May 16, 2007

DENVER - The University of Denver's 2006-07 recruiting class is ranked No. 14 in the nation, according to rankings compiled by Collegeswimming.com. With the signings of swimmers Garth Summers, Scott Madaras, Stephen Pendleton, Austin Fowler, Jon Austin, Ted Bonus, Joe Welnhofer and Caleb Severns, the Pioneers are setting up to become a force in the Sun Belt Conference.

Summers won the Oregon state championship in the 200m individual medley and was named his high school team's MVP. Summers competed the USA Swimming Spring Championship in the 200m IM, 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle. Summers did win the 100 yard butterfly at the NISCA Junior Nationals this spring in Orlando, Fla., and is a senior national qualifier in the 200m butterfly and a Scholastic All-American.

Maderas is a butterfly specialist who was an All-American, state champion and state record holder in the 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle. A Scholastic All-American, Manderas was his team's captain in 2007 and a USA Swimming Senior National qualifier in the 100m butterfly. "Signing men who have senior national cuts as high school athletes is a huge priority," said head coach Brian Schrader. "There just are not that many men 18 and under swimming at this level and to sign both of these athletes is something I am very excited about. They are both great students and they will have a large part in helping DU move forward. They are both very versatile and will impact relays as well as individual events