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Four Wilton Wahoo Swimmers Commit To College Programs

WILTON, Conn. -- Four Wilton Wahoos swimmers signed letters of intent Friday, Nov. 14, to swim for Division I college programs.

Swimmers for the Wilton Wahoos, from left, Maggie Kauffeld, Courtney Gilroy, Stephen Holmquist and Samantha Cheruk sign letters of intent to college programs. Randy Erlenbach, the team's Director of Aquatics, watches them sign the letters.

Swimmers for the Wilton Wahoos, from left, Maggie Kauffeld, Courtney Gilroy, Stephen Holmquist and Samantha Cheruk sign letters of intent to college programs. Randy Erlenbach, the team's Director of Aquatics, watches them sign the letters.

Photo Credit: Tom Renner

Stephen Holmquist (Michigan), Courtney Gilroy (Colgate), Maggie Kauffeld (Xavier) and Samantha Cheruk (Villanova) signed their letters as Randy Erlenbach, the team’s director of competitive aquatics, watched along with family members and friends.

“I’m very proud of all our seniors,’’ Erlenbach said. “Every year our senior class gets better and better. These are four that will continue, but we have a lot of others that will go on to swim in college as well.”

Holmquist, a distance specialist, will attend one of the top collegiate programs in the country. Michigan won the NCAA title in 2013 and finished fourth this year. Holmquist’s father, Peter, also swam for Michigan and . his former Wahoos teammate, Ian Rainey, also attends Michigan.

“He told me he liked there and he told me about his experiences there,’’ Holmquist said. “It was a good atmosphere. I can’t wait to get there.”

Gilroy will swim for Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., which competes in the Patriot League. “It felt like it was the right feel,’’ said Gilroy, who attends Hopkins School in New Haven. “I’m excited to be a Raider.”

Kauffeld and Cheruk will be opponents in the Big East Conference. Like Holmquist, Kauffeld is a distance specialist and won the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship in the 500 meters this fall.

“It’s a great school,’’ Kauffeld said, of Xavier University, which is in Cincinatti, Ohio. “Academically and for swimming, it felt like it was the perfect combination for me. I’m excited to be a part of the Big East.”

Cheruk, from Stamford, committed to Villanova University in Philadlephia, Pa., which won the Big East title last year. Cheruk is a sprinter, and Wildcats coach Rick Simpson is counting on Cheruk and some other recruits to help keep the team among the league powers.

“When I saw it for the first time I knew it was the school for me,’’ Cheruk said. “It’s a great school academically and I know I can do well there.”

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