KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island swimming & diving head coach Lilli Deering announced the addition of eight swimmers and one diver to the program for the 2021-22 season.
The group includes student-athletes from across the country, as Deering expanded the footprint of URI's roster. She added athletes from California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and two from Rhode Island.
"While COVID-19 was crummy in a lot of ways, there were a lot of positives that came out of it from a recruiting standpoint," Deering said. "We were able to connect with the swimmers and divers via Zoom often because we were all home, and it helped create strong connections earlier in the process."
Hannah Benavides
Chariho High School
Hope Valley, R.I.
Breaststroke
Despite her high school not having a swim team, Benavides is an All-State selection in Rhode Island. As a junior, she was the state champion in the 100 breaststroke and finished third in the 200 IM. During her freshman year, Benavides was the Swimmer of the Meet at the Bay View Invitational. Benavides has a brother, Jack, who competes for the Fairfield men's swimming & diving team. She chose Rhode Island over Fairfield, Connecticut and Northeastern.
Deering on Benavides
"Hannnah a strong breaststroker. Her incoming times are already very competitive in the Atlantic 10 in both the 100 and 200. She has been around the program a while. Her mother Lynne runs the timing system at our home meets, so Hannah has seen our program compete many times. I am excited to work with her for the next four years."
Jordynn Brown
Maui High School
Kahului, Hawaii
Freestyle
A Hawaii state runner up in the 200-yard freestyle during both her junior and sophomore seasons at Maui High School, Brown also placed third in the state in the 100 backstroke as a sophomore. She did not get to compete in her senior season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brown also has competed for the Hawaii Swim Club, and one of her teammates there, Kysha Altura, is now in the Atlantic 10 with Fordham. Brown's mother, Kristine Hayashi, competed collegiately for the University of San Diego.
Deering on Brown
"Jordyn brings a strong freestyle game to the team. Whether it is the 50, 100 or 200, we are always looking to strengthen the freestyle area, and Jordyn is going to be a big part of that. This is a young woman who has shown a lot of excitement about the opportunity to come across the country and compete for Rhode Island."
Quinn Frost
North Allegheny High School
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Freestyle
A team captain for North Allegheny in 2020-21, Frost was a four-time WPIAL qualifier and three-time PIAA qualifier during her high school career. She set four school records in high school, owning her program's fastest times in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 200 IM events. Frost helped lead her team to four consecutive WPIAL championships, as well as a PIAA championship in her senior season. She swam for head coach Patrick Wenzel at both North Allegheny High and with the Allegheny North Swim Club. She picked URI over Vermont, Case Western, Drexel and Seton Hall.
Deering on Frost
"Quinn has really fit in well with the incoming class and the team overall. This is another swimmer who adds strong depth in freestyle and the IM. Her strength in these events will help move the program forward and I look forward to working with her over the next four years."
Casey Fusco
Grafton High School
Yorktown, Va.
Back/Breast
A four-year letter winner and team captain as a senior for Grafton, Fusco also has significant club experience to her credit. She spent seven years swimming for South Eastern Virginia Aquatics and one year with Coast Guard Blue Dolphins. She posted national qualifying times for her club team and also set her club's records in the 50 free, 200 IM and 200 breaststroke. She picked URI over fellow A-10 schools George Mason and Davidson, as well as Marshall and Towson.
Deering on Fusco
"Casey offers a lot of strength in both the breaststroke and backstroke events. That type of versatility is a nice asset to have. She won't always swim in the same events. Her 200 times are competitive in the A-10, and she has expressed a desire to work in the IM. We are always looking for people interested in training and competing in the IM. Casey brings a lot of strength in several areas.
Emma Lee
Tesoro High School
Ladera Branch, Calif.
