Virginia Tech’s director of swimming and diving Sergio Lopez Miro announced the signing of five women and four men to national letters of intent on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
They are set to join the Hokies in the fall of 2024.
Women
Amanda Barnard- Patrick Henry High School, Rockville, Va.
Honors: Patrick Henry swim captain sophomore and junior year. State champion in 200 IM and 500 free freshman, sophomore and junior year. Holds the state record in the 200 IM. Best time in 1650 free 16:16.73. Best time in 400 IM. Best time in 500 free 4:46.12.
Christine Datovech- Maggie L. Walker Governor’s for Government and International Studies, Richmond, Va.
Honors: Three-time NISCA All-America Swimming 2022-2023 (50 free, 100 back, 100 butterfly). Three-time qualifier at 2022 USA Swimming Winter Junior Nationals – East in 50 free, 100 butterfly and 100 free. Participated in the USA Swimming Summer Junior Nationals in Irvine, Calif. in August 2023. Virginia Swimming All-Star Team 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023. Two time individual class three VHSL state champion in 100 butterfly and 50 free. Six time VHSL class 3A region Champion. Richmond Times-Dispatch first team All-Metro junior year in 50 free. Richmond Times-Dispatch second team All-Metro in the freshman and sophomore year in 50 free. Richmond Times-Dispatch second team All-Metro junior year in 100 butterfly, 100 back and 100 free. VHSL Class 3 All-State Honors freshman, sophomore and junior year. Member of 2022 and 2023 VHSL Class 3 State Championship girl’s swim team. Member of 2022 VHSL State Champion 400 free relay team.
Julia Murphy- The Bolles School, Burlington, Vt.
Honors: State champion in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. 2023 100 fly state champion (53.96). 100 fly team record. 400 free relay team record. 200 medley team and state record. 200 free relay team and state record. 200 free LCM state record.
Sofia Salvato- Liceo Scientifico Valeriani, Imola, Italy.
Honors: Participated at the 2023 European Junior Swimming Championships. Won medals these past two years at Junior Nationals. Joined final B at Nationals these past two years. 50 Back 27.66 (SC) 28.83 (LC). 100 Back 58.97 (SC) 1:01.89 (LC). 200 Back 2:11.23 (SC). 50 Butterfly 27.33 (SC) 28.19 (LC). 100 Butterfly 1:00.71 (SC).
Emily Santos- Montverde Academy, Panama City, Panama.
Honors: Swim team captain for three years. During senior year placed first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:01.44 at the State Championship and placed third in the mixed relay. During junior year, place third in the 100 breaststroke at the State Championship. Received All-American recognition for 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:02.14. Placed second in the 200 breaststroke and broke national record with a time of 2:30.93 at the 2023 Juegos. Centroamericanos San Salvador for Panama. Participated for for Panama at the 2023 Panamerican Games and won both B finals and broke national record for 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:09.43.
Men
JC Gordon- Liberty Christian Academy, Lynchburg, Va.
Honors: Three time YMCA National Champion. Three time State Champion.
Danny Bishop- Vandegrift, Austin, Texas.
Honors: Four-year varsity letterman. Team Captain 2022-2023. Texas 6A state runner up 2023 in 200 free. Texas 6A state bronze medalist 2023 in the 200 Medley Relay. Texas 6A state finalist 2023 in 500 free and 400 free relay. School record holder in 200 free, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. First Team All-State.
Jakub Poliačik, Gymnázium Grösslingová 18, Slovakia.
Honors: Holds multiple national junior titles. National record in short course 200 free with a time of 1:45.76. Attended 2021 long course European Championship. Attend long course European Junior Championship finals in the 4×200 free. Member of national team at World Junior and European Junior Championships. 11th in 200 free at Otopeni. Placed 18th in 800 free short course at the World Championship. Participated in U23 European Championship long course.
Levente Balogh- Vörösmarty Mihály Gimnázium, Budapest, Hungary.
Honors: 2023 European Junior Swimming Championship: Fourth in 200 butterfly, fourth in 400 medley relay and seventh in 800 free relay. 2023 Hungarian Junior National Swimming Championship: First in 200 butterfly, second in 100 butterfly, third in 50 butterfly, first in 100 back, second in 200 back and third in 50 back. 2023 Hungarian Short Course National Swimming Championships: Second in the 800 free relay, third in 200 fly, third in 400 medley relay and third in 400 free relay.
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