McCord adds three to women’s swimming signing class

Posted: May 15, 2014

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head swim coach Paige McCord has added three to the women's swimming program's second ever signing class, including a Knoxville record holder.

Madeline Cowart (Huntersville, N.C.), Maggie Melhorn (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Elizabeth Gitto (Knoxville, Tenn.) join the program for the upcoming season.

"Our inaugural class set the standard high and helped us to bring in some stellar swimmers for our second signing class. We've already brought in some strong swimmers with our early signing class and these ladies will complement them mightily."

Madeline Cowart, 5-7 freestyle (Huntersville, N.C., Cox Mill High School)

Twitter: @madelinecowart

Cowart has been Cox Mill High School's team captain the past two years. She is a four-time all-conference selection. She also qualified for regionals and the state championship meet in all four years of her high school career. In 2014, she took first place in the 100 freestyle at the regional championship meet.

"A strong sprinter and I'm just excited to coach her," McCord said. "She's just got a great work ethic and a wonderful personality."

Cowart has times of 25.22 seconds in the 50 free, 55.42 in the 100 free and 2:02.18. She helped the Chargers to conference and regional titles in her senior season.

She is the daughter of Mary and James Cowart. She was a Scholar Athlete for Cox Mill all four years of her high school career. Cowart also spent time as a member of the school's Student Advisory Committee.

She comes from an athletic family. Cowart's aunt Carolyn Naumovich played softball and soccer at Quincy College. Another aunt, Ann Metzger, also played soccer for Quincy College. Her second cousin Dan Connolly heads into his 10^th season as an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots. Cowart plans to study communications at Carson-Newman.

Elizabeth Gitto, 5-4 freestyle (Knoxville, Tenn., Farragut)

Twitter: @gunshowgitto

Gitto was a state championship meet qualifier in all four of her years swimming for Nolan Morrell at Farragut High School. She had 11 top-10 finishes at the Knoxville city meet and five top-eight finishes at the state championship meet.

"A young woman from Knoxville who will be another sprinter for us," McCord said. "She adds a lot of depth and a lot of potential for us."

Gitto won Farragut's Admiral Award for leadership, swimming ability and overall points scored.

With Gitto swimming, the Admirals finished second at the Knoxville High School City Meet. Farragut came in fourth at the state championship meet her freshman season.

Gitto graduated from FHS with distinguished honors and as an AP Scholar with distinction. She was also a member of the school's national honor society. She is the daughter of John and Karen Gitto and plans to study exercise science at Carson-Newman.

Maggie Melhorn, 5-7 breast stroke & IM (Knoxville, Tenn. homeschooled)

Twitter: @schmags247

Melhorn broke the nine-year-old Knoxville record for the 100 breast stroke with a swim of 1:03.96. She took first place in both the 200 IM and 100 breast at this year's KISL city meet. She finished fourth in the 100 breast at the TISCA High School State Meet.

"She will really help us in the breast stroke and the IM," McCord said. "She's the Knoxville record holder for the 100 breast stroke, so that's a huge recruit for us to get."

Melhorn made two winter national cuts in the 200 and 100 breast stroke and two winter junior national A cuts and one B cut.

She was also recruited by the University of Cincinnati, LSU, the University of Tennessee and Northwestern. She is the daughter of Sue and Chris Melhorn.