John’s Hopkins Announces Class of 2007 Recruiting List
BALTIMORE, MD, June 6. JOHNS Hopkins men's and women's swimming coach George Kennedy announced Thursday that 13 incoming freshmen will join the Blue Jays' swimming teams in the fall and comprise the Class of 2007.
The women's class, which includes five swimmers, is headed by Ashley Devonshire (Pittsburgh, PA), a sprint freestyler who should contribute to the Hopkins program immediately. Devonshire, who will vie for a top spot in each of the four sprint relays, was the WPIAL champion in the 100 freestyle and was a finalist at the Pennsylvania State High School Championships this year.
Allie Foster (Pennington, NJ) swims the breaststroke and individual medley and comes from the Hamilton, NJ YMCA. Foster was a finalist at the National YMCA Championships, and comes to Hopkins with top times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke.
Ariana Reks (Fayetteville, NY) is a sprint and middle distance freestyler who will bring a great work ethic to the JHU program. Reks, who was a New York State Finalist in the 200 freestyle, will compete for the top spot on the team in both the 100 and 200 freestyle and will also compete in the 100 butterfly.
Kelly Robinson (Holden, MA) is a versatile swimmer who comes to Hopkins with top times in the 100 and 200 butterfly. Robinson, whose brother Kyle is a rising senior on the men's team, will be a top contender for freestyle relay positions and could be a force for the women's program for four years.
The women's class is rounded out by Mandy Schmidt (Austin, TX), who will bring in the top time in the 100 backstroke. Austin will contribute immediately in both backstroke events and in the freestyle, and will push for the backstroke leg of the medley relays.
The men's class includes Bryan Clark (Hamilton, NJ), a teammate of Foster. Clark is a hard worker who swims the butterfly, and will be a valuable contributor to the Blue Jays' program.
Justin Green (Maineville, OH) comes to JHU with top times in the individual medley and breaststroke; his 57.7 breaststroke split is the fastest incoming time in that event for any Hopkins swimmer. Green performed very well at both the Ohio High School State meet and the National YMCA Championships.
Richard Guerard (Chatham, NJ) comes to Hopkins with the top times in the 200 and 500 freestyle, and should be a force in those events. Guerard, who is currently swimming for the Berkeley Aquatic Club, has great versatility and can go down to the 100 freestyle or up to the 1650 freestyle as his third event.
Derrick Monette (East Templeton, MA) will give the Blue Jays tremendous depth in the backstroke and individual medley. Monette has a great work ethic and determination, and could qualify for the NCAA Championships as a freshman.
Perhaps the most versatile newcomer, Keith Parent (Amherst, MA) will contribute immediately in the butterfly, backstroke, individual medley, and middle distance freestyle. Parent, who possesses an outstanding work ethic and attitude, brings in the top 100 butterfly time and will help Hopkins at the NCAA level.
Mark Remaly (Bloomsburg, PA) comes to JHU from an outstanding YMCA program coached by his father, Don, who graduated from Hopkins in 1974. Remaly, who was a finalist at the YMCA Nationals in the 200 butterfly and also swam the 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyles, will compete in the middle distance and distance freestyles, the butterflys, and the individual medleys for the Blue Jays.
A superior athlete, Dave Strickland (Houston, TX) will swim and play water polo at Hopkins. Strickland, who will benefit immediately from the dryland and strength training program at JHU and has tremendous potential for improvement, comes to Hopkins with the top time in the 50 freestyle. His strengths are the sprint freestyle and backstroke.
Kevin Walsh (Athens, GA) comes to JHU with the top times in the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle. Walsh, who trains with the Athens Bulldog Swim Club, will compete for the top spot in the medley and freestyle relays and will also contribute in the 50 of each stroke.
The Blue Jay men's team finished in second place at the NCAA Championships for the second straight year this March and returns nine of the 13 swimmers that competed in the championships, while the women's team placed ninth and returns eight of the nine swimmers that competed in the championships.