Weston Announces New Pioneers
Alfred State swimming & diving coach RC Weston is excited to announce his recruiting class for the 2018 season. The class includes nine newcomers.
Payton Armstrong (Highland Mills, NY/Monroe-Woodbury)
Major: Undeclared
Events: Backstroke
Coach Weston on Armstrong: "Payton will have a significant role in our backstroke depth and has already posted times that would score points at AMCC's. I'm looking forward to getting her into our strength and conditioning program which will benefit her tremendously as she makes the jump to the college level. She has the potential to earn a spot on A relays very early on in the season."
Notes: Daughter of Timothy and Liamarie Armstrong. The 355th ranked swimmer in New York State according to collegeswimming.com. Member of the 2016 Section IX Runner-Up Monroe-Woodbury Crusaders where she qualified in the 100 Free and 100 Backstroke as a Senior. Academically named a Scholar Athlete and was on High Honor Roll. Named Most Improved Swimmer for the Aqua Gems Swim Club.
Madi Dorey (Livonia, NY/Livonia)
Major: Nursing
Events: Freestyle/Breaststroke
Coach Weston on Dorey: "Madi is a welcomed addition to the program from Livonia, a team consistently among the top programs in Section V Class B. Madi gives us depth in sprint events as well as addressing a significant need for us in breaststroke, where she will bring the most value to the Lady Pioneers. She is an excellent Student and will continue to develop as a leader. I'm excited for her to take the next step in her swimming career here at Alfred State!"
Notes: Daughter of Bob and Jennifer Dorey. Member of the 2016 LCAA Champion Livonia Bulldogs helping her team by scoring in the 200 Medley and 200 Freestyle Relays. Named a Scholar Athlete in Swimming & Diving and Track & Field. Named Captain of the Track & Field Team which won four straight Section V Division I titles. List of Academic Accolades include being named to the Principal's List (95 average or above), AP Scholar, Member of the National Honor Society, and was a Girls State Delegate. Was given the Bulldog Pride Award for Academic Excellence and Perseverance and the Livingston County Youth Bureau Teen Recognition Award. President of the High School Vocal Music and High School Drama Club. Officer of Interact Club and French Club. Co-organizer of Livonia Color Craze and a member of TIES (Together Including Every Student). Recipient of the All American Scholarship here at Alfred State.
Lauren Earley (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa)
Major: Forensic Science
Events: Backstroke/Distance
Coach Weston on Earley: "Lauren will be stepping up and playing a major factor in our success from Day 1. She has already posted times that would break our school records in several events. Coach Dan Carter with the team at the Southern Saratoga YMCA has done a tremendous job with Lauren and we are very fortunate to have her as a Lady Pioneer next year!"
Notes: Daughter of Steve and Lisa Cooper. The 294th ranked swimmer in New York State according to collegeswimming.com. Finished 17th in the 100 Back and 19th in the 500 Free at the 2017 NYS YMCA Swimming & Diving Championships. Became the first Barracuda from the Southern Saratoga YMCA to ever sign to swim in college. Recipient of the Neil Hesson Citizenship Award and the Most Improved Barracuda Award in 2013, the Nick Cammarata Courage Award in 2016, and the Barracuda Award in 2017.
Lizzie Furmanski (Albion, NY/Albion)
Major: Nursing
Events: Sprint Freestyle
Coach Weston on Furmanski: "Lizzie is going to add a new dynamic to our team as a pure sprinter. After watching her swim I can't wait to work with her next year. I am confident that our training will provide her the tools to improve her 50 and 100 times as well as increase her endurance for the 200 which I feel will be her strongest event in the future."
Notes: Daughter of Roger and Terri Furmanski. The 314th ranked swimmer in New York State according to collegeswimming.com. Placed 5th in the 50 and 100 Freestyles at the 2017 GR-NO Championships. Named Team MVP as a Senior for the Albion Purple Eagles. Member of the Batavia YMCA Sea Devils Swim Club where she was part of the team record 200 Freestyle Relay. Qualified for the 2017 NYS YMCA Swimming Championship in the 50, 100, and 200 Freestyles. Member of the National Honor Society and earned High Honor Roll.
Liz Jurs (Elba, NY/Elba)
Major: Agricultural Technology
Events: Butterfly
Coach Weston on Jurs: "Liz has been on our radar since early in her Junior year when she visited campus and I'm so glad she is a Pioneer. She is a powerful swimmer and I am excited for her to continue to learn and develop how to train at a higher level. The sky is the limit for her and we will definitely utilize her strengths. She has the potential to be in the A Finals at AMCC's as a Freshman."
