Ball Adds Five More For 2009-10 Season

Central Connecticut head swimming and diving coach Bill Ball announced five additions to the Blue Devil squad for the 2009-10 season on Friday. Lauren O'Kelly, Jennifer O'Leary, Christine Smith, Lauren Shortell, and Korinn Taylor have committed to CCSU for next season in hopes of winning a third straight Northeast Conference Championship for the Blue Devils.

"I am very excited about this group," said Ball. "Adding them to our 2009-10 team gives us the makings of what could be one of the strongest teams we have had here at CCSU. I know that is a very bold thing to say since we have won the last two NEC Championships and the ECAC Championship one year ago, but this group has the depth we had two years ago and all the talent we have had each of the last two seasons. If everyone stays healthy and everyone works to their potential there is no telling how strong we could be one year from now. This is something we needed to do to be able to stay in the top three of the NEC, as all the teams in the conference continue to get stronger."

Shortell, of Ansonia, CT, along with Smith, of South Windsor, CT and Taylor, of Southbury, CT, will primarily work in the freestyle events. This should fill a void left by the graduation of senior captain Erin Crowley. Smith will focus on the distance free events, while Taylor will lean on the sprints to help the Blue Devils next season.

O'Kelly, a Brewster, NY native, will work in the freestyle events, but also add depth to the individual medley this fall. Hailing from West Suffield, CT, O'Leary will do most of her work in the breaststroke as the 2009-10 season begins.

"These five athletes, added to the already very strong group of four we signed early, fill all the voids left from the last two graduating classes, and make us an even stronger program than we were in 2008-09," Ball said.

Taylor Friedmann, Katie Lang, Hannah Packer and Allison Rasile commited to Central Connecticut earlier this year and complete the Blue Devils' class of 2013.

CCSU will begin their season this fall and attempt to three-peat at the NEC Championships and bring the ECAC crown back to New Britain in the winter.