Bowman Signs Three Recruits During Early Signing Period
12/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's swimming and diving program filled some needs when it received three National Letters of Intent in the early signing period (Nov. 14-21). The group includes swimmers Dan Madwed(Stamford, Conn./Towson HS), Casey Sreenan(Miami, Fla./Columbus HS) and Dane Vanderkaay(Rochester, Mich./Adams HS).
"We intentionally wanted to bring in a smaller class because we have a good team already and to help fill a few spots from the seniors we are losing this season. Clearly Dan Madwed is going to help fill the shoes of senior Alex Vanderkaay(Rochester, Mich./Adams HS), which are big shoes to fill and I don't know if he can do it in his first year -- but we feel confident that down the road he will," said head coach Bob Bowman.
Madwed, who signed with U-M last year, will join the Wolverines after he deferred enrollment last year to prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Madwed swam for Coach Paul Yetter at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. He is currently the third-ranked American in the 200-meter butterfly, and Madwed is the youngest male member of the 2006 USA Pan Pacific Championship team. He is also the 2006 spring national champion in the 200-meter butterfly. In 2005, Madwed was a member of the National Junior team and he was the 2004 U.S. Open champion in the 200-meter butterfly.
"Dan has already competed with the USA National team," said Bowman. "He brings a wealth of talent in the butterfly events and he's also quickly developing in the freestyle. I look forward to him swimming on our relays and helping us to move up in the NCAA rankings."
Sreenan will join Michigan with a load of raw talent and only two years of competitive swimming behind him. Sreenan holds junior times in the 50-, 800- and 1,500-meter freestyles of 24.62, 8:34.29 and 16:25.58, respectively, all set in long courses. After competing in the 2007 Junior Olympics, Sreenan is preparing to try out for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.
"Casey is going to help us in the sprint events," said Bowman. "This young man has only been swimming for two years, so we're excited that he is going to come in and develop, and I really think he's got the size and the ability to be a player on the Big Ten and NCAA level."
Dane Vanderkaay is following the family footsteps at U-M, and he will be the fourth Vanderkaay to swim at Michigan, following Christian (2002-05), Peter (2002-06) and Alex (2004-present). Dane brings with him a junior time of 15:50.87 in the 1,650-yard freestyle from the 2007 NCSA Junior Championships.
"We are going to secure our distance swimming with Dane Vanderkaay and we know that is always a good thing here at Michigan. We're so happy we got the last brother in the family here," said Bowman.
The Wolverines will return to the pool following the semester break for a dual meet against Indiana Saturday, Jan. 12, at Canham Natatorium. Action begins at 1 p.m.
Contact: Jeremiah W. Hergott (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
