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Virginia Announces Six More Recruits

Jun 8, 2000

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia head men's and women's swimming coach Mark Bernardino has announced that six more student-athletes have committed to attend the University of Virginia and compete on the swimming and diving team for the Cavaliers. The new recruits, who will enroll at Virginia for the 2000-01 academic year, include two women's swimmers, three women's divers and one men's diver. Virginia's swimming and diving recruiting class now totals 18, which includes 12 student-athletes who previously signed national letters of intent.

The five women's recruits are: Betsy Downey (Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman); Megan Harris (New Canaan, Conn./Greenwich Academy); Elizabeth Misiti (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley North); Katie Prior (Farmer's Branch, Texas/Logos Academy); and Rachael Schaffner (Vienna, Va./Bishop O'Connell). The men's recruit is Pete Amstutz (St. Joseph, Mich./St. Joseph).

Betsy Downey is a butterfly and distance freestyle swimmer from Richmond, Va. She is a member of the Beta Club and Spanish National Honor Society at Douglas Freeman High School. She swims for Nova Aquatics of Virginia and her personal best times include: 500 free (5:06.75); 1000 free (10:29.84); 1650 free (17:10.22); 200 fly (2:05.22); and 400 IM (4:34.49).

Megan Harris is one of three women's divers who have committed to Virginia. Harris, from New Canaan, Conn., is a 2000 YMCA finalist on the one and three-meter boards. She is also a Junior Nationals qualifier.

Elizabeth Misiti is a diver from Overland Park, Kan. She is a 2000 Kansas State finalist for Blue Valley North High School. Misiti is a Junior Nationals qualifier as well.

Katie Prior, from Farmer's Branch, Texas, is the third women's diving recruit. Prior has qualified for both Senior and Junior Nationals.

The final women's recruit is Rachael Schaffner from Vienna, Va. Schaffner swims the breaststroke and individual medley. The Junior National scorer swims for Curl Burke. She is an Echols Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. Schaffner is also Class Valedictorian at Bishop O'Connell High School. Her personal best times include: 100 breast (1:06.77); 200 breast (2:20.24); 50 free (24.86); and 200 IM (2:08.6).

The lone addition to the men's swimming and diving team is diver Pete Amstutz. He is from St. Joseph, Mich., where he is the Michigan State Champion. In 2000, Amstutz earned All-Conference and All-State accolades.