Penn State head swim coach Bill Dorenkott announced the signings of 14 high schools seniors for the Nittany Lions' Class of 2009 during the early signing period.

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. (Jan. 26, 2005) - Fourteen high school seniors signed letters of intent during the early signing period to join the Penn State swimming and diving team with the Class of 2009, head coach Bill Dorenkott announced on Wednesday.

Nine women and five men will join the Nittany Lions in the fall of 2005, including 13 swimmers and one diver. Overall, five of the student-athletes have achieved U.S. Open time standards, three were U.S. Olympic Trial qualifiers and five had U.S. national cut times.

"Our team and staff worked very hard to put this class together," said Dorenkott, who is in his 10th season as a coach in the Penn State program. "Assistant coaches Ed Bartsch, Nittaya Klim and John Hargis, as well as diving coach Craig Brown and myself are thrilled with both the quality and depth of this group.

"This is one of the strongest classes we have ever signed at Penn State. On paper, they are very good and the next four years will provide them with the opportunities to be great."

Courtney Adlam (Amber, Pa.), Sarah Baker (Fairfax, Va.), Kaitlyn Ferguson (Mamaroneck, N.Y.), Karie Haglund (Marietta, Ga.), Abby Hoisington (Leawood, Kan.), Jaime Kiely (Houston, Texas), Caitlin Meehan (West Chester, Pa.), Kelly Nelson (West Chester, Pa.) and Kaitlin O'Brien (Caldwell, N.J.), all signed letters to join the women's team.

Nelson and Ferguson were both Olympic Trial Qualifiers. Hoisington, Kiely and Baker all met U.S. Open time standards and O'Brien, Meehan and Haglund were all U.S. National Qualifiers.

Ryan DeWeese (Midlothian, Va.), Chris Keister (State College, Pa.) Patrick Schirk (Pottstown, Pa.), Matt Smiddy (Miami, Fla.), and Chris Sullivan (Naples, Fla.) all signed letters to join Penn State's men's team.

Schirk was a U.S. Olympic Trial Qualifier, Smiddy and Sullivan met U.S. Open time standards and DeWeese and Keister were both U.S. National qualifiers.

"We signed talented and hard-working individuals who have the ability to make a significant impact at the Big Ten, NCAA and international level," Dorenkott said. "I especially like the fact that these athletes are up-and-coming. They have a potential for a terrific rate of improvement.

"More important than the all-American, state champion and national accolades these kids bring to the table, is the fact that they are a good fit for Penn State and our program. They value academic and athletic success in a strong team setting.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to the high school and club coaches with whom we have built strong and lasting relationships with over the years. They continue to show their faith in Penn State swimming and diving by allowing us the opportunity to work with their student-athletes."

For more information on Penn State men's and women's swimming and diving, please visit our official athletics website at www.GoPSUsports.com.