University of Minnesota Athletics
MINNESOTA SWIMMING SIGNS SIX
5/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
ChristiaUniversity of Minnesota head swimming coach Dennis Dale announced the signing of six swimmers for the 2001-02 season. Scott Young, Terry Silkitis, Neil Osten, Bjorn Lundin, Sean McCaffrey and Christian Anguis will join the Big Ten Champion Golden Gophers on their quest for back- to-back titles in the pool, as well as bringing very strong academic records to the Golden Gopher swim team.
Young, the only backstroker in this year's recruiting class, will be relied upon heavily to fill the void left by senior Olympian Alex Massura. Young, a native of Denver, Colo., was a 2000 NISCA All- American in the 100 back and the Colorado state high school champion in both the 50 free and 100 back and a 2000 Olympic Trials qualifier. In addition to his accomplishments in the pool, Young is an Eagle Scout and a member of the National Honor Society. He plans on majoring in engineering at Minnesota.
Silkaitis and McCaffrey will join the Golden Gophers from Evanston, Ill. They were both members of the Evanston Township High School swim team that won the 2001 Illinois State High School Championship. To help his team to the title, Silkaitis won the 200 free and was the runner-up in the 100 fly. He earned NISCA All-America honors in the 200 free. He qualified for the World Championship Trials this season. McCaffrey was the runner-up in the 100 free at the Illinois State Championships and took fourth in the 200 free. He is also a member of the water polo team at Evanston Township. Both Silkaitis and McCaffrey are members of the National Honor Society.
"Terry is a very versatile swimmer that will help solidify our relay teams, as well as strengthen our middle distance freestyles, sprint freestyles and butterfly events," Dale said. "Sean is also very versatile and will provide needed depth. His experience of being a key part of a very successful high school program will assist him greatly in making the transition to college swimming at Minnesota."
Osten, from Verona, Wis., will also be looked upon to fill holes left in relays by seniors Grant Butler and Massura. He will add strength to Minnesota's sprint free and fly events. Osten was a NISCA All-American and Wisconsin State High School champion in the 100 butterfly. He also took second in the 100 free and sixth in the 50 free and the Wisconsin State High School Championships. Osten plans to major in engineering at the U of M.
Bjorn Lundin and Christian Anguis will join the group of foreign swimmers that have been very successful in the Minnesota program. Lundin, a native of Bjaesred, Sweden was the 2000 Swedish Jr. National Champion in the 100 butterfly. This year he took third at the Swedish Nationals in the same event. He holds the Swedish Junior National record in the 100 fly at 53.58 (short course meters). The record was previously held by 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Lars Frolander. His international experience includes the 1998 World Youth Games and 1999 and 2000 European Junior Championships. He plans to major in engineering. Dale expects Lundin to challenge for a spot on the medley relays and to add depth in the 200 fly and sprint frees.
Anguis is a dual citizen in the United States and Mexico. He swims for the Mission Viejo Nadadores in Mission Viejo, Calif., the same club that produced current Golden Gophers Allen Ong and Diego Urreta. Anguis has been a multiple-time champion in Mexico in the sprint and middle distance freestyles. He has international competition experience in Cuba and Central America, as well as the 1998 World Youth Games in Moscow, Russia where he finished ninth in the 100 free and 18th in the 50 free. He has twice been recognized as the Athlete of the Year in Tijuana, Mexico. Anguis plans to major in engineering at Minnesota.
"Christian has the experience, talent and work ethic necessary to help us reach higher levels as a team," Dale said.
These six men, as well as Minnesota State High School 50 freestyle champion, Mike Hagen, will be huge assets to the University of Minnesota swimming program. They will be able to help Golden Gophers swimming stay at the pinnacle of the Big Ten for the next several years.
Young, the only backstroker in this year's recruiting class, will be relied upon heavily to fill the void left by senior Olympian Alex Massura. Young, a native of Denver, Colo., was a 2000 NISCA All- American in the 100 back and the Colorado state high school champion in both the 50 free and 100 back and a 2000 Olympic Trials qualifier. In addition to his accomplishments in the pool, Young is an Eagle Scout and a member of the National Honor Society. He plans on majoring in engineering at Minnesota.
Silkaitis and McCaffrey will join the Golden Gophers from Evanston, Ill. They were both members of the Evanston Township High School swim team that won the 2001 Illinois State High School Championship. To help his team to the title, Silkaitis won the 200 free and was the runner-up in the 100 fly. He earned NISCA All-America honors in the 200 free. He qualified for the World Championship Trials this season. McCaffrey was the runner-up in the 100 free at the Illinois State Championships and took fourth in the 200 free. He is also a member of the water polo team at Evanston Township. Both Silkaitis and McCaffrey are members of the National Honor Society.
"Terry is a very versatile swimmer that will help solidify our relay teams, as well as strengthen our middle distance freestyles, sprint freestyles and butterfly events," Dale said. "Sean is also very versatile and will provide needed depth. His experience of being a key part of a very successful high school program will assist him greatly in making the transition to college swimming at Minnesota."
Osten, from Verona, Wis., will also be looked upon to fill holes left in relays by seniors Grant Butler and Massura. He will add strength to Minnesota's sprint free and fly events. Osten was a NISCA All-American and Wisconsin State High School champion in the 100 butterfly. He also took second in the 100 free and sixth in the 50 free and the Wisconsin State High School Championships. Osten plans to major in engineering at the U of M.
Bjorn Lundin and Christian Anguis will join the group of foreign swimmers that have been very successful in the Minnesota program. Lundin, a native of Bjaesred, Sweden was the 2000 Swedish Jr. National Champion in the 100 butterfly. This year he took third at the Swedish Nationals in the same event. He holds the Swedish Junior National record in the 100 fly at 53.58 (short course meters). The record was previously held by 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Lars Frolander. His international experience includes the 1998 World Youth Games and 1999 and 2000 European Junior Championships. He plans to major in engineering. Dale expects Lundin to challenge for a spot on the medley relays and to add depth in the 200 fly and sprint frees.
Anguis is a dual citizen in the United States and Mexico. He swims for the Mission Viejo Nadadores in Mission Viejo, Calif., the same club that produced current Golden Gophers Allen Ong and Diego Urreta. Anguis has been a multiple-time champion in Mexico in the sprint and middle distance freestyles. He has international competition experience in Cuba and Central America, as well as the 1998 World Youth Games in Moscow, Russia where he finished ninth in the 100 free and 18th in the 50 free. He has twice been recognized as the Athlete of the Year in Tijuana, Mexico. Anguis plans to major in engineering at Minnesota.
"Christian has the experience, talent and work ethic necessary to help us reach higher levels as a team," Dale said.
These six men, as well as Minnesota State High School 50 freestyle champion, Mike Hagen, will be huge assets to the University of Minnesota swimming program. They will be able to help Golden Gophers swimming stay at the pinnacle of the Big Ten for the next several years.
Players Mentioned
PLAYER
/ Men's Swimming & DivingPLAYER
/ Men's Swimming & DivingBack/IM
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