McCord adds 13 new swimmers during spring signing period

Paige McCord Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman swim coach Paige McCord has announced the addition of 13 new swimmers her program during the spring signing period.

Six women and seven men comprise the final pieces of the 2015 signing class for the swim teams. Three countries across two continents and five states are home to newest Eagles. Including the eight swimmers signed by McCord in the early signing period, 21 new Eagles will be coming to Mossy Creek this August.

Zeke Carnes, Ryland Darling, Jonathan Goss, Robert Griswold, Carson Knox, Jon Lancaster and Garrett Stelling are the seven new males, while Ellyse Culp, Gillian Cline, Kerry Holding, Emily Loftis, Bethany McNabb and Lisa Postma are the six new women.

"So looking forward to year three of our program. I cannot be more ready to have them come on board. We have been hugely successful in the past two years, but there has been some key positions that we needed to have filled and so this group, it's fairly large, they have an opportunity to come in and really make a name for themselves as well as infiltrate into the team in a great way," McCord said. "We have high hopes, high expectations and high demands for what we are going to be asking of these young men and women. Additionally, what I'm probably most excited about is where they are as far as their servant leadership. That's going to be a huge attribute to our program that they are going to be able to help us. We've got some young ladies and young men that are hugely talented both in and out of the water and the coaches and I can't wait to start on year three."

Zeke Carnes (Maryville, Tenn.) @zekamup: Carnes, the son of Tim and Marie Carnes, is a native of Maryville, Tenn. He is a Breaststroke and Individual Medley swimmer. Carnes qualified for the state meet in all three of the years he swam for Maryville High School. He qualified for the 2013 NCSA Junior Nationals in the 100 and 200 Breast. He was named Maryville High School's Most Outstanding Male in 2012. Carnes was born on January 13^th, 1997. Carnes chose Carson-Newman over a multitude of offers including offers from East Carolina and Towson. He plans to major in Religion with an emphasis in Ministry.

McCord on Carnes: "Pleased to have the opportunity to work with Zeke Carnes. He is someone who has really excelled through the high school years and I'm really excited to bring him to the collegiate level. Zeke should do really well for us this year."

Gillian Cline (Estill Springs, Tenn.) @gilliancline1: Cline, the daughter of Mike and Vicki Cline, is a breaststroke and freestyle swimmer from Estill Springs, Tenn. and will graduate from Franklin County High School. She finished seventh in the 100 Breast at the Tennessee state meet as a senior. She was Franklin County's leading point scorer during her last three seasons as a Rebel. Cline qualified for the state meet all four years in high school and she was a Southeastern Championship qualifier during her freshman, sophomore and senior campaigns. Cline chose to attend Carson-Newman over Translyvania University, Lenior-Rhyne and Emory and Henry College. She will major in Elementary Education and was born on March 24^th, 1997.

McCord on Cline: "Gillian is actually a local girl from just a few hours away. She will be really contributing in the breaststroke to us and a big point scorer for us as well."

Ellyse Culp (West End, N.C.) @cinderellyy_: Culp, the daughter of Jennifer Culp, is a native of West End, N.C. She swims the Butterfly and Individual Medley. She will graduate from Pinecrest High School. In the water, she was top-10 at the North Carolina Senior Championships. For the Pinecrest Pilots, she was a two-time team MVP, varsity letter winner and the team captain. Academically, she was a member of the National Honors Society and the Honor Roll. Culp was born on November 5^th, 1996. Her sister, Abby, runs cross country and track at the College of Charleston and her father, Rich, was on the triathlon team at the United State Naval Academy. Culp chose Carson-Newman over Queens (N.C.) Univerity of Charlotte and Indiana University of Pennslyvania. She plans to major in Interior Design.

McCord on Culp: "She is coming over and really brings a lot with her. She's a very talented young lady and really pleased to continue to develop several of her strokes, both the sprint as well as her abilities in the butterfly and breaststroke."

Ryland Darling (Arlington, Tenn.): Darling, the son of Paul and Tiffany Darling, is from Arlington, Tenn. He swims the Breast and I.M. He finished fourth in the state of Tennessee in the 100 Breast as a senior and has four top-10 finishes at the state meet. Darling is an academic All-American as a high schooler. His brothers Quinton, and Kalen, swam for the Whitworth Pirates; Kalen also ran cross country. Darling chose Carson-Newman over the University of Hawaii. Darling was born on May 27^th, 1997 and will be a Pre Med Biology major. 

McCord on Darling: "Ryland is from the Memphis area along with Garrett Stelling. The two of them are friends. I recruited them almost simultaneously. Garrett is a sprinter and Ryland breaststroke IMer. They are wonderful additions to our team that will add speed and depth."

Robert Griswold (Frehold, N.J.): Griswold, the son of Doug and Linda Griswold, joins Carson-Newman after graduating from Freehold Township High School in Freehold, N.J. He will swim the Back and Free for the Eagles. Griswold is a member of the U.S. Paralympic National Team and he is the world record holder in the 200 LC Backstroke and holds the American and Pan American records in the 100 Back and the 200 I.M. and he also owns the American record in the 400 Free. During his senior season at Freehold Township High School, he was the team captain. Griswold chose Carson-Newman over Loyla University – Maryland. He was born on November 27^th, 1996. Griswold will major in Political Science.

McCord on Griswold: "A very special young man. Robert is actually a para athlete for us and is competing to hopefully go to Rio (2016 Paralympics). Robert will be contributing very significantly in the distance events and the 200 Backstroke. I don't think that he lets that define him at all. Robert comes in and just in the six months I've recruited him, he has gotten stronger and stronger and stronger. He brings an attitude of determination no matter what. We are excited to bring him on board and great for the university and great for us and excited to hopefully train him to make the (U.S. Paralympic Team) for Rio. It is one of our big objectives."

