will definitely fill some of the holes that we lose to graduation this year. They will be great additions in all aspects to our team and the University community next year."
Banard swam for the Archbishop Murphy men's swim team for four years, making it to the state championships each year. In 2012, he set the 2A state meet record in the 100 butterfly at 51.21 seconds for his second consecutive title in the discipline. He also has state championships in the 200 freestyle and 400 free relay, as well as a second-place finish in the 200 free, third place in the 100 fly, and fourth in the 200 free relay. He is also a member of the Bellevue Club Swim Team and swam at Junior Nationals in the summer of 2012.
"Alec has been swimming really well and had great drops this past summer. He qualified for Junior Nationals in the 100 butterfly in a time that would be third all-time in Seattle University history. His current times in the 200 butterfly and 200 freestyle also rank in the all-time top 10. Alec also has strong sprinting skills which will help out on all of our relays," said Nisgor.
Cox has swum for four years at Tahoma High School, claiming four school records while swimming for the Bears. He holds top times in the 100 fly, 100 free, 200 medley relay, and 400 freestyle relay, he placed fourth in the 4A state championships in 2012, and he was named Team MVP 2009-2012 as well. In addition, Cox is a member of the Issaquah Swim Team, breaking 12 of the club's short and long course records and tallying a handful of top-10 finishes in club championship meets.
"Michael has experienced some great time drops over the past two years and we know that he will only continue to get better. He is strong in the sprint and butterfly events, and he will contribute to our depth in both of those areas," Nisgor said.
Webb swam on the Hood River Vally High School men's swim team for four years, specializing in the breaststroke and the individual medley. He has made a state finals race three years so far in his career, and he was named a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American in 2012 and Oregon Swimming Top 5 2008-2012 in addition to a January 2012 Hood River Valley High School Athlete of the Month award. He also swims on the Hood River Valley Swim Team, having been a member of the club since 2004. With the club, he qualified for Junior Nationals in 2011 and 2012 and won the state championship in the 200 breaststroke in 2010. He was the club's Most Inspirational Athlete in 2011-12 as well.
"Connor is a junior national qualifier in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke. He had a great long course season last year and we are excited to watch his short course season this year. We know he will add great depth to our breaststroke as he has already done times that rank in the all-time top 10. In addition he will also help the team in the individual medley events," said Nisgor.
The Seattle University men's swim team is maintaining its competitive edge with a winter break training session in Arizona. The Redhawks next compete Friday, Jan. 11, against Pacific Lutheran starting at 6 p.m. at the Connolly Center Pool, with the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships set to take place Feb. 20-23 in Long Beach, Calif.