Florida Tech Panthers Swimming Team Signs 24 Recruits for Upcoming 2022-23 Season
By Corey Szewczyk, Florida Tech News Bureau // July 24, 2022
11 for the men's team and 13 for the women's team
BREVARD COUNTY • , FLORIDA – The Florida Tech Swimming team welcomes 24 recruits for the 2022 campaign, 11 for the men’s team and 13 for the women’s team.
“Coach Laura and I are really excited for this incoming class” said Head Coach David Dent.
“When Laura started in October, I gave her the keys to recruiting, and I personally think she did an amazing job at finding scholar athletes who fit into our team culture. We believe that each one of these incoming freshmen will be able to contribute to the championship culture we are building here at Florida Tech.”
Men’s Swimming
Connor Bryant
Bryant is from Winter Park, Florida, and joins the Panther family from Legacy High School. Connor will compete in the Backstroke, Fly, Breast, IM, and Sprint Free for the Panthers, and plans on studying Construction Management at Florida Tech.
“I chose FIT because the coach has a similar story to me, and the training schedule fit my type of swimming the best. It is also super close to the beach which is a plus!” -Connor Bryant
Joshua Cajuste
The Lauderhill, Florida native joins the Panther family from Pompano Beach High School and plans on studying Computer Science at Florida Tech. Joshua will compete in the Backstroke and Sprint Free for the Panthers. Cajuste chose Florida Tech because it felt like a great fit for him.
Benny Firtag
Benny is from Woodbridge, Virginia, and joins the Panther family from Woodbridge Senior High School.
Firtag will compete in the Fly and Sprint Free for the Crimson and Gray and plans on studying Civil Engineering at Florida Tech. Benny chose Florida Tech for the environment and the Panthers’ reputation.
Matthew Goembel
Matthew is from Cary, North Carolina and joins the Panther family from Athens Drive High School. Goembel plans on studying Software Engineering at Florida Tech and will compete in the Mid-Distance Free and Sprint Free for the Panthers.
“The team and coaches were very welcoming, and when I visited, I knew it was the place I wanted to be at.” -Matthew Goembel
Nolan Keysor
The Winter Park, Florida native joins the Panther family from Lake Howell High School. Nolan will compete in the Backstroke, Fly, Breast, IM, and Sprint Free for the Panthers, and plans on studying General Biology at Florida Tech. Keysor chose Florida Tech because it is very close to his extended family and has a good swim team.
Gavin Lanka
Gavin is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and attended Baton Rouge Magnet High School.
Lanka will compete in the Backstroke, Distance Free, and Mid-Distance Free for the Crimson and Gray, and plans on studying Mechanical Engineering at Florida Tech. Gavin chose Florida Tech because he loved the location and the stem focus of the school.
Josh McLean
Josh joins the Panther family from Houston, Texas, where he attended Saint Thomas High School.
McLean will compete in the IM, Distance Free, and Mid-Distance Free for the Panthers and plans on studying Air Traffic Control at Florida Tech. Josh chose Florida Tech because it was the best option that fit everything that he wanted to do.
Jack Pillsbury
Pillsbury joins the Panther family from Scarborough, Maine where he was homeschooled. Jack will compete in the IM and Distance Free for the Crimson and Gray and plans on studying Aviation at Florida Tech.
Jack chose Florida Tech because of the competitive atmosphere and strong academic focus.
Nathan Scott
The Melbourne, Australia native joins the Panther family from Magnolia High School. Nathan will compete in the Fly and Sprint Free for the Panthers and plans on studying Aerospace Engineering at Florida Tech.
When asked why he chose Florida Tech, Scott said “I heard that the aerospace engineering field had a good reputation there and it is quite close to companies such as NASA”.
Jaxon Strank
Jaxon comes to Florida Tech from Tiffin, Iowa, where he attended Clear Creek-Amana High School. Strank will compete in the Fly, Mid-Distance Free, and Sprint Free for the Panthers, and plans on studying Aerospace Engineering.
Jaxon chose Florida Tech because Tech checked all the boxes for him: Academics, Athletics, Job Opportunities, and Culture.
Jacob Sykora
Sykora joins the Panther family from Denver, Colorado, where he attended Regis Jesuit High School. Jacob will compete in the Breast, IM, and Sprint Free for the Panthers and plans on studying Aviation Management with Flight. Sykora chose Florida Tech because he liked the team atmosphere and Aviation.
Women’s Swimming
Emma Bahr
The Crown Point, Indiana native joins the Panther family from Crown Point High School. Emma will compete in the IM and Mid-Distance Free for the Crimson and Gray and plans on studying Software Engineering at Florida Tech.
