University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldog Swimming Adds Four for 2017-18 Season
04.28.2017 | Women's Swimming & Diving
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville head women's swimming coach Elizabeth Lykins has announced the addition of four new swimmers for the 2017-18 year. The quartet includes Melissa Brown out of Atlanta, Ga., Savanah Crutchfield from Ochlocknee, Ga., Aleta Jewell out of Wilmington, N.C. and Glenna Whaley from Newport, Tenn.
Melissa Brown (Atlanta, Ga./Grady High School)
Brown has enjoyed a very distinguished swimming career for both her high school, Grady High School, and her club team, Metro Atlanta Aquatic Club (MAAC). On her high school squad, Brown was a five-time state qualifier as well as four-time APS city champion. She was named her team's MVP three times and was also a three-time Metro City champion. She was also named a Scholastic All-American. On the club side, Brown was a five-time Junior National (NCSA) qualifier and an eight-time Georgia All-Star.
Away from the pool, Brown is an Honor Roll student as well as a member of High Honors, the Yearbook Club, 21st Century Leaders and Band/Dance team manager. In her community, she has accumulated over 215 hours of community service, including created two volunteer projects, "Get her to prom" and "Clean up East Point." She also has volunteered as a timer at Georgia Tech and is a Grady volunteer.
Coach Lykins on Brown: "Melissa is excited to become a member of the Bulldog family and we are very happy to welcome her. She has developed into a well-known sprinter in the state of Georgia, also experiencing success in the shorter backstroke and butterfly events. Melissa will contribute in the short freestyle events as well as be an integral member on relays."
Savanah Crutchfield (Ochlocknee, Ga./Lawton Chiles High School)
Crutchfield comes to Asheville out of Lawton Chiles High School where she was also a member of Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club (ATAC). She has been named to the state team four times and is a two-time state champion. A two-time All-Big Bend team selection, she was named team captain her senior year after being named the spirit captain as a junior.
In the classroom, Crutchfield has earned four Academic Athletic Awards and is a four-time High Honor Roll Achievement Award winner. She is a leader of the Garden Club and is a member of the Timberwolves United Club, a club that helps students with special needs at Lawton Chiles. In her community, she has set up and run events for the Mac Crutchfield Foundation and has also worked with the swimmers in a local Special Olympics swimming group. She has worked over 130 hours of community service with the Strokes for Strokes organization and she has also volunteered and helped with her local church events.
Coach Lykins on Crutchfield: "Savanah's love of being outdoors will be welcomed with a team of ladies who love hiking and finding waterfalls. Savanah had a great high school and recent short course season where her times have continued dropping. She will add depth to the team's middle distance freestyle group as well as the butterfly and IM squads."
Aleta Jewell (Wilmington, N.C./New Hanover High School)
Jewell has spent her prep career swimming for New Hanover High School as well as her club team Waves of Wilmington (WOW). She has been a multi-year conference champion in the 500 freestyle and was named to the all-conference team in 2015-16. She was also named to the all-star team in 2016-17.
On the academic side, Jewell is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and Ec Buddies. In her community, she is a volunteer coach with the Wilmington Stingrays Swim Team.
Coach Lykins on Jewell: "Aleta's success as a club and high school swimmer will help her adjust to the college swimming lifestyle. With her time drops in the last 12 months, I feel Aleta is on pace to show improvement this summer and when she joins the Bulldogs in August. Aleta will likely contribute to the middle distance group as well as swim some butterfly."
Glenna Whaley (Newport, Tenn./Cosby High School)
Whaley swims for Cosby High School in Newport, Tenn., and is also a member of the Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club (SMAC). For her high school team, she has been a team captain and the team's MVP all four years. She also qualified for the state championships all four years. On the club side, she has qualified for senior sectionals in multiple events.
In school, Whaley has been named an honors student all four years and is a member of the Beta Club and Cosby Academy. In the community, she volunteers with her club team to help coach the younger SMAC group.
Coach Lykins on Whaley: "After setting eight lifetime bests in the 2017 short course season, I feel confident Glenna will continue dropping time this summer with SMAC and when she arrives on campus in the fall. Glenna is a fierce competitor with incredible underwater skills. She will be a staple in the backstroke group and hopes to add depth to the IM and freestyle events."
