George Washington University Athletics
GW Women's Swimming and Diving Announces Incoming Class
7/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
WASHINGTON â€" George Washington head swimming and diving coach James Winchester has added six student-athletes to the incoming Class of 2020 for the women's squad.
Winchester adds a total of 10 newcomers ahead of his second season at the helm after Gemma Atherley (Grouvile, Jersey, Channel Islands/Walkers Tigers Swimming Club Jersey) â€" CollegeSwimming.com's 524th-ranked overall recruit â€" Alli Lapps (Knoxville, Tennessee/Tennessee Aquatics) â€" CollegeSwimming.com's 13th-ranked Tennessee recruit â€" Anaka Will-Dryden (Oakville, Ontario, Canada/Oakville Aquatic Club) â€" CollegeSwimming.com's eighth-ranked recruit out of Ontario and 666th overall recruit â€" and Lynn Zhang (Rockville, Maryland/Rockville Montgomery Swim Club) â€" CollegeSwimming.com's 19th-ranked recruit from Maryland and 748th overall recruit - were announced in December during the early signing period.
The Colonials graduated seven student-athletes in 2016.
"I am excited to welcome our 10 newcomers to our program for the 2016-17 season," said Winchester. "With the addition of these ten, plus the return of Selin Ozturk from her redshirt year, this class will have an opportunity to impact our program immediately. Replacing a large senior class is always a challenge, but I believe this class does that and more."
Gillian Chowske
Hometown: Wantagh, New York
High School: Wantagh High School
Club Team: Long Island Divers
Club Coach: George M. Taylor, III
Accomplishments: Second place at Division Championship…Fourth place at Nassau County Championship.
Best events: 1 meter
Why I chose George Washington: I chose George Washington because the moment I set foot on campus, I fell in love! GW has the perfect balance of academics and athletics, and Washington, D.C., offers endless opportunities to GW's students. The team and coaching staff are incredible and I can't wait to spend my next four years as a Colonial!
Chose GW over: The Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Michigan
Head diving coach Anthony Crowder on Chowske: "We are very excited to welcome Gillian Chowske to the GW swimming and diving family. Gillian is a well-rounded student-athlete with a bright future at the A-10 Conference level â€" she is an exciting addition."
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
High School: Oakland Catholic High School
Club Team: Team Pittsburgh Aquatics
Club Coach: Carter Crosby, Stacy Busack (winter); Marian Clark, Jeff Burghoff (summer)
Accomplishments: Four-time Top 8 High School Sectional individual swimmer…Four-time States swimmer…Anchor for the record-breaking 200 medley relay at Sectional meet as a junior…Broke same record as a senior, earning recognition as a NISCA All-America Top 100 Athlete…Three-time Scholastic All-American…43rd-ranked recruit in Pennsylvania by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke, 200 IM, 400 IM
Why I chose George Washington: GW offers incomparable academic programs coupled with a world class coaching staff. I am proud to call myself a Colonial and represent the GW swimming and diving team.
Chose GW over: Boston College, Fordham University, USMA at West Point
Coach Winchester on Coghill: "We had kept our eye on Courtney for awhile, and I'm glad that we were the right fit for her. With times right on our school records, Courtney could have a great impact here during her freshmen year."
Hometown: New Hope, Pennsylvania
High School: The Pennington School (NJ)
Club Team: Eastern Express Swim Team
Club Coach: Brent Matheson
Accomplishments: Sectional Qualifier…Easterns Finalist…2014-2015 Red Raider Award winner…2015 Capria DeVenuto Award recipient…61st-ranked recruit in Pennsylvania by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle
Why I chose George Washington: I chose George Washington because it offers the perfect combination of athletics and academics. The team and everyone I met at GW is incredibly welcoming, and I feel that I can reach my goals under the coaches. I can't wait to be a Colonial!
