SWIMMING & DIVING

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1 University of Illinois SWIMMING & DIVING FIGHTING ILLINI FAST FACTS Location Urbana-Champaign Enrollment ,520 Nickname Fighting Illini Colors Orange and Blue Conference Big Ten President Timothy Killeen Director of Athletics Paul Kowalczyk Facility ARC Pool Head Coach Sue Novitsky (16th season) Oakland 91 Record at Illinois (15 seasons) Career Record (15 seasons) ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS Assistant Coach Alec Hayden Northwestern Diving Coach Chris Waters Castleton State Address S. Fourth Street Champaign, IL Dual Meet Record Big Ten Record / Finish / 12th Swimming and Diving Contact...Kevin Cole kpcole2@illinois.edu Sports Information Director... Kent Brown Associate Director...Derrick Burson Assistant Directors... Derek Neal, Jenny Dewar, Brett Moore, Libby Knight Graduate Assistants...Dan Longo Intern Chad Beyler, Jess Leifheit Office Manager... Jen Fisher Sports Information Phone... (217) Sports Information Fax... (217) Websites... FIGHTINGILLINI.com // illiniswimming.com Facebook Twitter... Instagram... Mailing Address... Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building S. Fourth St., Champaign, IL TABLE OF CONTENTS Illinois TV Roster Season Preview....3 THE COACHING STAFF Head Coach Sue Novitsky Assistant Coach Alec Hayden Diving Coach Chris Waters THE FIGHTING ILLINI Roster Ashley Aegerter / Gabrielle Bethke Nelly Casas / Jessica Clifford / Jennifer Coady / Raquel Corniuk Adelaide Curry / Rebecca Eckblad / Sam Gowdy / Stephanie Hein Kaitlyn Joyce / Olivia Kassouni / Madeline Kuhn / Autumn Ledgin Lori Lynn / Sloane McDermott / Sascha Meyers Aby Olson / Audrey Rodawig / Isabella Schamber / Amelia Schilling Gabrielle Serniute / Hollie Smith / Gabbie Stecker / Samantha Stratford Sarah Sykstus / Megan Vuong / Charli Wike / Kirsten Zborek SEASON IN REVIEW Season Recap THE RECORD BOOK Year-by-Year Results All-Time Fastest Individuals All-Time Fastest Performances All-Time Fastest Relays / Top Dives All-Time Letterwinners Coaching History Postseason History & All-Americans Individual & Team Awards ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 1

2 ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING ILLINOIS TV ROSTER Ashley Aegerter So. // Breast/IM/Fly Cross Plains, Wis. Rebecca Eckblad Gabrielle Bethke So. // Free/Fly Champaign, Ill. Sam Gowdy Fr. // Free/Back Grand Blanc, Mich. Fr. // Back/Fly/Free Carmi, Ill. Lori Lynn Sloane McDermott Gabriele Serniute Hollie Smith Sr. // Fly/Back/IM Swansea, Ill. Sr. // Back/IM Mokena, Ill. Fr. // Breast/Free/IM Downers Grove, Ill. Sr. // Breast Pickering, Ontario Kirsten Zborek Sue Novitsky Sr. // Free Lockport, Ill. Head Coach 16th Season Nelly Casas So. // Free/Fly Oswego, Ill. Stephanie Hein Sr. // IM/Breast/Back Hartland, Wis. Sascha Meyers So. // Free/Fly Dearborn, Mich. Gabbie Stecker Jr. // Free/Fly/Back/IM Bettendorf, Iowa Alec Hayden Assistant Coach 3rd Season Jessica Clifford Jennifer Coady Sr. // Diving Bourbonnais, Ill. Raquel Corniuk Sr. // Breast/IM/Free Hinsdale, Ill. So. // Diving Huntington Beach, Calif. Keiko Price Administrator So. // Free Oak Park, Ill. Olivia Kassouni Madeline Kuhn Jr. // Diving East Grand Rapids, Mich. Fr. // Diving Bloomington, Ill. Autumn Ledgin So. // Free/Fly/Back Darien, Ill. Kaitlyn Joyce Fr. // Back/Free Boca Raton, Fla. Aby Olson Audrey Rodawig Isabella Schamber Amelia Schilling Fr. // Back/Fly Loves Park, Ill. Fr.. // Fly/Free Champaign, Ill. Samantha Stratford Sarah Sykstus Megan Vuong Charli Wike So. // IM/Fly/Breast/Free Cambridge, Ontario Sr. // Breast/IM/Free Whittier, Calif. Sr. // Fly/IM/Free Batavia, Ill. Fr. // Free/Fly Mississauga, Ontario Pimploy Thirati Marketing Deion Summers Event Management Chris Waters Diving Coach 10th Season SUPPORT STAFF Mike Maziarz Academic Advisor Adelaide Curry Ryan Deppa Office Manager ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 2 Jr. // Free/Back Shorewood, Minn. So. // Breast Sterling, Ill.