Bahr chose Florida Tech because of the opportunities that the school has for her career.
Brooke Bailey
Bailey is from Ceiba, Puerto Rico and West Springfield, Virginia, where she attended West Springfield High School. Brooke will compete in the Breast and IM for the Panthers and plans on studying Marine Biology at Florida Tech.
“I chose Florida Tech because of the great marine biology program, the location, and because everyone I’ve met has been so welcoming”
Tori Bibler
Tori is from Sarasota, Florida and comes to Florida Tech from Sarasota High School. Bibler will compete in the Breast for the Panthers and plans on studying Mechanical Engineering.
Tori chose Florida Tech because of the beautiful location and stem programs that are offered.
Leah Fonnotto
Fonnotto joins the Panther family from Land ‘O Lakes, Florida, where she attended Sunlake High School. Leah will compete in the Fly, Distance Free, and Mid-Distance Free for the Panthers and plans on studying Psychology at Florida Tech.
“I chose Florida Tech due to its rigorous academic program and the team dynamics alongside a great coaching staff.”
Sophia Keller
Sophia is from Edgewater, Maryland and joins the Panther family from South River High School. Keller will compete in the Backstroke and Sprint Free for the Crimson and Gray and plans on studying Biomedical Engineering at Florida Tech.
When asked why she chose Florida Tech, Keller said “I fell in love with the swim program, as well as the accomplished engineering department. I knew that I wanted to be both an engineer and swim in college, where thankfully Florida Tech had both amazing options!”
Emma Knick
Knick, the Manassas, Virginia native comes to Florida Tech from Stonewall Jackson High School. Emma will compete in the Backstroke, Distance Free, and Mid-Distance Free for the Panthers and plans on studying Biomedical Science at Florida Tech.
Knick chose Florida Tech because the team was so inviting, it had the major she wanted to study, and the location.
Alex Knodel
Alex joins the Panther family from Lewis Center, Ohio, where she attended Olentangy Orange High School. Knodel will compete in the IM, Distance Free, and Mid-Distance Free for the Panthers and will study Civil Engineering at Florida Tech.
“I found it was the best fit for me academically and athletically. I thought it would be challenging in both aspects, but not too much for me to not be able to enjoy my time at FIT.”
Mina Lynch
Mina is from Cumming, Georgia and attended Forsyth Central High School. Lynch will compete in the Sprint Free for the Panthers and plans on studying Marine Biology at Florida Tech. “I chose Florida Tech because of the strong marine biology program, as well as the welcoming swim coaches, and the opportunity to be a part of a great swim program.”
Miranda Olhasso
Olhasso, the Holland, Pennsylvania native joins the Panther family from Council Rock High School. Miranda will compete in the Backstroke, Fly, and Sprint Free for the Panthers and plans on studying Psychology at Florida Tech.
Olhasso chose Florida Tech because of the campus atmosphere, psychology program, the swim team, and the coaches.
Kat Reburn
Kat is from Louisville, Kentucky and was homeschooled prior to joining the Panther family. Reburn will compete in the Backstroke, Mid-Distance Free, and Sprint Free for the Crimson and Gray and plans on studying Aerospace Engineering at Florida Tech. Kat chose Florida Tech because of the quality of the Aerospace Engineering program.
Nihaara Sawhney
Sawhney, the Delhi, India native comes to Florida Tech from Step by Step High School. Nihaara will compete in the Mid-Distance Free and Sprint Free for the Panthers and plans on studying Aerospace Engineering at Florida Tech.
“I chose Florida Tech because of their amazing Aerospace Engineering program and the opportunity to continue my swimming career under such welcoming and dedicated coaches. I love that FIT has comparatively smaller class sizes, great opportunity in the aviation industry, and recognition for their international students. Florida Tech has everything I dreamed of for my college experience!”
Sophia Sichtnik
Sophia joins the Panther family from Greenwich, Connecticut, where she attended Greenwich High School. Sichtnik will compete in the Breast for the Panthers and plans on studying Business Administration at Florida Tech.
“I chose Florida Tech because it has the perfect culmination of everything I need. It has strong academics with hands on experience and great sport possibilities. Florida Tech is also a close-knit community where I know I will feel at home, not to mention the great location with The Space Coast and wonderful weather.”
Emily Vossler
Vossler comes to Florida Tech from Cypress Woods High School, located in Cypress, Texas. Emily will compete in the Mid-Distance Free and Sprint Free for the Panthers and plans on studying Applied Mathematics at Florida Tech.
“I chose Florida Tech for the opportunity to study mathematics at a wonderful school and continue my athletic career in a great team atmosphere.”
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