FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason swimming and diving team and head coach Peter Ward has announced the addition of eight student-athletes to the 2014-15 men's roster.

Four swimmers join Mason from the state of Virginia while six have qualified for or competed at NCSA Junior National Championships.

Steven Craig joins the Patriots from Raleigh, North Carolina. Craig has competed at Southern Zone Championships, NCSA Junior Nationals, Winter Junior Nationals and the 2014 Charlotte Grand Prix while earning Academic All-American honors in high school.

“Steven will have an immediate impact on our line up adding to our distance freestyle and IM events,” stated assistant coach Damian Rodino. “We are eager to get him into our line up training with the rest of our distance group.”

A four-time high school MVP and four-time NCSA Junior Nationals qualifier, Deion Dean (Norfolk, Va.) joins the Mason swimming and diving team after also playing varsity baseball in high school. Dean also qualified for USA Winter Junior Nationals in 2012 and 2013.

“We are excited to bring Deion on board; he is part of a class that adds great depth to our breaststroke corps and he also has strong butterfly events as well,” commented Rodino. “We see Deion developing into a strong contributing member of this program.”

Vadim Jacobson was a captain of his swim team and a two-time Academic All-American at Broadneck High School. Coming from Arnold, MD, Jacobson was an NCSA qualifier in 2013 and 2014 and earned first place at the 2013 Maryland State meet as member of his team's 400-yard medley relay.

“Vadim addresses immediate needs for us in the distance freestyle events and the 200 backstroke,” said Rodino. “We also see him developing into a strong member of our 800 freestyle relay.”

Gabriel Juranovic comes to Mason from Queen, NY and was a NCSA Junior Nationals qualifier in the 400-yard IM.

“Gabriel is a well-rounded and versatile swimmer making him a great IM-er and strong in other events as well,” added Rodino. “We have a history of very good 400 IM swimmers at George Mason and Gabriel certainly adds to that and more.”

Frederick Sean King will have his first opportunity to compete for the Patriots this fall after joining the team in the spring. The Atlanta, GA. native was a GISA state champion in 2012 in the 100-yard breaststroke and also placed second in the event at Georgia State Championships in 2013.

“Sean joined us this past spring and has yet to compete but we are extremely excited to get him in action! He adds great depth to our growing breaststroke group will develop into a strong sprint freestyler as well,” said Rodino. “Sean has all of the qualities that we look for in prospects not just athletically, but in what it takes to become a true member and leader of a program."

Hailing from Richmond, Va., Matthew Lynch joins the program from Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies. Lynch participated in NCSA Championships in 2013 and NCSA Junior Nationals in 2013 and 2014.

“Matthew is one of the corner-stones of our incoming class with three events that (he) would have A-finaled in our conference meet last year,” noted Rodino. “He joins a very strong group of butterfly and IM specialists on our squad currently where he will surely benefit from even higher and more competitive training."

Coming to Mason from nearby Fredericksburg, Va., Alexander Morin competed at VSIS State Swimming Championships from 2011-14 and was a 2013-14 USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team member. Mornin also played varsity Baseball, Rugby and Cross Country, in which he earned All-Conference honors, in high school.

“Alec adds strong depth to our sprint group and he should contribute on relays immediately,” commented Rodino. “Alec has only been swimming at the club level for a couple of years so we think Alec has a great amount of potential to turn into a premier sprinter in this program.”

The fourth swimmer of the class from the state of Virginia, Thomas Perkins (Montpelier, Va.) has competed in the 50, 100, 200 and 500-yard freestyle events at NCSA Junior Nationals and is part of the teams' that set Virginia state records in the 400 and 800-yard freestyle relays.

“Thomas is a great addition to our program and we expect him to become a role player in our middle distance freestyle events, including developing into an integral part of our 800 freestyle relay,” said Rodino. “Thomas has a lot of potential to develop into not only a keep part of this program athletically but he also possesses many leadership qualities that we value.”