3 THE FIGHTING ILLINI SEASON PREVIEW After posting the first back-to-back winning seasons since the and campaigns, the Fighting Illini swimming and diving team looks to build off their recent success as the season is underway. We have added a talented incoming class that will help us continue to fill some weaker spots in out line-ups and relays, head coach Sue Novitsky said. We are pretty balanced through all the classes for the first time in a while. We have a lot of versatile athletes that can jump into different spots and that will help in our regular season meets. The team works hard and continues to improve and set high standards from the freshman through the seniors. That kind of continuity with the team atmosphere makes it fun to work hard and challenge yourself. The Illini graduated eight athletes from the team, but will return 21 experienced swimmers and divers from last year s squad. The Illini will miss Alison Meng, who leaves Illinois as the record holder of four individual school records. However, Amelia Schilling and Lori Lynn headline a talented group of seniors that includes Jessica Clifford, Jennifer Coady, Stephanie Hein, Sloane Mcdermott, Isabella Schamber, Hollie Smith, Sarah Sykstus and Kirsten Zborek. Although the junior class is small, consisting of only four athletes, it is a very talented and accomplished bunch. Gabbie Stecker holds school records in the 500 freestyle (4:46.99) and 200 butterfly (2:00.21). Amelia Schilling also put her name in the Illini record books by posting the fifth-best 200 freestyle (1:49.10), as well as the fourth-best 500 freestyle (4:51.15) and third best 1650 freestyle (16:47.63). Schilling finished with four top-10 freestyle performances last year. Alison DeAngelis and Olivia Kassouni will also return for their third season in Orange and Blue. Last season s freshman class will look to build off their early success. Ashley Aegerter, who placed 10th in the 200 breaststroke (2:17.96) at the Big Ten Championships and Nelly Casas, ninth in the 500 freestyle (4:54.15) at the Missouri Invite, headline the sophomore class. Illinois will add seven new athletes to the squad with a promising freshman class. Freshmen Rebecca Eckblad, Sam Gowdy, Madeline Kuhn, Autumn Ledgin, Aby Olson, Gabriele Serniute and Megan Vuong will look to make an immediate impact for the Illini. On paper, (the freshmen) are ranked very high in multiple events on our depth chart. Many of the incoming freshmen will be able to compete for relay spots, Novitsky said. The Illini will push for a third consecutive winning season for the first time since the three-year span from 1998 to Butterfly Seniors Lynn and Sykstus, as well as junior Stecker headline butterfly competition for the Illini. Stecker held a team-best time (2:00.21) in the 200 butterfly at the Missouri Invite. The team will also look to Meyers and Casas to make up for the absence of Meng. Individual Medley and Relays With the seniors that graduated last year, many athletes will be competing for relay spots. The Illini will count on Stratford, Hein, Coady, Aegerter, Lynn, as well as freshman Serniute to contribute immediately. However, others will be considered for spots as well, including Rodawig, Vuong, Meyers and Sykstus. Diving After losing senior Erika Murphy to graduation, the Illini will look to NCAA Zone Diving Qualifiers, Kassouni and Corniuk to lead in diving competition. Corniuk had the best performance in the platform diving competition, finishing tenth with a score of points, just two places out of qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Freshman Kuhn will also look to make an immediate impact as an illini diver. Schedule The Fighting Illini will begin their season with their annual Orange and Blue intra-squad meet on October 2nd at 5pm at the ARC Pool. The Blue team will look to avenge last year s defeat and reclaim bragging rights. The team will open the regular season by hosting Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois and Olivet Nazarene. Following two conference match-ups against Michigan State and Northwestern, the Illini will be on the road for the remainder of their schedule, which includes matchups with Georgia, Iowa State and