North Carolina State University Athletics
Swimming& Diving Announces Signees
12/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Swimming
Raleigh, N.C. - The NC State swimming/diving squad has announced the signing of four student-athletes to letters of intent to attend the University and compete for the Wolfpack next fall. The list includes John Appleman of Fairfax, Va., Charlie Hughes of Goldsboro, N.C., Ben Humphrey of Clemmons, N.C. and Catherine Parks of Winston-Salem, N.C.
Appleman, a diver, is a senior at Robinson Secondary School. He is coached by Bill York, the United States Junior Olympic diving coach. Appleman competed at the 1997 US Indoor Nationals, earning a spot on the Junior Olympic National diving team. In 1998, he won the USATT National Trampoline Championship. Appleman was a member of the three-time Virginia state championship diving squad from 1998-2000 and was also selected to the all-state squad those three seasons.
John is a very gifted diver, said NC State diving coach John Candler. He is very strong and graceful, which is a necessity to be outstanding. They are things he was just born with. I feel he'll end up where my other divers have been, which is winning the ACC Championship and making All-American.
Hughes, a senior at C.B. Aycock High School, is coached by Ron Hughes, his father. He is also a member of the Goldsboro YMCA, where he trains under the tutilege of coach John Richards. During his career, Hughes has finished second in the state championship as a sophomore and junior in the 100 butterfly. As a freshman, he won the North Carolina age-group state championship in the 200 butterfly. Hughes has advanced to the finals each of the past three seasons at the YMCA nationals in both the 100 and 200 butterfly. He is also currently the 3A East Region three-time defending champion in the 100 butterfly.
Charlie is going to give us good depth in the butterfly, which is good because that is where we are particularly thin right now, said NC State head coach Brooks Teal. He is going to get a chance to train with Tim (Haley), and will gain a great deal of experience from that. Charlie is a young man that is going to play a very significant role for us in the future and has earned a lot of praise for his tremendous work ethic.
Humphrey, a senior at West Forsyth High School, is coached by Jeff Thompson. He is also a member of the Winston-Salem YMCA, where he is coached by Robby Goodwin. In YMCA competition, Humphrey has achieved All-American honors three times. At West Forsyth, Humphrey earned all-conference and all-region honors in 1998 and 1999, including all-state recognition during his junior season.
Ben is going to be a very up and coming swimmer for us, said Teal. He has only been swimming competitvely for a year and had made tremendous strides during that period of time. His commitment over the past year has paid off immensely and has shown the good, raw talent that he has. We will look for him to contribute some for us next season, especially in our middle distance freestyle events.
Parks, a senior at R.J. Reynolds High School, is coached by Ryan Michel. Like Humphrey, she is a member of the Winston-Salem YMCA, where she also swims under the direction of Goodwin. In 1998, she was the long course national champion in the 200 butterfly. Parks also won the YMCA short course national championship for that event in 1999.
Catherine can contribute immediately for us in the butterfly and freestyle events, said Teal. Her impact will probably be most welcome in the 200 butterfly, where her fastest time (2:03.2) is faster than any of our four returning athletes. She can be an immediate ACC scorer for us and will also give us some good depth in the distance freestyle events.
Hughes' Top Times
100 butterfly - 51.8
200 butterfly - 1:52.8
Humphrey's Top Times
50 freestyle - 21.9 (21.2 split)
200 freestyle 1:45 (1:43 split)
200 Individual Medley - 2:00
100 butterfly - 54.7
100 backstroke- 54.5
Parks's Top Times
200 freestyle - 1:53.9
500 freestyle- 4:58.0
100 butterfly - 57.6
200 butterfly - 2:03.2
200 Individual Medley - 2:10.9