Free/IM
The valedictorian for Tesoro High School, Lee helped lead her team to four league championships during her career. She set school records in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 butterfly and 500 freestyle events. A three-time league finalist and two time CIF Division I finalist, Lee earned four letters for head coach Todd Conrad. She also competed for the Mission Viejo Nadadores, Gators Swim Club and Ladera Ranch Liquids. She chose URI over Vassar, Swarthmore, Washington State, Whitman and Johns Hopkins.
Deering on Lee
"Emma is a strong all-around swimmer. With some training in the IM, she will provide quality depth in the areas we need. We graduated two distance swimmers, and Emma has the potential to address an immediate need for the team. She adds a level of versatility that is really great. She will be able to swim many different events at our meets."
Kelsey McMenemy
Homeschooled
Cincinnati, Ohio
Backstroke
Named the Most Valuable Swimmer for the Winton Woods High School team, McMenemy was a three-time District I qualifier during her career. As a senior, she placed sixth in the 200 IM at the district championship. During her junior season, she was eighth in the 100 backstroke and 11th in the 200 IM at the district meet. A team captain for Cindy Kamp at Winton Woods, McMenemy also competed for the Powel Crosley YMCA squad for seven years. She chose Rhode Island over Millersville and Stony Brook.
Deering on McMenemy
"Kelsey comes in with times that are competitive in the Atlantic 10. She brings a lot of energy in the backstroke, which is a good thing. She is experienced leading off in medley relays, which is always the start of our dual meets. Kelsey will come in and help push other athletes on the team to improve as well. She also has some really strong times in the IM too. This is someone with a lot of strong potential."
Delaney Smith
Nauset Regional High School
Brewster, Mass.
Diving
A three-time Cape and Islands League champion for Nauset, Smith's high school career was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She was not able to compete as a senior since her closest home pool did not have a diving board, and all meets were virtual. She still contributed for her team, competing in butterfly events. Smith was a gymnast growing up before taking up diving in eighth grade, proving to be a quick study in the sport. She also dove for the SSDC-Ripdive club team.
Deering on Smith
"Delaney really fit in well with the other divers on our team during her recruitment. She is a really positive, upbeat athlete. We graduated a diver this year, so Delaney rounds out our divers again and helps sustain our depth in that area."
Maddie Tetreault
La Salle Academy
Pawtucket, RI
IM/Back/Distance
A local product out of Pawtucket, Tetreault is a four-time All-State swimmer from La Salle Academy. A team captain for coaches Katherine Kimmerlein and Paul McCarthy, Tetreault is a three-time state champion in the 500 freestyle and two-time state runner up in the 200 IM. A three-time Top 10 Swimmer in New England, she was an All-State selection in both the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke as a senior. She set five schools records in her career, doing so in the 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 IM, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. In addition to her high school career, Tetreault competed for the Bluefish Swim Club. She chose Rhode Island over Miami (Ohio) University, Drexel, Delaware and Cornell.
Deering on Tetreault
"Maddie is a strong all-around swimmer. The key to her is the versatility she brings to the table. She is going to be able to compete in a bunch of different races for us. She is one of the top swimmers in the IM, backstroke and distance races in the state, and the chance to add local talent is always exciting."
Jackie Triglia
West Islip High School
West Islip, N.Y.
Butterfly
A three-time All-State selection for West Islip High School, Triglia competed in the 100 butterfly, 200 IM and 100 backstroke for head coach Tanya Carbone. She set five school records during her career – owning fastest times in the 100 butterfly in yards and meters; the 100 backstroke in yards; and the 200 IM in yards and meters. A team captain her senior year, Triglia was a three-time county champion and placed third in the New York State meet as both a junior and senior. Triglia also swam for the Connetquot Swim Club. She picked URI over Colgate, Binghamton and Georgetown.
Deering on Triglia
"Jackie was one of the few in-person recruits we had during this last year. Her older cousin Bridget Whalen ('17) competed for URI, which helped Jackie feel more familiar with the program. She trains in fly, and those swimmers are hard to come by. We are very excited to bring her into the program. She is very strong and definitely will be very successful here."