Jonathan Goss (Heiskell, Tenn.): Goss, the son of James and Sarah Goss, swims the Fly and Sprint Free. He will graduate from Berean Christian School this semester. Goss has finished in the top-eight at TSSAA State Championships in the 100 Free and he finished in the top-12 in the 50 Free. He lettered all four years for the Eagles and was the team captain as a senior. Goss was born on April 18^th, 1997. He plans to study Accounting.

McCord on Goss: "A young man from Tennessee Aquatics, excited that he is coming to Mossy Creek. He is a sprinter. He is also interested in exploring the 100 Fly and so are we. He will do really well up here, be a significant contributor as well in our dual meets."

Kerry Holding (Bacup, Lancashire, United Kingdom) @kerryholding: Holding, the daughter of Simon and Kathleen Holding, swims the Butterfly and the Sprint Freestyle. She is from Bacup, Lanchashire in the United Kingdom. She previously swam at Burnley College. She was the silver medalist at the British College Nationals in the 100m Free in 2013. Her father, Simon, played semi-pro soccer. Holding was born on April 9^th, 1996. She chose Carson-Newman over Lindenwood, North Michigan, SAC and Saginaw Valley. She plans to major in Exercise Science.

McCord on Holding: "Kerry is from England and she is a sprinter and a butter flier. (Holding and fellow signee Lisa Postma) will be power-packed duo."

Carson Knox (Plant City, Fla.): Knox, the son of Ben and Kerri Knox, joins the Carson-Newman family after graduating from Lakeland Christian School in Plant City, Fla. He holds nine Viking school records, was first team All-Polk County for three years, three-time Florida state qualifier, Polk County Champion in 2013 in the 100 Back. Knox was the Lakeland Christian School team captain as a sophomore, junior and senior. He chose Carson-Newman over Lenior-Rhyne, Wingate and Limestone. Knox was born on July 16^th, 1997. He plans to study Business.

McCord on Knox: "He is from Florida. We are really excited. His standout events are the 200 Free and the 200 Backstroke. I'm looking forward to Carson coming in and seeing where he fits in. There seems an ability for him to come down to the 100 Backstroke or really being a major contributor on that 200 Freestyle. He's got a couple events there we are very much looking forward to him contributing in."

Jon Lancaster (Ringgold, Ga.) @ProJLan: Lancaster, the son of Charles and Emily Lancaster, will graduate from Heritage High School in Ringgold, Ga. before coming to Carson-Newman. He swims the distance Free events. As a Heritage General, Lancaster was the Georgia State Champion in the 500 Free and runner-up in the 200 Free with times that qualify him as an All-American; Lancaster was also named first team All-State. He holds the Southeastern Swimming record in the as a member of the 800 Free Relay. Lancaster is a member of Heritage High School's National Honor Society, Beta Club and he will graduate with the highest honors possible. He was born on October 16^th, 1996 and will major in Exercise Science.

McCord on Lancaster: "Almost local. He is from the northern Georgia, Chattanooga area. Jon swims with Baylor swim team. He will fill key positions on our 1000 and mile as well as potentially on our 800 Freestyle Relay spot."

Emily Loftis (Hendersonville, Tenn.): Loftis, the daughter of Sharon and Jeff Loftus, joins the Carson-Newman program after graduating from Hendersonville High School in the midstate. She will swim the Back and Fly for the Eagles. Loftis is undecided on a major.

McCord on Loftis: "Emily Loftis is a very talented young lady. She swims backstroke and butterfly and a young lady that has recently healed up from a significant injury so I'm excited to see what we can do once we get her in and put some more training under the belt."

Bethany McNabb (Newport, Tenn.) @BethanyMcNabb: McNabb, the daughter of Richard and Pam McNabb, is from Newport, Tenn. and will graduate from Cocke County High School before joining the Eagles. She swims Breast and I.M. She is a four-time TISCA State Swimming Championship qualifier and was the captain of Cocke County's team for four years. Academically, she a member of: Girls State, Beta Club, Key Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. McNabb was born on April 7, 1997 and will study Education.

McCord on McNabb: "We are so glad Bethany has decided to be an Eagle. She is a local lady from Cocke County and we are excited she will be on board.

Lisa Postma (Leiden, Sweden) @_LisaPostma: Postma, the daughter of Yvonne Vand den Bos, is a Freestyle swimmer from Leiden, Sweden. She chose C-N over the University of Indianapolis and Delta State. Postma was born on June 27^th, 1997 and will major in Exercise Science.

McCord on Postma: "Lisa is from the Netherlands and we are so excited to bring her overseas to America. She brings quite a bit of talent in the sprint area and looking forward to her abilities all the way up to the 200 Freestyle."

Garrett Stelling (Eads, Tenn.) @gstellar28: Stelling, the son of Mark and Kellye Stelling, is a native of Eads, Tenn. just outside Memphis. He swims the Sprint Free and Breast. He finished in seventh-place at the 2015 TSSAA State Championships in the 100 Breast and he is the Shelby County Champion in the 50 Back and the 200 Medley Relay. Stelling is a Scholastic All-American and named Best of the Preps by the Comerical Appeal in 2014 and 2015.  Stelling was born on October 28^th, 1996. Stelling chose Carson-Newman over Southern Illinois, Birmingham Southern and Truman State.  He plans to major in Exercise Science.

McCord on Stelling: "Garrett is from the Memphis area along with Ryland Darrling. The two of them are friends. I recruited them almost simultaneously. Garrett is a sprinter and Ryland breaststroke IMer. They are wonderful additions to our team that will add speed and depth."

-CN-