Swim Team Announces Six New Signees
11/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 29, 2007
HOUSTON - Six prep swimmers with experience at the high school and club levels have signed with Rice and will join the Owls in the fall of 2008, head swim coach Seth Huston announced on Wednesday (Nov. 28). The Owls' new signees are Shelby Bottoms from Houston, Nicole Delaloye of Calgary, Canada, Alexandra Ernst of Seattle, Wash., Louise Gliga of Cleveland, Ohio, Alison Godbe in Mission Viejo, Calif. and Alex O'Brien of St. Paul, Minn.
Huston had high praise for the Owls' latest signing class. Not only is the incoming group one of the largest for Rice swimming since coach Huston has been at the helm of the program, every signee has elite competitive credentials from the Junior National level and above. The signees' first semester at Rice begins in August of 2008. The swim team's 2008-09 season gets under way the following October.
"This incoming class has the potential to be our best class in my six years at Rice," Huston said. "Our goal was to sign a versatile group that could help us in every stroke and every event. We got almost every event covered with this one class.
"Every one of our signee's has qualified for at least the USA Swimming Junior National Championships," Huston added. "We certainly addressed our needs in the individual medley events, and shored up our strengths and depth in other areas."
The Rice swim team has a 7-1 record through its first eight dual meets of the season. The Owls next compete at the West Florida Relays in Largo, Fla., on Dec. 29. Rice hosts nationally-ranked Texas A&M in a dual meet on Jan. 11, 2008.
2008-2009 Rice Swimming Signee Bios
Shelby Bottoms * Individual Medley
Houston, Texas (Lamar HS / Dad's Swim Club)
* Junior National qualifier (200 IM, 2:06.3; 200 free, 1:53.0; 200 back, 2:06.8)
* 2006-07 All-America in 200-Individual Medley
* Texas 2007 Region 3-5A champion in 200-IM
* Three-time all-state selection
* Lamar HS record holder in 200-IM and 200-freestyle
* Coached by Steven McDonald (HS) and Mark Boerner (club)
* International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate
* Academic all-America and member of the National Honor Society
Coach Huston said: "Shelby is a great athlete from right here in Houston. She is also a star for her school's Cross Country team, but she will focus on swimming at Rice. Her best swimming event is the individual medley, which means she can perform all strokes very well. I think her competitiveness and athleticism will make her an excellent Division I swimmer."
Nicole Delaloye * Distance Freestyle
Calgary, Canada (National Sport School / University of Calgary Swim Club)
* Qualifier for Canadian Olympic Trials (200 free, 2:05.9 M; 400 free, 4:20.5 M)
* Member of Team Alberta
* High-point swimmer for Team Alberta at Western Canada Championships
* Earned club team's award for leadership, dedication, team spirit and community service
* Coached by Kevin Anderson
* Honor student in advanced curriculum
Coach Huston said: "Nicole is a big pick up for us. I don't know if anyone can really replace (current Rice senior) Brittany Massengale, but I think Nicole comes as close as anyone. There is no doubt in my mind that Nicole will fill Brittany's shoes and hopefully beyond. Nicole is a part of a Canadian National Team training program and is very talented, competitive and driven. We hope that Rice can be instrumental in helping her represent Canada internationally and Rice at the NCAA Championships."
Alexandra Ernst * Butterfly/Breaststroke
Seattle, Wa. (Garfield HS / Salmon Bay Aquatics)
* Junior National qualifier (100 breaststroke, 1:05.6; 200 breaststroke, 2:18.1 Y, 2:38.9 M; 100 butterfly, 57.6; 200 butterfly, 2:06.7)
* Seven-time high school state finalist in individual events
* three-time state champion in relays
* Coached by Emily Weber (HS) and Doug Rusk (club)
* National Merit Commended Student
* USA Swimming Academic all-America
Coach Huston said: "Alexandra knows how to get it done in the butterfly and breaststroke events, and she is pretty good in the individual medley as well. I think Alexandra is one that will put her teammates first and perform her best for them. That fits right into our philosophy at Rice and I imagine she will find her niche in swimming as an Owl."
Louise Gliga * Butterfly/Freestyle
Cleveland, Ohio (Hawken School / Lake Erie Silver Dolphins)
* Junior National qualifier (100 butterfly, 58.1; 200 butterfly, 2:04.9 Y, 2:20.1 M; 500 free, 5:04.8)
* among the school's top career swimmers in 100- and 200-butterfly, and 500-freestyle
* Coached by Jerry Holtrey
* Hawken Cum Laude Society
* USA Swimming Academic all-America
Coach Huston said: "Louise comes from a strong club in Cleveland, the Lake Erie Silver Dolphins. She is no stranger to hard work and is a very talented butterflier. I expect Louise will contend for a Conference USA title in her years at Rice and if that is the case, she could find herself at the NCAA Championships. Louise might not know it yet, but she may be another distance-swimmer-in-the-making once she gets to college."
Alison Godbe * IM/Freestyle
Mission Viejo, Calif. (Mission Viejo HS / Nadadores Swim Club)
* Junior National qualifier (100 free, 51.8; 200 IM, 2:07.7; 200 breast, 2:21.0)
* 2007 All-America in 100-freestyle
* Three-time California Interscholastic Federation finalist
* Twice named Mission Viejo High School's most valuable swimmer
* Coached by Kristine Palle (HS) and Bill Rose (club)
* Finished 15th out of 300 entries in the Tiburon Mile open water swim
Coach Huston said: "Alison hails from the storied Mission Viejo Nadadores in California. Her best events are the 200-individual medley and middle distance freestyle. There is nothing like an IMer who can finish with a strong freestyle leg. She is also a talented in the breaststroke events. Last spring she went lifetime-best performances in every event. Alison's best swimming is ahead of her. I think she will really thrive in our team atmosphere here at Rice and become a big scorer and relay swimmer."
Alex O'Brien * IM/Distance Freestyle
St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Derham Hall / Blackline Aquatics)
* Junior National qualifier (200 free, 1:52.8; 500 free, 4:59.4; 200 IM, 2:08.1; 400 IM, 4:28.6; 200 breaststroke, 2:21.6)
* State champion in the 500-free in 2004
* All-state selection
* Coached by Patrick Marzolf (HS) and John Barnes (club)
* National Honor Society member
Coach Huston said: "Alex had her best season as a junior and is coming off a great high school state meet earlier this month. She excels in the both the individual medley, middle to distance freestyle and breaststroke. I think Alex is going to arrive next fall with a lot of momentum and really be able step right into our line up in a number of critical spots and make us better."
Players Mentioned
