Tar Heels Ink Four Women’s Swimmers In Early Signing Period

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina women's swimming program has signed four prospective student-athletes to NCAA National Letters-of-Intent and Grants-in-Aid in the recent fall 2017 signing period. Coach Rich DeSelm made the announcement on Wednesday.

DeSelm's tremendous Tar Heel recruiting class includes Grace Countie of Raleigh, N.C., Lilly Higgs of Charlotte, N.C., Sophie Lindner of Charlotte, N.C. and Heidi Lowe of Charlotte, N.C.

Countie is the daughter of former UNC swimmers Matt Countie and Jill Benda and she is a native of Raleigh where she did her club swimming at MOR. Her success in the freestyle, backstroke and butterfly makes her one of the most versatile swimmers to ever sign an NLI at Carolina.
Career Best Times (Short Course): 22.37 in 50-yard freestyle; 49.53 in 100-yard freestyle; 1:49.36 in 200-yard freestyle; 25.06 in 50-yard backstroke; 53.70 in 100-yard backstroke; 1:58.14 in 200-yard backstroke; 24.82 in 50-yard butterfly; 56.12 in 100-yard butterfly; 2:01.57 in 200-yard individual medley.
Career Best Times (Long Course): 25.66 in 50-meter freestyle; 57.05 in 100-meter freestyle; 2:06.65 in 200-meter freestyle; 1:02.09 in 100-meter backstroke; 2:18.37 in 200-meter backstroke; 1:04.55 in 100-meter butterfly; 2:22.65 in 200-meter individual medley.
Quoting Countie: "I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim for the University of North Carolina. I chose UNC because from the moment I first walked on to the campus it felt like a place I belonged. The academics are remarkable and the swimming program is growing into something amazing. I cannot wait to be a part of something as destined for greatness as UNC."
Quoting DeSelm: "We've followed Grace's progression for a long time. Having been as assistant coach at UNC when her parents swam here, I started the recruiting process knowing a good bit about Grace and her background. She is a lot of fun to be around. We knew Grace would be highly recruited nationally and didn't presume she would automatically attend UNC. We worked hard to recruit her successfully and had great communication with her club coaches, including Kevin Blum, Michael Laubacher and Paul Silver at MOR and her high school coach, Jack Rogers. Grace is a tremendous swimmer with great speed, can swim 200s extremely well and will be a huge contributor on multiple relays."

Higgs is a Charlotte native and a versatile swimmer in breaststroke, freestyle and individual medley. She did her youth swimming at SwimMAC.
Career Best Times (Short Course): 1:01.58 in 100-yard breaststroke; 2:14.08 in 200-yard breaststroke; 2:02.23 in 200-yard individual medley; 23.95 in 50-yard freestyle; 52.11 in 100-yard freestyle.
Career Best Times (Long Course): 1:11.18 at 100-meter breaststroke; 2:36.43 in 200-meter breaststroke; 2:22.14 in 200-meter individual medley; 59.25 in 100-meter freestyle.
Quoting Higgs: "I'm very happy to announce my verbal commitment to a place that has always had a special spot in my heart. I can't wait to continue my academics and swimming career at UNC. I chose UNC not only because of the great coaching staff and team, but also because of its amazing academics. I can't wait to be a third generation Tar Heel. Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way.
Quoting DeSelm: "Lilly will be a great addition to our young breaststroke & IM groups. She is a strong student and rapidly improving swimmer. Coach Sarah Holman at SwimMAC has helped to develop Lilly. She has had consistent time drops in short course swimming and has excelled internationally swimming under Coach Andy Knowles for the Bahamas, most recently at the August 2017 World Juniors in Indianapolis. Lilly joins two club teammates who will attend UNC and continues our great relationship with SwimMac in Charlotte."

Lindner is another versatile signee, excelling in the backstroke, butterfly and freestyle. She also competes in fly and IM. She is another Tar Heel to attend Carolina from the outstanding SwimMAC program.
Career Best Times (Short Course): 55.14 in 100-yard backstroke; 1:58.70 in 200-yard backstroke; 50.42 in 100-yard freestyle; 1:48.44 in 200-yard freestyle; 54.27 in 100-yard butterfly; 2:06.20 in 200-yard individual medley.
Career Best Times (Long Course): 1:03.01 in 100-yard backstroke; 2:16.22 in 200-meter backstroke; 57.05 in 100-meter freestyle; 2:03.65 in 200-meter freestyle; 1:01.04 in 100-meter butterfly; 2:22.78 in 200-meter individual medley.
Quoting Lindner: "I'm thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to swim for the University of North Carolina. I chose UNC because of the awesome coaches and team, as well as the stellar academics. I'm so excited to be a Tar Heel. Thank you to all my coaches, friends, and family who have helped me reach this point."
Quoting DeSelm: "We have watched Sophie improve every season in both club (SwimMAC) and high school (Covenant High, Coach Caroline Orsillo) swimming. Sophie will be an outstanding student and swimmer at UNC. She has a wide range of events and her sprinting is developing rapidly. During the recruiting process, her club coach, Peter Verhoef, at SwimMAC, indicated Sophie had a huge upside. We believe this, too, as she is just scratching the surface of her potential. She will deliver in a nice range of events."

Lowe excels in the backstroke and the freestyle sprint events, coming to UNC from Charlotte where she competed for SwimMAC.
Career Best Times (Short Course): 26.74 in 50-yard backstroke; 55.40 in 100-yard backstroke; 1:58.49 in 200-yard backstroke; 23.58 in 50-yard freestyle; 22.93 in 50-yard relay split; 50.12 in 100-yard freestyle; 1:48.57 in 200-yard freestyle.
Career Best Times (Long Course): 1:04.34 in 100-meter backstroke; 2:20.11 in 200-meter backstroke; 27.04 in 50-meter freestyle; 57.24 in 100-meter freestyle; 2:05.71 in 200-meter freestyle.
Quoting Lowe: "I chose UNC because of the balance between academics and athletics, and how I felt right at home with the supportive team and coaches."
Quoting DeSelm: "Heidi came highly recommended by her coaches and swims with Lilly (Higgs) under coach Sarah Holman and, previously, Pam Swander at SwimMAC while also swimming for Hough High. As we got to know Heidi, we saw what a great Tar Heel she could be. Heidi has a great personality, is a strong student, a rapidly improving swimmer and will be a great teammate. She has the opportunity to contribute in a number of events and we are excited to help her continue to improve."

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