Swim Team Announces Six Signees
11/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 29, 2011
HOUSTON - Six swimmers with competitive club-team experience have signed with Rice and will join the Owls in the fall of 2012, head swim coach Seth Huston announced on Tuesday (Nov. 29). The Owls' new signees are Taylor Armstrong of New Zealand, Shannon Foreman of North Carolina, Savanna Golson of Kingwood, Tex., Cora McKenzie of Alabama, Shelbi Ragsdale of Flower Mound, Tex., and Meaghan Wisenbaker of The Woodlands, Tex.
Each of the signees has elite competitive credentials while meeting the University's challenging academic entrance requirements. The signees' first semester at Rice begins in August of 2012. Coach Huston had high praise for the Owls' latest class, his tenth at Rice since taking the helm of the program.
"I am very pleased with the six additions we have made to Rice Swimming," said coach Huston. "We have made ourselves deeper and more competitive in the mid-distance free events and really strengthened ourselves in the stroke events. All of our future Rice Owls really meshed well with our team and will contribute to our university as well as our team."
More detailed highlights on each six Owl signees is provided below. The Rice swim team is next in action on Saturday, Dec. 3, in a dual meet at longtime rival Texas A&M. The Aggies are the No. 10 ranked swim team in the country. The meet is scheduled for 1 pm in College Station.
2011-2012 Rice Swimming Signee Highlights
Taylor Armstrong * backstroke/freestyle
Tauranga, New Zealand (Otumoetai College / Greerton Swim Club)
* 100 backstroke 55.45; 200 backstroke 2:00.18; 100 freestyle 50.87; 200 freestyle 1:48.55 (times converted from short-course meters)
* Has international experience as a member of two New Zealand age-group national teams
* Set three national age group records and a host of school records at Otumoetai
* Earned her school's top award for excellence in a single sport
* Coached by Tai Daniela (club)
Coach Huston said: "We are excited to have Taylor join Rice next year. A New Zealand Olympic hopeful, Taylor will be able to step in and contribute in a number of ways. She is excellent in the backstroke and freestyle, and versatile enough to swim the IM. I think that Taylor will really thrive in our team atmosphere and on the small campus of Rice."
Taylor Armstrong said: "The academic reputation is outstanding and the campus is beautiful. A small (university) community in a large city is the best of both worlds. The coaches were very helpful and friendly throughout the recruiting process."
Shannon Foreman * freestyle/backstroke
Charlotte, N.C. (Ardrey Kell HS / Swim MAC Carolina)
* 50 freestyle 24.06; 100 freestyle 52.12; 100 backstroke 57.71; 200 backstroke 2:05.93; 100 butterfly 56.66
* Junior National Qualifier
* Ardrey Kell HS Most Valuable Player
* Appeared in Sports Illustrated's Faces In The Crowd (Feb. 28, 2011)
* Coached by James Wike (club)
* Coached by William Keith (HS)
* Two-time USA Swimming scholastic All-American
* Member of the National Honor Society; National Technical Honor Society
Coach Huston said: "Shannon has natural speed and power and can swim a multitude of events. She really improved by leaps and bounds this past year, and we think her best swimming is ahead of her at Rice. We really liked Shannon's personality. She has great confidence and got along really well with the team."
Shannon Foreman said: "I chose Rice because the balance between academics and athletics was exactly what I was looking for. I was extremely impressed with the coaches, along with the camaraderie of the swim team. I am very excited about the opportunities that Rice will offer me, both in the classroom and pool."
Savanna Golson * breaststroke/sprint freestyle
Kingwood, Tex. (Kingwood HS / Eagle Swimming Assoc.)
* 100 breaststroke 1:06.49; 50 freestyle 24.39;
* Made the U.S. Open cut in the 100-breaststroke
* All-state honoree in the 100-breaststroke and 50-freestyle
* Coached by Bill Bailey (club)
* Coached by Brad Griffin (HS)
* USA Swimming scholastic All-American
* Member of the National Honor Society
Coach Huston said: "Savanna is a valuable addition to our signing class. She has so much potential and really feels Rice University is the place for her. Savanna will focus primarily on breaststroke and sprint-free for us. We look forward to Savanna making significant contributions to the team."
Savanna Golson said: "I fell in love with the campus and the swim team the moment I got there. The prestige that goes along with being a Rice student is incredible and cannot be compared. I am ecstatic to be apart of the school next year!"
Cora McKenzie * freestyle/butterfly
Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Tuscaloosa Academy / Crimson Tide Aquatics)
* 50 freestyle 23.70; 100 freestyle 50.25; 200 freestyle 1:50.39; 100 butterfly 56.56; 200 butterfly 2:06.58;
* Don Gambril Achievement Award
* Coached by John Boxmeyer (club)
* USA Swimming scholastic All-American
* Member of the National Honor Society; National Society of High School Scholars
* Quill & Scroll; Mu Alpha Theta
Coach Huston said: "Cora is a great find for Rice. She made a visit on our junior day last spring and we thought she was a great fit here. Cora impressed (the coaches) with her inquisitive and desire to become immersed in the Rice culture. I think Cora will contribute to the team in many ways. She has great leadership abilities and athleticism"
Cora McKenzie said: "I chose Rice for many reasons: the campus is beautiful, the residential colleges are unique, unparalleled academics, super-friendly coaches and team, and then and then there are countless opportunities for a future medical career in Houston. I am so excited to be a Rice Owl next year!"
Shelbi Ragsdale * IM/breaststroke
Flower Mound, Tex. (STEM Academy / Lakeside Aquatic Club)
* 200 IM 2:05.86; 400 IM 4:25.36; 100 breaststroke 1:06.89; 200 breaststroke 2:22.13;
* Lakeside Aquatics Club record holder in the 400-IM; also swam on LAC's record-setting 400-medley & 400-free relays
* Coached by Jason Walter (club)
* Eight-time USA Swimming scholastic All-American
* Member of the National Honor Society
* Ranked second in senior class
Coach Huston said: "Shelbi is our diamond in the rough. She's had great success her junior and senior year, but we think Shelbi has great potential. She has command of all four strokes and will be a great IM-er. Shelbi will be an instant contributor to the team as well as the University."
Shelbi Ragsdale said: "The quality of education is outstanding, the swimming program is great, coach Seth is an awesome coach, the campus is beautiful, and it offers a smaller, more personal environment which I love."
Meaghan Wisenbaker * IM/butterfly/free
The Woodlands, Tex. (The John Cooper School / The Woodlands Swim Team)
* 100 butterfly 56.24;
* Member of The Woodlands Swim Team national team
* Served as The Cooper School team captain
* Coached by Tim Bauer (club)
* Coached by Sabine Weiser (HS)
* Three-time member of The Cooper School academic honor roll
Coach Huston said: "It is great to land a local swimmer from The Woodlands. Meaghan is coming off her best short-course and long-course seasons. She has four good strokes, speed and a fantastic under water kick. Our hope is to utilize Meaghan in 200's of strokes as well as 100's. We will work hard to develop her IM as well. Meaghan got along great with our team and she will be a great fit with our program."
Meaghan Wisenbaker said: "I really felt like I clicked with the girls very well. Their excitement about being at Rice carried over to me and I knew right away that I wanted to be able to experience the same thing they were experiencing. The campus is beautiful and the pool and facilities for athletes are phenomenal. Also, the coaches made me feel like they really wanted me to be a part of the team just as much as the girls wanted. Academically, I felt Rice was a perfect fit. When I put it all together - academics, the swim program, great teammates and coaching staff, I knew Rice was my first choice for college."