Arkansas. The Big Ten Championships will be held from February in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Promotions For the October 16th home meet against EIU, WIU and Olivet Nazarene, the Illini will be giving away free pizza, shirts, water bottles and leis for a Hawaiian themed night at the ARC Pool. The annual Splash Bash will be held on October 30th against Michigan State. There will be pizza for the first 200 Illini fans, as well as free candy to celebrate Halloween. Sprint Freestyle With the graduation of Alison Meng, the Illini will look to Kirsten Zborek to lead in the sprint freestyle. Zborek posted a team-best (:23.64) in the 50 freestyle at the Big Ten Championships. Middle-Distance Freestyle The Illini will once again look to juniors Stecker and Schilling to lead the way in middle-distance freestyle. Both swimmers followed up their impressive freshman seasons with record-breaking sophomore campaigns. Stecker broke the 500 freestyle (4:46.99) school record at the Missouri Invite, while Schilling posted the fifth-best 200 freestyle time (1:49.10) in school history at the Big ten Championships. The Illini will also look for contributions from sophomore Casas. Distance Freestyle With the departure of senior Kayla Dlugopolski, the Illini will look to Stecker and Schilling again in the distance freestyle. Schilling posted team best times in both the 1000 freestyle, as well as the 1650 freestyle. Backstroke and Breaststroke Without Meng, the Illini will look to senior McDermott and sophomore Samantha Stratford to lead in backstroke and breaststroke competition. After posting the school s sixth best time in the 200 backstroke as a sophomore, McDermott improved her time at the Big Ten Championships last season. Seniors Lynn and Coady also made their ways onto multiple all-time fastest individual lists last season. Lynn put together the second-fastest 50 backstroke (:25.93) and 200 butterfly (2:00.46) this year. Lynn also ranks third in the 100 butterfly (:54.84). Coady swam the sixth-best 200 breaststroke (2:17.09) at the Missouri Invitational and posted the seventhfastest 200 backstroke (1:04.05) at the Big Ten Championships ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 3

4 THE COACHING STAFF SUE NOVITSKY HEAD COACH // 16TH SEASON Sue Novitsky enters her 16th season as the head coach of the University of Illinois swimming and diving team. Novitsky, who joined the University of Illinois swimming and diving staff as a volunteer assistant coach in 1994, begins her 21th season as a part of the Illini program. After three seasons of working as the volunteer coach, Novitsky was promoted to assistant coach in the fall of In August 2000, she was hired by former Director of Athletics, Ron Guenther, as the fifth head coach in the program s history. Novitsky s first year as head coach was filled with success as three Illini qualified for the NCAA Championships, and Jessica Aveyard repeated as an All-American in the 200 backstroke. Novitsky s swimmers continued their success at the national and international levels, as Aveyard and Ilkay Dikmen qualified to represent their native countries at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Aveyard, swimming for the United States, reached the semifinals in the 200 backstroke, while Dikmen, a 2000 Olympian, competed for Turkey in the 200 breaststroke. Dikmen also swam in the 2004 Olympics in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. As an assistant coach, Novitsky trained several athletes, including Aveyard, who was an NCAA qualifier, All-American and World Championship semifinalist, and Anna Christiansen, who was a three-time NCAA qualifier. In addition, Novitsky trained six former Fighting Illini athletes at the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials. As a swimmer, Novitsky was a two-time Division II All-American at Oakland University, earning a bachelor s degree in biochemistry in She was a student assistant coach for the 1991 Division II national champion Oakland Pioneers. Novitsky also earned a master s degree in kinesiology from Michigan. THE NOVITSKY FILE Hometown: Huntington Woods, Mich. Alma Mater: Oakland University, 1991 COLLEGIATE COACHING TIMELINE 