Butler Swimming Adds 14 Newcomers for 2006-07

Aug. 8, 2006

Indianapolis, Ind. - Second-year head coach Maurice Stewart flexed his recruiting muscles this past off-season, bringing in 14 newcomers to the Butler swimming teams for the 2006-07 season. The incoming class nearly doubles the size of the Bulldog roster from a season ago.

"The swimming program is fortunate to have 14 freshmen represent Butler athletics," Stewart said. "I am confident that each incoming student-athlete will not only achieve academic excellence, but possess the talent and skills needed to elevate our team competitiveness at the conference level."

The women's team will feature nine new members this season, with Stephanie Altepeter, Julie Elmore, Melissa Fenton, Beth Ann Mensing, Ellen Miller, Stephanie Moles, Ali Overgaard, Kaitlyn Pressley and Kendall Wormley joining the squad. The men's team picks up five recruits, including Josh Bennett, Chris Gordon, Jeff Harrigan, Ben Shafer and Alex Tracy.

As has become the standard under Stewart, the newest members to the roster are standouts in both the pool and the classroom.

"The goal of the coaching staff and team is to recruit prospects with sound academic and athletic backgrounds," Stewart continued. "It is also important they have the ability to fit into our team dynamic and positively benefit from the Butler experience."

The Bulldogs open the 2006-07 season on Oct. 14 at the Indiana Intercollegiate and host the first home meet the following day against Evansville, Saint Louis and Valparaiso at Carmel High School.

A look at the Butler newcomers...

Women's Swimmers
Stephanie Altepeter
Freshman
Chesterfield, Mo.
Marquette High School
Planned Major: Pharmacy
Academics: AP Scholars Award
Athletics: Top 16 high school state finalist 2003-06

Julie Elmore
Freshman
Goshen, Ind.
Concord Community High School
Planned Major: Undecided
Academics: Member of National Honors Society 2004-06
Athletics: All-conference honorable mention (200 free & 500 free)

Melissa Fenton
Freshman
Wyoming, Ohio
Wyoming High School
Planned Major: Theatre
Academics: National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society
Athletics: High school co-captain 2005-06 season

Beth Ann Mensing
Freshman
Franklin, Ind.
Franklin Community High School
Planned Major: Accounting
Academics: NISCA All-America Academic Award
Athletics: 2006 Mid-State Conference Champion (200 & 500 free, 200 & 400 free relay)

Ellen Miller
Freshman
Crawfordsville, Ind.
Crawfordsville High School
Planned Major: Biology
Academics: Academic All-American (swimming)
Athletics: High school team captain (swimming & volleyball)

Stephanie Moles
Freshman
Indianapolis, Ind.
Franklin Central High School
Planned Major: Pre-Med
Academics: Member of National Honor Society 2004-06
Athletics: Sectional champion & state qualifier (500 free)

Ali Overgaard
Freshman
Phoenix, Ariz.
North High School
Planned Major: Biology
Academics: Ranked 3rd in her class out of 440
Athletics: State finalist (100 fly) and consolation finalist (100 breast)

Kaitlyn Pressley
Freshman
Indianapolis, Ind.
Lawrence North High School
Planned Major: Pre-Journalism
Academics: Honor Roll
Athletics: 2003-2004 All-American consideration

Kendall Wormley
Freshman
Oswego, Ill.
Oswego High School
Planned Major: Elementary Education
Academics: Academic Letter - above 4.0 GPA 2002-06
Athletics: IHSA Sectional Meet Qualifier 2002-05

Men's Swimmers
Josh Bennett
Freshman
Carmel, Ind.
Carmel High School
Planned Major: Business Administration
Academics: Selected to the Student Ambassador Program
Athletics: 2004-06 sectional finalist (100 fly)

Chris Gordon
Freshman
Galesburg, Ill.
Galesburg High School
Planned Major: Pharmacy
Academics: Academic All-American
Athletics: Three-time state qualifier

Jeff Harrigan
Freshman
Bowling Green, Ky.
Bowling Green High School
Planned Major: Business Administration
Academics: Academic all-state honorable mention
Athletics: Team captain 2005-06 season

Ben Shafer
Freshman
Franklin, Ind.
Franklin Community High School
Planned Major: Pharmacy
Academics: Class Valedictorian
Athletics: State qualifier (200 & 400 free relays)

Alex Tracy
Freshman
Indianapolis, Ind.
Perry Meridian High School
Planned Major: Business Administration
Academics: 2005-06 Academic All-American
Athletics: Conference champion (100 breast)