Top recruit Fionnuala Pierse visited the University of Toronto St. George Campus this past weekend and has expressed interest in swimming for the Varsity Blues starting this fall.

Pierse, a standout sprinter from Edmonton, is just one of the top swimmers in the country to recently visit the U of T campus. Recent Olympians Stephanie Horner and Tobias Oriwol have committed to training at the new national high performance centre at the University of Toronto, making the Blues swim program one of the best in the country.

“Fionnuala has recently begun to assert herself as one of the best in Canada,” said Blues head coach Byron MacDonald. “There is no doubt that she will become the go-to sprinter in our program and will also lead our relays. I also see her moving up the ladder at the national level to challenge for top honours.”

In other exciting news, both Ryan Cockell and Peter Kruzyk have signed scholarship letters to swim for the Varsity Blues, while committing to pursuing an education at the University of Toronto in the fall of 2010.

Cockell is one of the top backstrokers in the country and will look to make an immediate impact for the Varsity Blues.

"Ryan came to visit a couple of weeks ago and I was impressed with his natural talent," said MacDonald. "With the graduation of captain Cam Cummings, the anchor of the backstroke events for the past few years, Ryan's presence on the team will fill that void for sure."

Kruzyk is a late bloomer and will score a ton of points for the Blues in all the freestyle disciplines.

“These two boys will certainly help cement our stranglehold on the OUA conference title and our move to the top of the nation," said MacDonald.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.