2000-present Head Coach, University of Illinois Assistant Coach, University of Illinois Volunteer Coach, University of Illinois HONORS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Coached two All-Americans and five honorable mention All-Americans. Coached a school-record four swimmers to the 2002 and 2006 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Coached two Illinois swimmers at the 2001 FINA World Swimming Championships. Coached six Illinois swimmers in 2000 and one in 2004 at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Division II All-American. Earned a bachelor s degree in biochemistry and master s degree in kinesiology. A native of Huntington Woods, Mich., Novitsky previously worked as an assistant coach for the Oakland Live Y ers age-group team ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 4

5 THE COACHING STAFF ALEC HAYDEN ASSISTANT COACH // THIRD SEASON Alec Hayden is entering his third season as an assistant swimming coach with the Fighting Illini swimming and diving program. Hayden came to Illinois from William & Mary, where he spent one season as an assistant coach. In just one season at William & Mary, Hayden was the primary coach for swimmers who accomplished four conference records, 32 school records, 20 freshman records and 10 NCAA B cuts. His only recruiting class with the Tribe was the best in program history and included the first top-100 recruit in program history. At the Colonial Athletic Association Championships, he coached seven individual conference champions and three relay championship teams. Tribe swimmers took home co-swimmer of the Meet, Rookie of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year. While working with the Nasa Wildcat Aquatics team, Hayden simultaneously worked as a volunteer assistant for Northwestern University. At Northwestern, Hayden worked with both the men s and women s programs, including work with an NCAA Championships finalist, two NCAA consolation finalists and five NCAA qualifiers. Hayden started his coaching career as an assistant senior coach with Nasa Wildcat Aquatics in April of Working primarily with the sprint groups, Hayden coached athletes who set one national age group record and 11 state records. He coached three individual state champions and the U.S. Open 100 butterfly runner-up. As an athlete, Hayden was a four-year letter winner and two-year captain as a member of the Northwestern Wildcats swimming team from Hayden was an All-American at New Trier High School, and he was also a team captain and four-year All-Conference honoree. Hayden graduated from Northwestern in June 2008 with dual degrees in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and Economics. Prior to joining the staff at William & Mary, Hayden served as the head senior coach for the Nasa Wildcat Aquatics team, which was comprised of 40 high school and eighth-grade swimmers. Under his tutelage, Wildcat swimmers set one national age group record and eight state records. He coached three swimmers who qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. He coached four swimmers to a combined 14 state championships and also coached the freestyle USA Swimming Junior National runner-up. At the 2012 National Club Swimming Association Junior Nationals, he coached the Wildcat boys to an eighth-place national finish and the combined team to a 10th-place finish. CHRIS WATERS DIVING COACH // 10TH SEASON Chris Waters begins his tenth season as the Illini diving coach. Last season, Waters oversaw the training of NCAA Zone C qualifiers Erika Murphy, Olivia Kassouni and Raquel Corniuk. In the season he oversaw the training for Jessica Clifford, Emily Fung, Olivia Kassouni and Erika Murphy. Waters came to Illinois with a wide variety of experience as a diving coach, including stops at Tulane, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Missouri State. At Tulane, Waters had a top-12 finisher in both the one-and three-meter diving competitions at the Conference USA Championships. W aters also coached one Syracuse diver to the NCAA Zone A Championships in 2005 and had two divers place at the Big East Conference meet. Waters coached an honorable mention All-American in the one-and three-meter