July 29, 2002

Columbia, SC –
The University of South Carolina has announced its 2002 signees for the men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams. Head Coach Don Gibb, head diving coach Todd Sherritt and the Carolina coaching staff will bring in several new swimmers and divers for the 2002-03 season.

“We added some much needed depth that will give us a better chance in dual meets and a number of more opportunities to score and advance at the SEC and National Championships,” said head coach Don Gibb. “A lot of these kids are capable of going to NCAAs and the excitement of having a big class has raised the level of enthusiasm.”

The 2002-03 squads will begin competition on October 18 with a home dual meet vs. Charleston. Carolina will also host Kentucky (November 1), and Penn State and Tennessee (January 11) this next season at Carolina Natatorium. The 2003 SEC Championships are slated for February 19-22 at Auburn.

WOMEN’S SIGNEES

Ashleigh Bastak: Freestyle … Williston, Fla. … Indian River C.C. … Gator Swim Club

– Transfer from Indian River Community College
– Member of 2002 NJCAA National Champion team
– NJCAA Women’s Swimmer of the Year/MVP and NJCAA All American
– Seven-time national champion at NJCAA Championships (Won 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, 400 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay)
– Four-time Jr. National’s finalist
– High School All-American and team captain her junior and senior year of high school
– Named Gainesville Sun Swimmer of the Year in three years
TOP TIMES
50 Freestyle: 23.71
100 Freestyle: 51.78
200 Freestyle: 1:52.80

Katie Bowden: Freestyle … Plant City, Fla. … Durant HS … Brandon Blue Wave

– Jr. National and US Open qualifier in 50/100/200/500/1000 freestyle events
– Finished third in 200 freestyle and seventh in 500 frestyle at 2001-02 Florida HS State Championships
– Placed second in 500 freestyle and fifth 200 freestyle at 2000-1 Florida HS State Championships
– Wendy’s High School Heisman state finalist
– U.S. Army Scholar Athlete award recipient
– Hillsborough County Scholar Athlete Scholarship recipient
– Durant HS Principal’s Leadership Award recipient
TOP TIMES
50 Freestyle: 24.15
100 Freestyle: 51.78
200 Freestyle: 1:52.04
500 Freestyle: 4:58.70

Stephanie Margalis: Freestyle/IM … Clearwater, Fla. … Clearwater HS … St. Petersburg … Aquatics

– Three-time state champion, four-time district champion and six-time conference champion
– Owns high school conference record in the 200 IM
– Rotary Invitational Most Outstanding Swimmer
– Named Pinellas County Swimmer of the Year two consecutive years
– Earned H. Graham Brown Award for all-around character and swimming ability
– Named high school’s Most Outstanding Femal Athlete
– Member of National Honor Society and Crest Club
– Twice earned an academic letter
TOP TIMES
100 Freestyle: 51.22
200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
500 Freestyle: 4:52.67
200 IM: 2:04.66

Haley Skaggs … Freestyle … St. Petersburg, Fla. … Northeast HS … St. Petersburg Aquatics

– Junior National Champion
– Eight-time all-conference and eight-time all-city honors
– Two-time high school MVP
– Holds numerous school records
– Earned John Lynch Award
– Member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta
– Sister Heather also swims at Carolina
TOP TIMES
50 Freestyle: 23.99
100 Freestyle: 51.94
200 Freestyle: 1:50.18

Ryan Smith … Backstroke … Mechanicsburg, Pa. … Cumberland Valley HS … Lancaster Aquatic Club

– Earned high school All-American honors all four years competing in high school in 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay
– Named Pennsylvania High School Coach’s Senior Girls Swimmer of the Year and Old Timers Athletic Association Girls Swimmer of the Year
– First girl in to be in her high school’s all-time Top 10 for every event; holds six school records (100 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay)
– Won state championship in 100 backstroke junior and senior years
– All-Sentinel Girls Swim Team Co-Swimmer of the Year
– Recognized as state champion by Pennsylvania’s Governor, Senate and House of Representatives
TOP TIMES
100 Backstroke: 56.64
200 Backstroke: 2:03.06

