Clemson Swimming and Diving Announces Eight 2002-2003 Signees

Dec. 12, 2001

CLEMSON, SC- The Clemson swimming and diving teams have announced eight signees for the 2002-2003 season. The men will welcome Jordan Raynovich, Greg Middleton, and Ben Kanoy to Clemson next fall. The women will be joined by new Tigers Nikki Deering, Shelly Klaus, Nichole Carelton, Kelly Urso, and Kimberly Routh.

Jordan Raynovich will come to Clemson from St. Petersburg, Fl where he swam at Northeast High School for Bill Burrows. Raynovich also swam for the St. Petersburg Aquatics Team under Fred Lewis. During his high school career, Raynovich won the Florida state championship in the 200 IM and also earned first-team All-American honors in 2000. He holds the Florida state records in the 100 breast, 200 IM, and 200 medley relay. Raynovich has indicated interest in pursuing a marketing degree at Clemson.

Greg Middleton comes to Clemson via Centerville, OH where he swam at Centerville High School. Middleton also swam under Kevin Weldon for the Dayton Raiders swim club. He was a member of the Centerville H.S. team that earned second-place honors at the Ohio state championships in 2001. Middleton earned high school All-American honors in the 500 free and 200 free during his high school career and holds conference records in both events. He has expressed interest in pursuing a business degree at Clemson.

Ben Kanoy will arrive on campus from Durham, NC where he swam at Jordan High School under coach Dustin McDaniels. Kanoy earned All-State honors in 2000 and was a member of the Jordan H.S. team that won regionals in 2000 and 2001. Kanoy holds Jordan H.S. team records in the 100 and 200 fly events as well as in the 200 back and 400 IM. He has not yet named a college major.

Nikki Deering joins the Tigers from Lexington, NC where she swam at Central Davidson High School under the direction of her coach and mother Karen Deering. Deering is a two-time North Carolina state champion in the 100 fly and earned second-place honors in the 200 free. She was named conference MVP for he 2000-2001 season. Deering was also a member of the Winston Salem Y team that earned national titles in 2000 and 2001. She has not yet named a college major.

Shelly Klaus enters Tiger Town from Pepper Pike, OH where she swam at Hawken High School under coach Jerry Holtrey. Klaus was named to the 2000 USA Swimming Scholastic All America Team. She qualified for the 2000 Olympic trials in the 400 IM and the 200 fly. Klaus won junior national championships in the 200 fly (2000) and 1650 free (1999) and set a junior national record with her performance in the 1650 free in 1999. Klaus holds Hawken H.S. records in the 100 fly and 200 IM. She plans on pursuing a degree in either accounting or sports management while at Clemson.

Nichole Carlton will make the short trip to Clemson from Camden, SC where she swam at Lugoff-Elgin High School. Carlton is a three-time South Carolina state champion in the 500 free and holds the state record in the event. Besides her stellar swimming career, Carlton is also an accomplished runner. She won the 1999 state title in the 3200m and was the 2000 cross country state champion. Her multi-sport talent runs in the family as her father, William Carlton, lettered in track, football, wrestling, and swimming at Hiram College in Hiram, OH. Carlton plans on pursuing a B.S. in Biology while attending Clemson.

Kelly Urso joins the Tigers from Haymarket, VA where she swam at Stonewall Jackson High School under coach Khristy Gilmer. Urso also swam for the Occoquan swim club under the direction of Dave Tonnesen. Urso earned All-American honors in the 100 back and holds the Stonewall Jackson H.S. and district record in the event. She also holds the northwest regional, district, and school record in the 200 free. Urso was named to the US Swimming Scholastic All-American Team and was also named a Potomac Valley scholar athlete. Urso plans to study political science while attending Clemson.

Kimberly Routh comes to Clemson from Sandusky, OH where she swam at Perkins High School under the direction of coach Steve Cremean. Routh is a two-time honorable mention All-American and is a conference champion and record holder in the 200 and 500 free. She earned second-place honors at the Ohio state meet in the 500 free and finished fourth in the 200 free. Routh was a member of the 400 free relay team that holds the district record in the event. She has not yet decided on a college major.

Coach Bruce Marchionda is pleased to welcome these athletes to the Clemson program. “We are very excited to welcome eight new Tigers. They all have the ability to step in and have an immediate impact in the program. They will help us challenge for the ACC championship and move us forward nationally,” said Marchionda.

Both the men and women’s swimming and diving teams will be back in action on Jan. 5, when they travel to Miami, Fl for a tri meet with Miami and Rutgers. The first event is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.