diving competitions at Division III Connecticut College in 2000 and was named Missouri Valley Conference Diving Coach of the Year in 1999 after coaching the Male Diver of the Year and the men s one-and three-meter champions at Missouri State. A member of the United States Diving and the Professional Diving Coaches Association, Waters has coached six Academic All-Conference selectees throughout his career. He graduated from Castleton State University with a bachelor s degree in criminal justice in 1991 and earned a master s degree in health promotion and wellness management from Missouri State in ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 5

6 THE FIGHTING ILLINI ILLINOIS ROSTER Name Yr. Events Hometown / High School / Last Scool Ashley Aegerter So. Breast/IM/Fly Cross Plains, Wis. / Middleton Gabrielle Bethke So. Free/Fly Champaign, Ill. / Henry M. Gunn Nelly Casas So. Free/Fly Oswego, Ill. / Oswego East Jessica Clifford Sr. Diving Bourbonnais, Ill. / Bradley-Bourbonnais Community Jennifer Coady Sr. Breast/IM/Free Hinsdale, Ill. / Hinsdale Central Raquel Corniuk So. Diving Huntington Beach, Calif. / Huntington Beach Adelaide Curry So. Free Oak Park, Ill. / Fenwick Rebecca Eckblad Fr. Free/Back Grand Blanc, Mich. / Grand Blanc Sam Gowdy Fr. Back/Fly/Free Carmi, Ill. / Mt. Vernon Stephanie Hein Sr. IM/Breast/Back Hartland, Wis. / Arrowhead Kaitlyn Joyce So. Free/Fly/Back Darien, Ill. / Benet Academy Olivia Kassouni Jr. Diving East Grand Rapids, Mich. / East Grand Rapids Madeline Kuhn Fr. Diving Bloomington, Ill. / University Autumn Ledgin Fr. Back/Free Boca Raton, Fla. / Grandview Prep. Lori Lynn Sr. Fly/Back/IM Swansea, Ill. / Homeschooled Sloane McDermott Sr. Back/IM Mokena, Ill. / Lincoln-Way East Sascha Meyers So. Free/Fly Dearborn, Mich. / Dearborn Aby Olson Fr. Back/Fly Loves Park, Ill. / Boylan Catholic Audrey Rodawig Jr. Fly/Free Champaign, Ill. / Centennial Isabella Schamber Sr. Breast/IM/Free Whittier, Calif. / Maranatha Prep. Amelia Schilling Jr. Free/Back Shorewood, Minn. / Minnetonka Gabriele Serniute Fr. Breast/Free/IM Downers Grove, Ill. / Downers Grove North Hollie Smith Sr. Breast Pickering, Ontario / Dunbarton Gabbie Stecker Jr. Free/Fly/Back/IM Bettendorf, Iowa / Pleasant Valley Samantha Stratford So. IM/Fly/Breast/Free Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial Sarah Sykstus Sr. Fly/IM/Free Batavia, Ill. / Rosary Megan Vuong Fr. Fly/Free Mississauga, Ontario / Rick Hansen Charli Wike So. Breast Sterling, Ill. / Sterling Kirsten Zborek Sr. Free Lockport, Ill. / Lockport Township BY CLASS Seniors (9) Jessica Clifford Jennifer Coady Stephanie Hein Lori Lynn Sloane McDermott Isabella Schamber Hollie Smith Sarah Sykstus Kirsten Zborek Juniors (4) Olivia Kassouni Audrey Rodawig Amelia Schilling Gabbie Stecker Sophomores (9) Ashley Aegerter Gabrielle Bethke Nelly Casas Raquel Corniuk Adelaide Curry Kaitlyn Joyce Sascha Meyers Samantha Stratford Charli Wike Freshmen (7) Rebecca Eckblad Sam Gowdy Madeline Kuhn Autumn Ledgin Aby Olson Gabriele Serniute Megan Vuong BY STATE California (2) Raquel Corniuk Isabella Schamber Florida (1) Autumn Ledgin Illinois (16) Gabrielle Bethke Nelly Casas Jessica Clifford Jennifer Coady Adelaide Curry Sam Gowdy Kaitlyn Joyce Madeline Kuhn Lori Lynn Sloane McDermott Aby Olson Audrey Rodawig Gabriele Serniute Sarah Sykstus Charli Wike Kirsten Zborek Iowa (1) Gabbie Stecker Michigan (3) Rebecca Eckblad Olivia Kassouni Sascha Meyers Minnesota (1) Amelia Schilling Wisconsin (2) Ashley Aegerter Stephanie Hein Canada (3) Hollie Smith Samantha Stratford Megan Vuong ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 6