MEN’S SIGNEES

Ian Balman … Diver … Charlotte, N.C. … South Mecklenburg … Fuel Diving Club
– 2002 North Carolina state diving champion
– 2001 North Carolina state runner-up to Carolina diver Dean Emmerton
– Finished in third place at 2000 North Carolina state championships as a sophomore
– Has competed at three U.S. Junior Nationals
– Also competed at CAMO in Montreal
– Earned PISA Academic Achievement Scholarship
– Honor roll student

Tamas Bathazi … Freestyle … Budapest, Hungary … Budapest Gym
– Brother Istvan swims for Carolina
– Has compted at an international level
– Will be an impact for Carolina at the SEC and National level
TOP TIMES
200 Freestyle: 1:51 LCM

Andy Bradley … Diver … Fairfax, Va. … Brigham Young
– Transfer from Brigham Young
– Earned second-team All-America honors as a freshman at BYU for his 16th-place finish in the 1-meter event with a score of 285.50
– Placed third at Mountain West Championships in one-meter competition with a score of 570.75
– Regional Champion, three-time State runner-up and State Champion Senior Year in Virginia
– Three-time All-American

Brandon Buslepp … Breaststroke … Plantation, Fla. … Louisiana-Monroe … Ft. Lauderdale Swim Team

– Transfer from Louisiana Monroe
– Finished fourth in the finals of the 200 breast (2:03.30) at the NIC meet in 2000 for UL-Monroe
– Attended South Broward High School in Florida
– Competed at Olympic Trials in 2000
– U.S. Open and Junior Nationals qualifier
– Finished third in the 100 breaststoke and eighth in the 200 IM at the Florida state meet his senior year; lone qualifier from high school team
– Participated in the Marine Martime Magnet Program
TOP TIMES
100 Breast: 1:06.55 LCM
200 Breast: 2:19.74 LCM

Stephen Dagenhart … Freestyle … Greensboro, N.C. … Ragsdale HS

– 2002 North Carolina state champion in the 50 freestyle and runner-up in the 100 butterfly
– Three-time conference champion in the 50 free and 100 butterfly
– Member of 200 freestyle relay team that set state record
– Also lettered in high school in track and field as a discus thrower, placing third at N.C. State Championships
– Rotary Club’s Most Improved Student in Guilford County
– Has spent time working with Habitat for Humanity
TOP TIMES
50 Freestyle: 21.5
100 Freestyle: 47.0

Josh Donovan … Freestyle … Mt. Desert, Maine … Mt. Desert Island HS … Swim Atlanta Club

– Swam for Swim Atlanta and coach Chris Davis at club level
– Participated and swam in Australia with Who’s Who In Sports
50 Freestyle: 21.46
100 Freestyle: 46.7

Reid Duff … Free/Back/Fly … Charlotte, N.C. … Charlotte Latin School … Mecklenburg Aquatic Club

– Placed first in 50 and 100 freestyle at NCISAA State Meet
– Earned All-Conference honors
– Named to Charlotte Observer’s First Team in 50 and 100 freestyle
– Holds school records in 50 and 100 freestyle and conference record in 100 backstroke
– Named All-Mecklenburg (county) three consecutive years (sophomore-senior)
– High School team finished second in the NCISSA State Meet his senior year
– National Merit Commended Scholar; scored perfect scores on PSAT and SAT math, recognition for performance on National High School Math Exam, scored 5 on AP Calculus Exam
TOP TIMES
50 Freestyle: 22.0
100 Freestyle: 47.0
200 Freestyle: 1:46
100 Backstroke: 54.0
100 Butterfly: 54.0

Justin Kata … Free/Breast … Martinez, Ga. … Evans HS … Aiken-Augusta Swim Club

– 2001-02 captain for Evans HS
– 2001 Georgia state champion in the 100 and 200 breaststroke
– Four-year Evans HS swimming MVP
– Second team all-state in Georgia in 2002
– Wrote for high school newspaper
TOP TIMES
50 Freestyle: 21.44
100 Freestyle: 46.94
100 Breaststroke: 58.09
200 Breaststroke: 2:07.27