The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Swimming and Diving signs five to National Letters of Intent
11.20.2008 | Men's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 20, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas head men's swimming and diving coach Eddie Reese announced Thursday the signings of five prep standouts to National Letters of Intent.
The following swimmers will join the Longhorns' program in the fall of 2009: Hunter Bayley (Houston, Texas/Stratford H.S.), Cole Cragin (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood H.S.), Nick D'Innocenzo (Andover, Mass./Andover H.S.), Dax Hill (Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock H.S.) and Austin Surhoff (Cockeysville, Md./St. Paul's School).
HUNTER BAYLEY (Houston, Texas/Stratford H.S./Cy-Fair Swim Club/Club Coach: Clayton Cagle)
- Member of the 2007-2008 USA National Junior Team
- 2007 Texas UIL Class 4A State Champion, 500 freestyle
- Placed sixth in the 200m backstroke (2:05.64) at the 2007 U.S. Junior Nationals
Top Times (short-course yards): 100 free - 46.07; 200 free - 1:38.75; 500 free - 4:28.22; 1000 free - 9:19.04; 1,650 free - 15:41.71; 100 back - 51.45; 200 back - 1:46.72
Top Times (long-course meters): 100 free - 53.39; 200 free - 1:54.74; 400 free - 4:07.06; 100 back - 58.70; 200 back - 2:03.45
Reese on Bayley: When his strength catches up to his limb length (7-foot wing span), he will do tremendous things and swim very fast times.
COLE CRAGIN (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood H.S./Cy-Fair Swim Club/Club Coach: Clayton Cagle)
- Member of the 2008-09 USA National Junior Team
- 2008 Houston Chronicle Boys' Swimmer of the Year
- 2008 Texas UIL Class 4A State Champion - 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly
- Swimming World Magazine five-star recruit
Top Times (long-course meters): 100 back - 56.44; 200 back - 2:03.03; 100 fly - 55.80; 200 fly - 2:05.20
Top Times (short-course yards): 100 back - 48.63; 200 back - 1:47.15; 100 fly - 49.87
Reese on Cragin: Cole is an exceptional fly kicker, and every team needs that. His fly kick gives him versatility in three strokes up to the 200-yard distances.
NICK D'INNOCENZO (Andover, Mass./Andover H.S./Magnus Aquatic Club)
- Member of the 2008-09 USA National Junior Team
- Placed 15th in the 200m IM at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials; qualified 11th for the 200 IM semifinals in 2:02.28
- NISCA All-American
- Three-time Massachusetts state champion in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM
- Swimming World Magazine five-star recruit
Top Times (short-course yards): 100 breast - 57.26; 200 breast - 2:07.14; 200 IM - 1:50.69; 400 IM - 3:56.15
Top Times (long-course meters): 100 breast - 1:04.39; 200 breast - 2:17.29; 200 IM - 2:00.87; 400 IM - 4:25.04
Reese on D'Innocenzo: Nick is the fastest improving individual medley swimmer in our country. He has a high level of versatility that every college team hopes to recruit.
DAX HILL (Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock H.S.)
- Placed second in the 100 freestyle and sixth in the 200 freestyle at the 2008 Texas UIL Class 5A state meet
- Swimming World Magazine three-star recruit
- A talented basketball player who measures 6-8, had been invited to join a major NCAA division I men's basketball program
Top Times (short-course yards): 50 free - 20.96; 100 free - 45.35; 200 free - 1:39.27
Reese on Hill: Dax is truly an outstanding two-sport athlete. He has swum all of his best times while playing basketball during the same season. We're glad he picked swimming, and we're glad he picked us.
AUSTIN SURHOFF (Baltimore, Md./St. Paul's School/North Baltimore Aquatic Club: Club Coach: Paul Yetter)
- Member of the 2008-09 USA National Junior Team
- Broke Michael Phelps' 15-16 age-group state record in the 200-yard backstroke (1:46.13)
- Placed 13th in the 200 IM (2:02.77), 17th in the 400 IM, 24th in the 200m backstroke (2:02.14) and 39th in the 100m backstroke (57.07) at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
- Swimming World Magazine five-star recruit
- Son of B.J. Surhoff, who played 19 seasons of Major League Baseball; mother, Polly, swam at the University of North Carolina
Top Times (long-course meters): 100 back - 56.97; 200 back - 2:02.14; 200 IM - 2:02.60; 400 IM - 4:24.07
Reese on Surhoff: Austin is the second-fastest improving individual medley swimmer in the country, but his freestyle will be one of the pleasant surprises for our team.