7 THE FIGHTING ILLINI ILLINI BIOS ASHLEY AEGERTER GABRIELLE BETHKE SOPHOMORE // BREAST / IM / FLY SOPHOMORE // FREE / FLY CROSS PLAINS, WIS. // MIDDLETON CHAMPAIGN, ILL. // HENRY M. GUNN : Set personal bests in the 100 breast (1:04.41) and the 200 breast (2:17.96) at the Big Ten Championships : Set personal bests in the 50 free (:23.87) and 100 free (:51.20) at the Big Ten Championships... Part of seasonbest 400 free relay (3:22.32) at the Big Ten Championships... Part of school-record 200 medley relay (1:39.81) at the Big Ten Championships. HIGH SCHOOL: Four time varsity letter winner at Middleton High School... Member of Middleton High School Women s Swim and Dive team that went undefeated in dual meets from and won four consecutive Big 8 Conference championships... Received All State honors in the 200 IM, 100 breaststroke and the 200 medley relay... Placed 2nd in 100 breaststroke and 3rd in 200IM at State finals... Competed at YMCA Nationals... Made the 200 breaststroke finals at both USA Senior Nationals and Junior Nationals... Member of National Honors Society. PERSONAL: Born October 27, Parents are Scott and Lori Aegerter... Majoring in Interdisciplinary Health... Has two younger siblings, Jacob and Hannah... Hobbies include taking photos, drawing, painting, backpacking and rock climbing... Biggest thrill in sports is getting her best times and making herself, her team, her parents and her coaches proud of her... Plans to get a job in the health field after graduation... Her club coaches have most influenced her athletic career by pushing her to set high goals for herself and achieve them. AEGERTER S CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Back 1: Back 2: Breast 1: Breast : IM :07.09 HIGH SCHOOL: Earned a total of seven varsity letters at Henry M. Gunn High School, four in swimming and three in water polo... Three time CCS qualifier, competing in 2011, 2012 and Member of 2012 & 2013 CCF League Champions... NSCA Junior National Qualifier... Three time NISCA High School All-American, twice in 200 freestyle relay and once in 400 freestyle relay... Two time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American... Named to the all-league water polo first team in Member of 2014 water polo CCS finalist team... Received AP Scholar Award... Earned NCSA Academic All-American honors. PERSONAL: Born October 18, Parents are Craig and Abigail Bethke... Majoring in engineering... Hobbies include scuba diving and traveling... Biggest thrill in sports comes from swimming in exciting relays... Plans to help save the environment following graduation... Her mom most influenced her athletic career by supporting her but not pushing her. BETHKE S CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Back 1: Back 2: Breast 1: Fly : ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 7

8 THE FIGHTING ILLINI NELLY CASAS SOPHOMORE // FREE / FLY OSWEGO, ILL. // OSWEGO EAST : Set personal bests in the 500 free (4:54.15; ninth-best time on fastest individual list), 1000 free (10:15.76) and 1650 free (17:03.36) at the Missouri Invite... Set personal best in 200 fly (2:04.06) at the Big Ten Championships. HIGH SCHOOL: Earned five total varsity letters at Oswego East High School, four in swimming and one in soccer... Named All- Conference in all fours years of high school career... Sectional champion in 200 and 500 freestyle for 3 years... Competed at IHSA State finals in 2011, 2012 and Member of Delta Aquatics National and State team from Member of National Honors Society, Science National Honors Society and Spanish National Honors Society. PERSONAL: Born April 6, Parents are Jose Luis Casas and Sonia Obispo... Has one younger brother, Andre... Majoring in pre-med kinesiology... Hobbies include playing and listening to music, playing sports, being with friends, doing community service and watching movies... Biggest thrill in sports is the excitement of pressure, racing and winning... Plans to attend medical school after graduation... Her coach Lily, Aunt Teresa and her parents most influenced her athletic career by teaching her to be the best she could be and by always encouraging her through everything. CASAS CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Free...4: Free...10: Free...17: Back : Back : Breast : Fly : Fly :04.06 JENNIFER COADY SENIOR // BREAST / IM / FREE HINSDALE, ILL. // HINSDALE CENTRAL : Academic All-Big Ten honoree... Big Ten Distinguished Scholar... Became the seventh-fastest individual all-time in the 100 breast with a mark of 1:04.05 at the Big Ten Championships : Posted personal best times in the 200 free (1:53.63) and 200 breast (2:21.90) at the Big Ten Championships... Set a personal best time in the 100 back (1:02.76) against Iowa State... Posted personal best times in the 100 breast (1:06.05) and 400 IM (4:31.85) at the Miami University Invitational... Swam her season best 200 IM (2:07.24) at the Big Ten Championships... Placed fourth in 100 breast (1:09.60) at the Southern Illinois, Olivet Nazarene Dual Meet... Academic All-Big Ten honoree : Posted career-best times in the 100 breast (1:07.89), 200 breast (2:25.48) and 200 IM (2:07.10) at the Big Ten Championships... Posted fitfth place finishes in the 1000 free against Nebraska and Iowa. HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time Illinois high school state qualifier... NCSA junior national qualifier... Swam at 2010 USA Swimming Short Course Junior Nationals... Four-time NISCA high school All-American and 2011 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American... At the 2011 Illinois high school state championship, finished seventh in the 200 medley relay, 10th in the 200 free relay and 400 free relay and 15th in the 200 IM... At the 2010 high school state championship, finished ninth in the 200 IM, eighth in the 200 medley relay, fifth in the 200 free relay and sixth in the 400 free relay... At the 2009 state championships, finished 17th in the 200 IM, ninth in the 200 free relay and fifth in the 400 free relay... Four-year varsity letterwinner at Hinsdale Central High School... Earned All-State honorable mention in Helped her team finish second in the IHSA state meet in Four-year honor roll member. Personal: Born on Aug. 3, Parents are Judy and the late Thomas Coady (Illinois football, )... Has one older sister, Sarah, who swam at Illinois... Majoring in business... Her hobbies include reading Harry Potter and The Hunger Games... Lists her favorite athlete as Jonathan Toews. COADY S CAREER BESTS 100 Free Free : Free : Back : Breast : Breast : IM : IM :31.85 JESSICA CLIFFORD SENIOR // DIVING BOURBONNAIS, ILL. // BRADLEY-BOURBONNAIS COMMUNITY : Season best in three-meter dive (260.77) at Michigan State : Set personal-best score in both the one-meter dive (251.32) and the three-meter dive (274.95) at the Southern Illinois, Olivet Nazarene Dual Meet : Posted a personal-best time in the three-meter (236.47) dive against Iowa... Posted personal-best time in the one-meter (222.1) at the Minnesota Challenge. HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner in diving at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School... IHSA state qualifier in diving in 2010 and Received all-conference honors in 2009, 2010 and Earned first place at sectionals in 2010 and PERSONAL: Born Oct. 24, Parents are Michael and Elizabeth Clifford... Has one sister, Caitlin, and one brother, Michael... Majoring in chemistry... Hobbies include reading and biking... Lists her favorite athlete as swimmer David Boudia. CLIFFORD S CAREER BESTS One-Meter Three-Meter RAQUEL CORNIUK SOPHOMORE // DIVING HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF. // HUNTINGTON BEACH : Became the first Illini to advance to the finals on tower at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships... Set a school record in platform diving (254.85) at the Big Ten Championships... Reset the school record on the platform dive four times during the season. CLUB: Competed with Mission Viejo Nadadores... Placed 8th in one-meter dive and 5th on platform at Age Group Nationals in Placed 1st in three-meter dive and 5th on platform at Age Group Nationals in PERSONAL: Born September 3, Parents are Joe and Diane Corniuk... Attended Huntington Beach High School... Member of National Honors Society... Graduated Magna Cum Laude... Majoring in biology... Hobbies include surfing, paddle boarding and going to the beach... Biggest thrill in sports comes from working hard and seeing that work pay off... Plans to become a marine biologist after graduation... Greg Louganis most influenced her athletic career by improving her diving and helping her with the mental side to diving. CORNIUK S CAREER BESTS One-Meter Three-Meter Platform ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 8