Notes: Daughter of Kim Davis and Josh Jurs. 2015 GR-NO Champion for the combined Oakfield-Alabama/Elba swimming & diving team in the 100 Butterfly also placed 3rd in the 500 Freestyle. Placed 3rd in the 100 Butterfly and 500 Freestyle at the 2016 GR-NO Championships. Named Genesee Region All-Star all four years of High School. Current school record holder in the 500 Freestyle. Member of the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society.
Kathryn Lewis (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield)
Major: Architectural Technology
Events: Distance
Coach Weston on Lewis: "Kathryn had a special senior season dropping significant time in her 200 and 500 freestyles. She is going to be a difference maker with her times in those events being faster than our current records. I anticipate her taking the lead in our distance lanes and reaching new heights here at Alfred State. She is going to be a wonderful addition to Pioneer Swimming & Diving!"
Notes: Daughter of Brad Lewis and Donna Lewis. 267th ranked swimmer in New York State according to collegeswimming.com. At the 2017 NFL Championships she placed 4th in the 200 Freestyle, and was Runner-Up in the 500 Freestyle posting personal best times and helping the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons to their 2nd straight championship. Qualified for the 2017 Section VI Championships in the 200 and 500. Honor Roll student throughout high school career. Scholar Athlete. Recipient of the Kim Link Memorial Coach's Award and the R.W. Urban Memorial.
Emily Pierce (Lindley, NY/Addison)
Major: Pre-ESF
Events: IM
Coach Weston on PIerce: "Emily is a very well rounded swimmer and has the potential to swim a number of events. Her greatest asset is the experience she has swimming distance in high school, which will allow her to train for the 400 IM here at Alfred State. Her versatility is going to benefit this program throughout her Freshman year and beyond."
Notes: Daughter of Misty Hively-Pierce. 5x Section V Class C Qualifier (boys season). Steuben County Swim League Female Swimmer of the Meet and Swimmer of the Year. 3-year Team Captain of the Addison Knights Swimming & Diving Team. 4x Team MVP and member of the School Record 200 Freestyle Relay team. State Qualifier in Cross Country receiving the Most Improved Award. 3x Section V Track & Field qualifier in the Pentathlon. Receiving an Advanced Regents Diploma. Student Council Executive Board Member. Class of 2017 Vice President for 5 years.
Hannah Snayczuk (Machias, NY/Pioneer)
Major: Nursing
Events: Butterfly
Coach Weston on Snayczuk: "Hannah provides us significant depth in butterfly where we have been limited in the past. She is going to score points for us at AMCC's, already posting times that would qualify her for finals and as we build her strength for the 200 Fly. I'm excited for her to be part of the Alfred State community, coming from Pioneer HS to being a Pioneer at Alfred State!"
Notes: Daughter of Jeff and Cathy Snayczuk. Placed 13th in the 100 Fly at the 2016 ECIC Class-A Championships. Member of the School-Record Breaking 200 Medley Relay and 200 Freestyle Relay teams for the Pioneer Panthers. Team Captain of both the Swimming and Track & Field teams. Swam for the Arcade Area Aquatics Club (AAAC). A well-rounded student.
Major: Architectural Technology
Events: Distance
Coach Weston on Towner: "Sam was a late addition to our incoming Freshman class but we are thrilled to have her here at Alfred State. She is a passionate athlete who brings a lot to the table in terms of commitment to the sport and wanting to get better. With her training at Wayland-Cohocton I am confident she will have a relatively smooth transition to Alfred State. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work with her this year."
Notes: Daughter of Rick and Christine Towner. The 409th ranked swimmer in New York State according to collegeswimming.com. At the 2016 Section V Class B Championships, she was a finalist in the 500 Freestyle and won the consolation heat in the 200 Freestyle as the Wayland-Cohocton Golden Eagles placed 2nd out of 19 teams. Also swam on the 200 Medley and 400 Freestyle relay teams that finished in the top-6. LCAA All Star as a Senior. Graduated cum laude with an advanced regents diploma and a mastery in science. 4h Teen Leader and recipient of the I Dare You Award. Selected for the Citizenship Washington Focus which sent her to Washington DC to meet with NY District 23 Rep Tom Reed, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, and Microsoft President Brad Smith.
