Nov.15, 2000

Truman Swim Teams Get Two Early Signees

Two individuals have signed national letters of intent during the early signing period to attend Truman, beginning in the fall of 2001.

Head Coach Seth Huston signed Eric Paden from Prairie Village, Kan., Shawnee Mission East High School, and Diane Betsworth from East Moline, Ill., United Township High School.

Paden has been a region VIII championship finalist five times, as well as the Central zones champion in the 1,500-yard freestyle the last four years. He was selected tot he U.S. Swimming Distance camp four times and to the All-Star Distance camp the last two years.

Paden has best times of 16:21:11 in the 1,650 freestyle, 9:47.35 in the 1,000 free and 4:44.19 in the 500 free. He also swims the 400 individual medley and has posted times of 2:00.09 in the 200 butterfly, 2:18.81 in the breaststroke and 4:14.64 in the 400 IM. Paden has also been a member of the Kansas City Blazer swim club.

Betsworth is currently rated 16th in the 200 freestyle and 14th in the 500 free in the pre-state championship rankings. She is a member of the East Moline Swim club and is a two-time Illinois State qualifier. Betsworth set team record in the 100 free, 200 free and 500 free, and is the sectional record holder in the 500 free.

She was voted by her teammates as the most improved swimmer in 1997 and the most valuable swimmer in 1998 and 1999. Betsworth has charted times of 53.77 in the 100 free, 1:55.07 in the 200 free and 5:07.41 in the 500 freestyle.

The Truman men's and women's swimming teams have had outstanding success nationally over the six-year tenure of coach Huston. His 1999-2000 squads finished among the top 10 in NCAA Division II. The women's team was the national runner-up a year ago, while the men's contingent placed ninth in the nation.

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