2002-03 Men's Recruits Announced

PROVO -- Head Men's Swimming Coach Tim Powers announced Thursday the signing of some of the top high school prospects in the United States. Leading the class of 2006 is Zach Anderson, of Mesa Arizona who is one of the premier distant swimmers coming out of high school this year.

Zach is a Senior National Qualifier that has also earned High School All-American Honors in the 200 yard and 500 yard freestyle events and was invited and attended the Olympic Select Camps at the USA Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition to swimming middle and distance free Zach is also excellent in the butterfly.

Joining him from Mesa, Arizona is Travis Price who was just touched out by Zach at the Arizona State High School Championships. Travis has earned many of the same honors as Zach and is also a High School All-American in the 200 yard and

500 yardd freestyle events.

Also signing with the Cougars is John Ferrell of Glendora, California. John adds additional strength to BYU's already powerful backstroke events while boosting the 500 yd. Freestyle as well. A high school All-American, John is a welcome addition to the team.

Another freshman to join the team this fall is Mike Thomson of Salt Lake City. Mike signed with the Cougars out of High School (East High) and has served a LDS Mission in England for the past two years. As a prep swimmer Mike was the Utah State "Swimmer of the Year" his senior year and won high school All-American honors in the sprint free as well as back and butterfly.

?Mike is a highly talented swimmer and we have been anxious for him to complete his mission,? states coach Powers.

Rounding out the Freshman class is Russell Hulse from Glendale, Arizona. Russell was the Arizona State 4A Diving Champion and continues a strong tradition of Arizona State high school diving champions coming to BYU.

In addition to Mike Thomson BYU has several return missionaries that will make their presence known this season. Kenny Carpenter heads the list of talented swimmers and divers returning from serving two year LDS missions.

Kenny was the anchor of BYU's Mountain West Conference record setting 800 yard free relay his freshman year and was named to the All-Conference First team. Kenny has qualified prior to his LDS mission for the USA Olympic Trails in the 100 and 200 meter butterfly and will boost the Cougars in two events where they didn't have a single entry last season.

Joining Carpenter is returned missionary Stephen Wells who was a consolation finalist as a freshman year in the 200, 500, and 1650 freestyle.

Conference Diving finalist Bryce Barrand and Scott Randall round out the returnees and add strength and depth to a Cougar team that won the Mountain West Conference Championships for the third straight season by a margin of over 200 points and finished 23rd in the NCAA final standings.

Coach Powers feels this team has the chance to be very good provided they work hard and push each other to what they are capable of.

2002-03 Men's Swimming Recruits:
Name            Hometown              Event
Zach Anderson   Mesa, Ariz.           Freestyle
Travis Price    Mesa, Ariz.           Freestyle
John Ferrell    Glendora, Calif.      Backstroke
Mike Thomson    Salt Lake City, Utah  Butterfly
Russell Hulse   Glendale, Ariz.       Diving