Seattle University men’s swimming head coach Craig Nisgor has announced that five student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent during the April signing period to attend the University and join the Redhawk swim program starting in the 2014-15 academic year.
“We are really excited with the class that will be joining us next year. They are a great group with a tremendous amount of potential. We have seen quite a bit of that already with their time drops, state championships and national qualifying times,” said Nisgor. “All of them are a great fit for Seattle University and our team, and we know they believe in the direction that we are going and are looking forward to being a part of it.”
Jack Baldoni (Applegate, Calif.) is a Scholastic All-American performer graduating from Colfax High School. A four-time all-league honoree, Baldoni has participated in the sectional finals all four years of his high school swimming career. In May, he achieved a senior national cut time in the 100 butterfly. Baldoni was also a linebacker and defensive captain on the Falcon varsity football team and is a member of the Alpha Omega Society within his high school.
Morgan Montemayor (Seattle, Wash.) finished in second place in the 100 backstroke during the recent Washington 3A state championships as he represented Chief Sealth High School, earning a senior national cut in the event. A two-time qualifier for the state championship meet, Montemayor was a captain of the Seahawk varsity swim team. He also competed for the King Aquatic Club for the past four years, qualifying for the Junior Nationals in the 100 backstroke.
“Jack and Morgan have already made their senior national qualifying times and are coming in with times that are scoring in the conference. We know they will just continue to keep on improving,” said Nisgor.
Julian Morales (Phoenix, Ariz.) is graduating from Sunnyslope High School. Originally from Mexico, Morales competed for the Phoenix Swim Club for one-and-a-half years, earning a title at the senior state short course championships and finishing in the top ten at the sectional meet. He is interested either in working in physical therapy or becoming a strength and conditioning coach.
Ben Nussbaum (Issaquah, Wash.) was part of the Issaquah High School quartet that won the 200 medley relay with a state record time at the Washington 4A state championships, capping a season in which they also won the district and conference titles while setting records at both levels. That performance added All-American consideration to Nussbaum’s already crowded resume of honors, which included three all-conference awards as well as all-state in his senior season. He is a multi-record holder for the Issaquah Swim Team, reaching the Western Zone meet in 2012.
“Ben and Julian had great years, and every time they hit the water they would keep on improving on their times,” added Nisgor.
Will Wertz (Richland, Wash.) won the Washington state title in the 200 freestyle this past winter and holds six school records at Hanford High School. A four-time all-conference honoree, Wertz has been named team MVP in four straight seasons and conference MVP in the last two years. Wertz, the younger brother of Joe Wertz, the co-holder of Seattle U’s 100 backstroke record, has swum for the Tri-City Channel Cats for 11 years, reaching the senior sectional finals in 2013 and the junior national finals in 2014.
“Will won a state championship in the 200 free and then followed that up at Junior Nationals with one of the fastest 50 free times for someone ever to come in with at Seattle U,” Nisgor said.
The Seattle University men’s swim team set four new school records during the 2013-14 season and finished seventh at the 2014 Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships.