University of Evansville men's and women's swimming and diving head coach Rickey Perkins has announced the addition of five freshmen to the 2011-12 women's squad. Samantha Montgomery, Alexandria Moore, Mackenzie Powell, Taylor Shotwell and Stephanie Tran will round out the Aces' roster.
"I'm very fortunate to be able to bring in this group of quality student-athletes," said Perkins. "I think that they will all bring a lot of depth to their individual events as well as adding to the competitiveness of the team overall. I'm excited for them to get here so we can begin working."?
A native of Kingston, NY, Samantha Montgomery is a graduate of Fishers High School, where she was a four-time letterwinner for the Tigers. In her senior season, Montgomery led her team to a conference title as well as its first sectional championship. During sectionals, she claimed the first place prize in the 100-yard butterfly. Montgomery holds her high school's 100-butterfly record as well as three relay records. During her high school career, she led her relay team to two Top-10 finishes at State while twice taking 17th in the 100-butterfly. In the classroom, Montgomery was named a National Merit finalist as well as earning AP Scholar Distinction honors. She plans to major in environmental science.
Alexandria Moore comes to UE from Arlington Heights, Ill., where she was a four-time letterwinner and two-time MVP for the South Elgin Storm. Twice named captain of her high school team, Moore qualified for the Central Zone Sectionals as well as both the Illinois Senior and the Illinois Regional championships. A member of the Elgin Cyclones Swim Team, Moore led her club to four conference champions and held team records in 10 events. Moore plans to major in athletic training and physical therapy.
From Indianapolis, Ind., Mackenzie Powell signs with the Aces out of Lawrence Central High School. A four-time letterwinner and six-time sectional champion for the Bears, Powell was named Lawrence Central's Female Athlete of the Year. She led her squad to a 49-21 record during her high school career and helped the Bears take back-to-back second place finishes at sectionals in 2010 and 2011. Powell holds four record times for the Lawrence Swim Team and was twice named the winner of the club's ACE award (Attitude, Commitment, Excellence). A member of the honor roll, she was also named an Academic All-American. She plans to major in biology or zoology with the hopes of eventually becoming a sports medicine doctor.
The younger sister of current men's swimmer Justin Shotwell, Taylor Shotwell is state champion out of Pickerington, Ohio. Captain of her high school team, Shotwell led the Hawks to a district championship and state runners-up in 2010 as well as a district runners-up in 2011. Shotwell has twice been named MVP of her high school team as well as receiving all-league, all-district, all-Ohio and all-American honors. An Academic All-American as well, Shotwell plans on pursing her doctorate of physical therapy while at UE.
Stephanie Tran, a diver from Greenwood, Ind., will round out the Aces' recruiting class. Tran, a one-time letter winner at Greenwood Community High School placed 24th at the Indiana High School State Diving Championship after taking an eighth place finish at the regional finals. She was chosen as winner of her team?s Mental Attitude Award and received the 2010-11 Mid-State Scholar Athlete Award. Tran intends on majoring in pre-medicine.
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