Swimming and Diving Announces 2017 Signing Class

Nov. 17, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. –

South Carolina swimming and diving delivered a signing class of 14, head coach McGee Moody announced Wednesday. The Gamecocks built upon their current roster with a strong group of newcomers for the class of 2022.

“Coming out of this season, we’re graduating a really large senior class that have been big contributors in the success of our program,” noted Moody. “We were put in a position where we need to bring in a big class that has not only top-end talent, but also developmental talent. We’ve accomplished that, and we’re excited to see what this group can do over the next four years.”

The Gamecock women signed Halladay Kinsey from Davis Aquadarts Racing Team in Davis, Calif., the same program senior Emma Barksdale swam for before coming to South Carolina. Kinsey earned first-place finishes at the CIF Sac-Joaquin in the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle. She also took first in the 100 butterfly at the 2017 NCSA Championships.

Also joining the women’s roster is Mariana Kraus from Oswego, Ill. Kraus swims for Oswego East High School and Delta Aquatics. As a high school competitor, she placed third in the 200 IM at the 2016 IHSA Girls State Championships and was named USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. In 2017, she was a two-time finalist at the Speedo Champions Series, where she took third in the 200 backstroke, and earned NISCA All-American honors.

The men added Dylan Delaney from Cardiff by the Sea, Calif. to the 2018-19 roster. Delaney swims for La Coast Canyon High School and the Rancho San Dieguito swim club. In 2017 he earned NISCA All-American honors and took third in the 50 freestyle at the California CIF State Championship. He also took third in the 50 freestyle at the Speedo Champions Series after taking second in the event and third in the 200 freestyle at the California CIF Sand Diego Section Championships.

International Newcomers
Joining her brother, Tamas Novoszath, as a part of the Gamecock family, Melinda Novoszath signed with South Carolina for the coming season. The siblings both represent their homeland, Szeged, Hungary, at the international level. The incoming Gamecock excels in distance freestyle, earning a gold medal at the 2017 European Junior Open Water Swimming Championships this summer in the women’s 18-19 10 k.

Diver Anton Down-Jenkins will join his international synchro diving partner, Yu Qian Goh, as a part of the South Carolina roster next fall. At the 2017 Puerto Rico FINA Diving Grand Prix, Jenkins and Goh took third in the mixed 3-meter synchro competition. The Wellington, New Zealand, native also took third in the men’s 3-meter synchro alongside Liam Stone.