Coach Winchester on Colyar: "Shanna continues our pipeline of talent coming from Pennsylvania. Her personality is going to be a great fit for our program, and her progressions in her main events point toward her having a great chance to make an impact in the sprint events during her time here at GW."
Hometown: Palm Harbor, Florida
High School: Palm Harbor University High School
Club Team: Palm Harbor YMCA
Club Coach: Lisa Bitting
Accomplishments: YMCA National Qualifier...Florida Senior Championship finalist in 100 and 200 backstroke and 50, 100, 200 and 500 freestyle...Member of Palm Harbor University High School record-breaking 200 and 400 freestyle relays...Member of Pinellas County Aquatic Conference record-breaking 200 freestyle relay…82nd-ranked recruit in Florida by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke
Why I chose George Washington: George Washington is the perfect fit for me. The team is motivated and diverse, and the coaches have a clear vision for the future of the team. As an intended international affairs major, D.C. is the best city to be in. I love the city setting and being right in the middle of the all the exciting things happening in our nation's capital. The opportunities that GW can offer me as a student-athlete are unbeatable.
Chose GW over: Florida State University, University of North Florida
Coach Winchester on Hample: "When Emily came on her recruiting trip, I knew she would be a great fit for our program. Her personality is infectious, and I know she will bring a lot to our culture inside and outside the pool. Emily brings some great depth to our freestyle events, and she will get the chance to contribute early and often here during her freshman campaign."
Hometown: Whittier, California
High School: La Salle High School
Club Team: Brea Aquatics
Club Coach: Jim Johnson
Accomplishments: Took first at CIF in both the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke as a junior…Took first at CIF in the 100 breaststroke as a senior…Hall of Fame athlete for the class of 2016 in high school….Junior National qualifier in the 200 breaststroke and the 200 butterfly…54th-ranked recruit in California and 442nd overall by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 200 Butterfly (2:03.19), 200 Breaststroke (2:18.52), 400 IM (4:25.29)
Why I chose George Washington: I chose George Washington because of its unique balance of academics and athletics. Each athlete knows that in order to succeed they must do well outside of the pool as well as in the pool. Volunteering and outreach is important to me, and knowing that I found a school that prioritizes these qualities is exciting. GW has a great, well-rounded community of students who try to excel in all aspects of their lives.
Chose GW over: Boston University, Wesleyan University, Lafayette College
Coach Winchester on Torrez: "Jackie is going to be a great addition to our program, and will walk in the door as one of our best swimmers in a wide range of events. With times already faster than some of our school records, Jackie should make a big impact at the Atlantic 10 Championship level. Her diversity of events is going to be a huge asset for us as we work towards moving up the conference rankings."
Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia
High School: Osbourn Park High School
Club Team: Occoquan Swimming
Club Coach: Aaron Dean
Accomplishments: Competed four years in District, Regional, and State meets for Virginia High School League representing Osbourn Park High School…Competed in 2014 at Eastern Zone Southern Sectionals… Qualified for Dolfin Spring Junior National Championship three times, competing twice…66th-ranked recruit in Virginia by CollegeSwimming.com.
Best events: 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke, 200 IM
Why I chose George Washington: GW is close to home and will allow me to visit home on some weekends. I got a great feel from all the other members of the team on my recruiting trip, and GW just felt like the right place for me. It's also a great school for my intended major of biology.
Chose GW over: University of Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Bowling Green State University
Coach Winchester on Vogel: "Elisabeth will be a strong addition to our breaststroke group and has the opportunity early to make a contribution to our lineup. With a strong potential to score at A-10's, we look forward to her development here at GW."
"The hard work performed by [Assistant Coach] Katie Stefl and [Head Diving Coach] Anthony Crowder cannot be underestimated as this class really lays the foundation for our program to be successful moving forward," said Winchester. "The infusion of talent plus our returning foundation gives our program the opportunity to make some significant moves up the Conference rankings this coming year."
Players Mentioned
