The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Swimming and Diving signs nine to National Letters of Intent
12.04.2007 | Men's Swimming and Diving
AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas head men's swimming coach Eddie Reese and diving coach Matt Scoggin announced Tuesday that nine prep standouts have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Longhorns' swimming and diving program in the 2008-09 academic year.
Reese announced the signings of the following swimmers: Neil Caskey (Houston, Texas/Cypress Falls HS); Jimmy Feigen (San Antonio, Texas/Churchill HS); Eric Friedland (Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson HS); Matt Hoyland (Mendota Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy); Hayes Johnson (Nashville, Tenn.); Donald Sutton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons HS); Branden Whitehurst (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School) and Jackson Wilcox (Nashville, Tenn./Ensworth HS).
"We were able to take care of our needs in different events next year," Reese said of his signing class. "We are pleased that we were able to do that at a much higher level than we had hoped. These swimmers are very good, and they will do nothing but get better."
Scoggin announced Tuesday the signing of diver Drew Livingston (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS).
"Drew Livingston will come to UT with significant national and international diving experience," Scoggin said. "Drew focuses most of his attention on platform right now because he has a legitimate shot at making the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team on platform for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, Drew's springboard diving will immediately flourish at UT. He is a strong diver in all three events."
Texas Men's Swimming and Diving Signees
Neil Caskey (Houston, Texas/Cypress Falls HS)
- Member of the 2006-07 USA National Junior Team
- 2007 Texas UIL Class 5A state champion in the 200 IM (1:50.04) and the 100 butterfly (49.50)
- The nation's fifth-ranked high school senior in the 100 butterfly (49.50)
- Holds U.S. Olympic Trials cuts in the 100-meter butterfly (55.55) and the 200-meter butterfly (2:02.58)
Jimmy Feigen (San Antonio, Texas/Churchill HS)
- Member of the 2007-08 USA Swimming National Junior Team
- 2007 Texas UIL Class 5A state champion in the 50 freestyle and runner-up in the 100 freestyle
- The nation's second-fastest high school senior in the 50 freestyle (20.29)
- Holds U.S. Olympics Trials cut in the 100-meter freestyle (51.52)
Eric Friedland (Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson HS)
- Placed seventh in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:00.27) at the 2007 USA Swimming Short Course National Championships
- Also placed fourth in the 200 IM "C" final (1:49.45) and eighth in the 100 breaststroke "C" final (56.56) at the 2007 USA Swimming Short Course National Championships
- Ranked second among American high school seniors in the 100 breaststroke and seventh in the 200 IM (1:51.94)
- 2007 NISCA All-American in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 IM
Matt Hoyland (Mendota Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy)
- 2007 NISCA All-American - 100-yard breaststroke
- 2007 Minnesota Class A state champion in the 200-yard IM (1:57.48), 100 breaststroke (57.05) and the 200 free relay
- Led St. Thomas Academy to the 2007 Minnesota Class A state title
Hayes Johnson (Nashville, Tenn.)
- Member of the 2007-08 USA Swimming National Junior Team
- 2007 NISCA All-American - 200-yard IM (1:53.80)
- Owns a U.S. Olympic Trials cut in the 200-meter backstroke (2:04.50)
- Likely to add freestyle to his events
Drew Livingston (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS)
- 2007 NISCA National Champion - 1-meter diving
- Three-time gold medalist at the 2007 Junior Pan American Diving Championship
- Claimed the boys' 3-meter event at the 2007 Speedo Junior National Diving Championships
- Also placed second on the platform and third in the 1-meter event at the 2007 Speedo Junior National Diving Championships
- Placed fifth in the platform event at the 2007 Kaiser Permanente USA Senior National Diving Championships
- Captured the platform event at the 2007 USA Summer West Junior Championships
- Drew is the younger brother of Texas' 2007 NCAA platform diving champion, Jessica Livingston
Donald Sutton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons)
- 2007 NISCA All-American in the 50 freestyle (21.38)
- Placed third in the 50 freestyle at the Florida Class A State Championship
Branden Whitehurst (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School)
- 2007 Florida Class A State Champion in the 200-yard IM (1:50.82)
- Represented The Virgin Islands at the 2007 Pan American Games
Jackson Wilcox (Nashville, Tenn./Ensworth HS)
- Member of the 2007-08 USA Swimming National Junior Team
- Owns U.S. Olympic Trials cuts in the 400-meter freestyle (3:57.71) and the 1,500-meter freestyle (15:47.72)
- NISCA All-American in the 500-yard freestyle