The Bulldog swimming team wrapped up the fifth year of the program's existence at the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Swimming and Diving Championships in late February with a seventh-place finish.
Melissa Brown (Atlanta, Ga./Grady High School)
Brown has enjoyed a very distinguished swimming career for both her high school, Grady High School, and her club team, Metro Atlanta Aquatic Club (MAAC). On her high school squad, Brown was a five-time state qualifier as well as four-time APS city champion. She was named her team's MVP three times and was also a three-time Metro City champion. She was also named a Scholastic All-American. On the club side, Brown was a five-time Junior National (NCSA) qualifier and an eight-time Georgia All-Star.
Away from the pool, Brown is an Honor Roll student as well as a member of High Honors, the Yearbook Club, 21st Century Leaders and Band/Dance team manager. In her community, she has accumulated over 215 hours of community service, including created two volunteer projects, "Get her to prom" and "Clean up East Point." She also has volunteered as a timer at Georgia Tech and is a Grady volunteer.
Coach Lykins on Brown: "Melissa is excited to become a member of the Bulldog family and we are very happy to welcome her. She has developed into a well-known sprinter in the state of Georgia, also experiencing success in the shorter backstroke and butterfly events. Melissa will contribute in the short freestyle events as well as be an integral member on relays."
Savanah Crutchfield (Ochlocknee, Ga./Lawton Chiles High School)
Crutchfield comes to Asheville out of Lawton Chiles High School where she was also a member of Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club (ATAC). She has been named to the state team four times and is a two-time state champion. A two-time All-Big Bend team selection, she was named team captain her senior year after being named the spirit captain as a junior.
In the classroom, Crutchfield has earned four Academic Athletic Awards and is a four-time High Honor Roll Achievement Award winner. She is a leader of the Garden Club and is a member of the Timberwolves United Club, a club that helps students with special needs at Lawton Chiles. In her community, she has set up and run events for the Mac Crutchfield Foundation and has also worked with the swimmers in a local Special Olympics swimming group. She has worked over 130 hours of community service with the Strokes for Strokes organization and she has also volunteered and helped with her local church events.
Coach Lykins on Crutchfield: "Savanah's love of being outdoors will be welcomed with a team of ladies who love hiking and finding waterfalls. Savanah had a great high school and recent short course season where her times have continued dropping. She will add depth to the team's middle distance freestyle group as well as the butterfly and IM squads."
Aleta Jewell (Wilmington, N.C./New Hanover High School)
Jewell has spent her prep career swimming for New Hanover High School as well as her club team Waves of Wilmington (WOW). She has been a multi-year conference champion in the 500 freestyle and was named to the all-conference team in 2015-16. She was also named to the all-star team in 2016-17.
On the academic side, Jewell is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and Ec Buddies. In her community, she is a volunteer coach with the Wilmington Stingrays Swim Team.
Coach Lykins on Jewell: "Aleta's success as a club and high school swimmer will help her adjust to the college swimming lifestyle. With her time drops in the last 12 months, I feel Aleta is on pace to show improvement this summer and when she joins the Bulldogs in August. Aleta will likely contribute to the middle distance group as well as swim some butterfly."
Glenna Whaley (Newport, Tenn./Cosby High School)
Whaley swims for Cosby High School in Newport, Tenn., and is also a member of the Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club (SMAC). For her high school team, she has been a team captain and the team's MVP all four years. She also qualified for the state championships all four years. On the club side, she has qualified for senior sectionals in multiple events.
In school, Whaley has been named an honors student all four years and is a member of the Beta Club and Cosby Academy. In the community, she volunteers with her club team to help coach the younger SMAC group.
Coach Lykins on Whaley: "After setting eight lifetime bests in the 2017 short course season, I feel confident Glenna will continue dropping time this summer with SMAC and when she arrives on campus in the fall. Glenna is a fierce competitor with incredible underwater skills. She will be a staple in the backstroke group and hopes to add depth to the IM and freestyle events."
The Bulldog swimming team wrapped up the fifth year of the program's existence at the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Swimming and Diving Championships in late February with a seventh-place finish.
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