June 11, 2003
Poughkeepsie, NY - Marist College Director of Swimming and Diving Larry VanWagner announced that the signing of five student-athletes to National Letter's of Intent to swim for the women's swim team. Victoria Fresolone (East Setauket, NY), Kimberly Koehler (Narragansett, RI), Lauren Malski (Trumbull, CT), Jessica Paul (Meadowbrook, PA) and Cynthia Spiecker (Warrington, PA) have all signed NLI's to join the Red Foxes Class of 2007.
"I am excited to bring this group into our program," said VanWagner. "They will add great balance to our veterans, and will help us in our goal of winning the MAAC Title."
Fresolone, a senior at Stony Brook School, is a sprint freestyler, who captured the 2001 Empire State Games 100-meter freestyle title. As a senior she earned All-State, All-County and All-League accolades, while also being named Newsday's Suffolk County Athlete of the Week. Fresolone, also competes for the Three Village Swim Club, is an honor roll student and was selected to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum this year.
Koehler, who attends Narragansett High School, is also a sprint freestyler, who captured the Rhode Island state titles in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle as a senior. Her state titles helped her to earn RIIL Swimmer of the Year honors, capping a career in which she earned All-Division honors in each of her four scholastic seasons. Koehler, who also competes for the RAMS Swim Club, is a member of the National Honor Society and an honor roll student.
Malski, who attends Laurleton Hall, earned USA High School All-America accolades in the 100-yard breaststroke this season, winning that same event at the Connecticut State Open. She was the Laurleton Hall MVP as a senior, and was named All-State and All-League, in leading her team to an undefeated season. A member of the Amity Regional Aquatic Team, Malski is also an honor roll student at Laurleton.
Paul, a senior at St. Joseph's Academy, is a backstroke specialist, who's brother Jeff, is a member of the Marist men's team. She was a Pennsylvania State Championship finalist as a junior, and was a finalist in the 100-yard backstroke at the 2001 Eastern Interscholastic Swimming Championship. She will graduate with five St. Joseph's school records, and was named the Coaches Award winner as a senior.
Spiecker is a senior at Mount St. Joseph's Academy where she was a team captain this season. She finaled at the Eastern Interscholastic Championships as a senior, and helped lead her medley relay team to a fourth place finish as a sophomore. She will graduate as the school record holder in the 500-yard free, and will be a middle-distance freestyler at Marist. In the classroom she has earned First Honors, and was earned the Student-Athlete award as a senior.
The Marist women's swimming and diving team is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, having won five of the eight titles since joining the league for the 1995-96 season. VanWagner, in his 24th season as the head coach at Marist, will be taking over the reigns of the women's team for the first time since 1983.
