June 13, 2011
Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook men's swimming and diving team and head coach Dave Alexander announced the addition of 14 student-athletes for the upcoming season on Monday. The incoming class includes 11 swimmers and three divers.
The divers include Kaleim Reid (Uniondale, N.Y.), Kyle Gannon (North Babylon, N.Y.) and Christian Rodriguez. Reid, who swam for the Long Island Divers under head coach George Taylor III, holds Uniondale High School records in the diving events. Gannon, who graduated from North Babylon High School, is described by Alexander as a "solid diver who will compete on both boards."
The 11-member crop of incoming swimmers features several local talents from the northeastern United States in Larry Barbosa (Corona, N.Y.), David Bonderoff (Cooperstown, N.Y.), Derek D'Ambra (Stamford, Conn.), Matthew Essig (Arlington, Va.), Ryan Kelley, Ben Koert (Rochester, N.Y.), Nick Kontos (Dix Hills, N.Y.), Ryan Levy, Brandon Shteyman (Jericho, N.Y), Thomas Theophilidis (Plainview, N.Y.) and Cole Underwood (Collegeville, Pa.).
Barbosa, a graduate of Holy Cross High School, competed for the Long Island Aquatic Club under head coach Dave Ferris.
"Larry Barbosa is a versatile swimmer who will add depth in middle distance and distance freestyle, backstroke, fly and individual medley events," says Alexander.
Barbosa will be joined at Stony Brook by club teammate Brandon Shteyman, who attended Jericho High School. Shteyman, who will add depth in the breaststroke events, was named Most Improved Swimmer his sophomore year.
A Cooperstown Central High School graduate, Bonderoff is the school's record holder in the 100 backstroke and 200 IM. Bonderoff was previously a three-time Section 3 Qualifier and was a state qualifier in 2010. Alexander expects Bonderoff to to add depth in the backstroke, individual medley and freestyle events.
D'Ambra was a four-year varsity letterwinner at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn. and also competed for the Sharks Swimming Club under head coach Rick Lewis. D'Ambra will add depth in middle distance and distance freestyle events.
Essig, a two-time first-team All-District competitor at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Va., will look to contribute in middle distance and distance freestyle events, in addition to backstroke and individual medley events. Essig was named team MVP in high school under coach Dave Lassiter, during which time he also competed for Sea Devils Swimming under head coach Peter Karl.
A graduate of Greece Arcadia High School, Koert competed for head coach Jeff Humphreys and was a member of the district record 200 freestyle relay team. Alexander believes Koert will add depth in the sprint freestyle events at Stony Brook.
Kontos, who went to Half Hollow Hills High School West, competed for high school coach Jason Weidersum and club coach John Pisano (Team Suffolk). Kontos will look to step in and contribute in backstroke and sprint freestyle events.
Theophilidis, a transfer from Manhattan College, attended Bethpage High School and swam for head coach Henry Clark. Theophilidis also competed for the Bethpage Barracudas and head coach Patricia Cuiti. Alexander believes he will add depth in the distance freestyle events.
The final member of the incoming class, Underwood attended Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville, Pa., where he lettered in swimming and water polo. A district and state qualifier at the high school level, Underwood will compete in sprint freestyle and butterfly events.
