FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's swimming and diving team and Head Coach Janelle Atkinson-Wignall are pleased to announce 16 new additions to the team this fall.
The newcomers herald from eight different states and includes an international student from Grenada, the first international swimmer to join the Stags. The 16 student-athletes consist of 14 freshman and two transfer students as well as 15 swimmers and one diver.
“The team will be much stronger this season with all the new talent on the roster,” said the Head Coach. “Our team will be much deeper because of the additions and allow us to better compete in the pool.”
Julie Becker
A distance swimmer from Westford Academy in Massachusetts, Becker was an Honor Roll student all four years and earned the Academic Excellence Award three times. Her team was the Division 1 State Champion for three years along with Dual County League Champions one year and Sectional Champions one year.
Lauren Belecanech
While at Nazareth Academy High School in Moorestown, New Jersey was a member of the National Honor Society, the Math Honor Society, and the Latin Honor Society. In the pool, her team placed second at District 1 Championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015. And in 2014, placed second at the Pennsylvania AA State Championships.
Oreoluwa Cherebin
Cherebin attended Harrisburg Area Community College before transferring to Fairfield this fall. She represented her home country of Grenada at the Commonwealth Games in 2014, at the FINA World Championships in 2013 and 2015, at the Pan American Games in 2015, and at the 2016 Olympics in Rio were she competed in the 100m butterfly.
Courtney Dye
Dye was a freestyle swimmer for head coach Jen Scalise at Natick High School in Massachusetts. She was the team captain and Most Valuable Player of the 2016 season. Dye holds the record in the 4x100 relay at Natick High School.
Katelyn Hahn
A freestyle and backstroke swimmer from Commack, New York. Hahn swam at the Speedo Champions Series in 2014, the Metro Senior Championships in 2015, and the Senior Metro SCY Winter Championships in 2016.
Emily Holman
While a member of the Jesuit High School swimming team in Portland, Oregon, Holman won states in 2013 and 2016. She was awarded most spirited following her freshman year, most improved following her sophomore season, and the leadership award following her senior year.
Kristin Kunnapas
Graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey with Distinguished Honors. In the pool, was named Third Team All-County. Her team won the league championship, county championship, and state championship all four years.
Juliana Lally
Was the team captain at Paramus Catholic High School in New Milford, New Jersey. Swam the backstroke for Head Coach Taylor Henshaw. Lally was a member of the National Honors Society.
Tara Lenehan
A breaststroke swimmer from South Amboy, New Jersey, she competed in the Greater Middlesex County Swimming Championships during her junior and senior seasons. Lenehan medaled both years, finishing in 6th in the 100 breast and 4th in the 50 free her junior season while finishing 4th in the 200 IM and 3rd in the 100 breast her senior season. She graduated in the Top 10 of her class, was a member of the National Honors Society, and received the Magis Scholarship at Fairfield Univeristy.
Kathryn Mahoney
A member of the National Honor Society and Honor Roll at Bishop Guertin in Nashua, New Hampshire. In the pool, she holds school records in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle. She was a state champion in the 4x50 medley relay and a two-time state champion in the 4x50 freestyle relay. Her team was a three-time state champion runner-up and finished third in 2016.
Shannon McDade
Graduated in the top 5% of her class at Freehold Township High School in New Jersey earning the magis scholarship. In the pool, she was the Patriot Swimmer of the Year, won the scholar Athlete Award, and helped her team win the A-North Division Title in both her sophomore and junior years. McDade was a Short Course Nationals Qualifier and holds records at her high school in the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, and 100 fly.
Kylie More
A native of Fairfield, Connecticut, she spent one season at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. The diver posted one first place, three second place and five third place finishes in her first season. More finished 11th in the one-meter dive (214.00) and 13th in the three-meter dive (206.95) at the 2016 Atlantic 10 Championships.
Alison Pigott
Swam freestyle for Coach Louis Pupolou at Villa Walsh Academy in Chester, New Jersey. Pigott was team captain her senior year and was a part of three NJISSA Prep B State Championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015. She holds a high school relay record in the 400 Free Relay.
Betsy Powers
Powers was a four year member of the varsity swim team at Hamilton Wenham in Massachusetts. She was named the league Swimmer of the Year as a sophomore, the same year her team won the league championship. The butterfly swimmer served as the team captain her senior season and qualified for the YMCA Long Course Nationals twice.
Colleen Young
While at Lindbergh High School in St. Louis, Young was the Renaissance Award winner. In the pool, set a school record in the 100 yard breaststroke while also being named the Suburban West Conference Champion in the 100 yard breaststroke. Competed at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London and the 2016 Games in Rio. At the 2016 Paralympic Trials, set an American and Pan American record in the 100 breaststroke. And in Rio, she earned a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke.
Katia Young
Young was a three-time All-League selection, a two-time High School All-American, named All-County twice, and a three-time CIF Champion while at Crean Lutheran in California. Her team won the league championship three times and the State Championship in 2016. The team was also undefeated all three years in dual meets. Individually, she holds the California state record in the 200 Medley Relay, the CIF Division 3 record in the 200 Freestyle Relay, and the CIF Division 2 record in the 200 Medley Relay. Young graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a part of the California Scholarship Federation.
