Women’s Swimming Signs Eight to Incoming Class
7/25/2011 11:20:00 AM | Women's Swimming
Millersville, Pa. – The Millersville women's swimming program and head coach Kyle Almoney has announced the incoming class of eight swimmers for the 2011-12 campaign. The eight freshmen are from up and down the East Coast, including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Georgia and Florida.
The high school graduates begin their student-athlete careers at Millersville this fall. The class includes: Amy Hinman of Corning East (N.Y.), Ashley Kichline of Souderton Area, Brigid Mary McDonnell of Marist (Ga.), Alison Medence of Hempfield, Abigail Moll of Governer Mifflin, Julia Price of Cardinal Gibbons (Fla.), Julianne Staskel of Archbishop Ryan and Emma Viets of Catonsville (Md.).
AMY HINMAN
Academic Interest: Elementary/Special Education
About Hinman: Hinman was a two-sport athlete at Corning East where she was a member of the softball and swim teams. She helped the swimming team to a STAC West Championship in her sophomore season and the softball team to a STAC West title in 2011. Her multi-sport athleticism helped earn her all-conference honors in both sports.
Almoney on Hinman
“Amy has the tools to be successful at the collegiate. Her work ethic and passion for the sport is what caught our attention. She also has a great team attitude and has a shot at being a key contributor on our relays teams.”
Hinman on Millersville
“I was looking for a school with a reputable education department and Millersville has exactly that. The campus is beautiful and I connected well with the girls on the swim team during my visit.”
ASHLEY KICHLINE
Academic Interest: Accounting
About Kichline: Kichline is a junior transfer from Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., where she swam for two years. She was also a three-sport athlete in high school competing in water polo, soccer and on the swim team at Souderton Area. She won four varsity letters.
Almoney on Kichline
“Ashley is a very strong addition to our program. She has a drive and passion for this sport that we really liked when we met her. Her versatility will help us out in the conference and in our relays as well.”
Kichline on Millersville
“I was actually helping my cousin pick out a school when I first came to Millersville. There was not one aspect that I did not like. The campus is beautiful, education is a fit and all the alumni that I talked with said they absolutely loved it. It was an easy decision.”
BRIGID MARY MCDONNELL
Academic Interest: Undecided
About McDonnell: McDonnell was a four-year letter winner at Marist and helped lead the swim team to four-straight Georgia AAAA State Championships. She was the state and sectional champion in the 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke and the 200 individual medley. She was a member of the school record setting 200-yard medley relay team. She served as the captain during her senior season. She was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-City First Team.
Almoney on McDonnell
“Brigid Mary is a tremendous addition to our program. She has the competitive drive and passion for the sport which is why she has had success in the pool. She is always looking to get better and at the same times wants to help this program get better which really speaks a lot about who she is as a person. She is very well rounded in all events and will help improve us in the conference and getting to NCAA Championships.”
McDonnell on Millersville
“When I visited Millersville I really liked the layout and feel of the campus. Millersville is a great public school that has several majors that I am interested in pursuing. I felt very welcomed by the team and after talking with coach Almoney, I knew I could see myself having a successful swimming career.”
ALISON MEDENCE
Academic Interest: Early Childhood Education
About Medence: Mendence won three varsity letters and was a two-time high point winner at Hempfield. She helped her team to four-straight Lancaster-Lebanon League titles and earned the coaches' award in her senior season. She is a relative of former Millersville track and field standout, Brendon Thomas.
Almoney on Medence
“Alison has a great work ethic and willingness to get better. She made some big time drops during her senior year which tells me that she still not hit her best times yet. Has a great personality and truly loves the sport of swimming.”
Medence on Millersville
“I was looking to stay close to home and chose Millersville because of its great education program.”
ABIGAIL MOLL
Mohnton/Governor Mifflin
Freestyle
Academic Interest: Early Education/Special Education
About Moll: Moll was a two-sport athlete at Governor Mifflin that competed in water polo and on the swim team. She was named all-league in the 500-yard freestyle.
Almoney on Moll
“Abby has a freestyle stroke that is build for distance swimming and has the drive to become better in the pool. She had an amazing high school district meet that really caught our attention and I really feel that she has only touched the surface of her potential. Great personality that I know will fit in well with our team here at Millersville.”
Moll on Millersville
“Millersville has a great academic reputation in its education department, which is what I plan to study and is a big reason why I chose to attend. The campus is also very welcoming and I felt comfortable on my visit.”
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons
Freestyle
Academic Interest: Criminology
About Price: Price competed in three sports while at Cardinal Gibbons, including cross country, track and field and swimming. She won three varsity letters. She placed first in the Florida Gulf Coast Central Divison 1650-yard freestyle race, while reaching the Florida 1A District 11 finals in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle races. She was a four-year honors student, who also spent her time in the community. Price donated her time to several charities including the Special Olympics and the March of Dimes.
Almoney on Price
“[Julia] comes to us only having swam 3 years and has made tremendous progress within that time period. She is still relatively raw when it comes to certain aspects of the sport however, with her competitive drive and passion for the sport, we feel she will catch on really quickly and have long term success with our program.”
Price on Millersville
“I chose to attend Millersville this coming fall because of the location of the school and how well I fit in with the team when I visited. The campus was beautiful and is a close distance from my family.”
JULIANNE STASKEL
Academic Interest: Undecided
About Staskel: Staskel competed in three events including the breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley at Archbishop Ryan. She was named to the All-Catholic League four years in a row. She helped her team win the PIAA District 12 title and Catholic League as a junior.
Almoney on Staskel
“[Juliane] is really raw with her talents and had some nice time drops her senior year which tells us that she could be a really nice swimmer down the road at the college level with some stroke refinement. She has a great attitude and will help us out in the breaststroke this year.”
Staskel on Millersville
“The first time I came to visit Millersville, I fell in love with the campus and knew I wanted to go there.”
EMMA VIETS
Catonsville, Md./Catonsville
Individual Medley
Academic Interest: Criminology/Sociology
About Viets: Vietz swam five different events during her career at Catonsville High School, including the freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley events.
Almoney on Viets
“[Emma] will help us improve in the backstroke and she shows promise in the 200's of strokes as well. She possesses some natural leadership qualities and a strong work ethic both in the classroom and pool deck. She will be a nice fit for this program.”
Viets on Millersville
“I decided to come to Millersville because the size of the school was perfect for me. I also felt the swimming program was a perfect fit for me after meeting the team on a visit.”