9 THE FIGHTING ILLINI ADELAIDE CURRY SOPHOMORE // FREE OAK PARK, ILL. // FENWICK : Swam a career-best mark of :24.40 in the 50 free at the Big Ten Championships... Posted a career-best time of :53.41 in the 100 free at the Missouri Invitational, while also recording a personal-best reading of 1:57.80 in the 200 free event at the meet. HIGH SCHOOL: Earned six total varsity letters at Fenwick High School, four in swimming and two in water polo... Member of Fenwick High School Swim team that finished 2nd in 2013 and 3rd in 2012, 2014 in the state of Illinois... Member of Fenwick High School Water Polo team that won the 2012 Illinois State championship... Received Academic All-American and Illinois State Scholar honors... Member of National Honors Society. PERSONAL: Born May 3, Parents are Russell Curry and Germaine Caprio... Hobbies include painting and baking... Biggest thrill in sports came from standing on the pool deck at high school state and hearing the dead silence at the start of the race turn into an intense roar as soon as the swimmers dove in... Plans on working in Chicago after finishing school... Her parents most influenced her athletic career by teaching her to never give up. CURRY S CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Free : Back : Back : Breast :08.52 REBECCA ECKBLAD FRESHMAN // FREE / BACK GRAND BLANC, MICH. // GRAND BLANC HIGH SCHOOL: YMCA National qualifier... NSCA Junior National qualifier... Personal best 50 freestyle time of : freestyle best of : Top time of :58.20 in 100 backstroke... Best mark of 2:04.62 in the 200 backstroke... USA Swimming Club: Flint Y Falcons. PERSONAL: Born on February 12, Majoring in psychology. SAM GOWDY FRESHMAN // BACK / FLY / FREE CARMI, ILL. // MT. VERNON HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time Indiana High School State qualifier... USA Swimming Winter National Qualifier... NSCA Junior National qualifier... Finished 12th in the 100 backstroke and 15th in the 200 medley relay at the 2014 Indiana State Championships... Placed 5th in the 200 medley relay, ninth in the 400 freestyle and 15th in the 100 backstroke at the 2013 Indiana State Championships.. Was fifth in the 400 freestyle relay and ninth in the 100 backstroke at the 2012 Indiana State Championships. STEPHANIE HEIN SENIOR // IM / BREAST / BACK HARTLAND, WIS. // ARROWHEAD : Academic All-Big Ten honoree... Career best in the 400 IM (4:27.02) at the Missouri Invite; second-fastest individual time for Illinois on the season... Career-best 200 IM time of 2:06.19 at the Missouri Invitational : Posted her season best 200 IM (2:10.27) and personal bests in the 200 back (2:06.77) and 100 breast (1:08.52) at the Miami University Invitational... Recorded personal best in 50 free (25.41) and 100 free (55.26) at the Last Chance Meet... Set her season best times in 200 breast (2:24.97) and 400 IM (4:32.59) at the Big Ten Championships... Finished third in the 200 back (2:10.04) and fourth in the 400 IM (4:35.95) against Illinois State... Placed third in the 200 breast ( ) at the Southern Illinois, Olivet Nazarene Dual Meet... Academic All-Big Ten honoree : Posted career-best times in the 200 breast (2:23.89) and 200 IM (2:07.54) at the Big Ten Championships... Posted a career best in the 400 IM (4:30.13) at the Big Ten Championships... Finish fourth in the 200 IM at the TYR Invitational. HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Arrowhead High School... Received All-State honors in 2008 and 2011 as well as honorable mention in 2009 and Earned All- America status in Was the state runner-up in the 200 IM in Four-time Wisconsin Division I high school state qualifier... NCSA junior national qualifier... USA Swimming Speedo sectional qualifier and 2011 USA Swimming Scholastic All- American... At the 2011 Wisconsin high school state championship, finished second in the 200 IM and 10th in the 100 breast... At the 2010 state championship, finished ninth in the 200 IM and 12th in the 100 breast... At the 2009 state championship, finished 12th in the 200 IM... Four-year honor roll member. PERSONAL: Born July 12, Parents are Richard and Cindy Hein... Has one younger sister, Molly... Hobbies include skiing and yoga... Lists her favorite athlete as swimmer Natalie Coughlin... Majoring in molecular & cellular biology ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 9 HEIN S CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Back Back : Breast : Breast : Fly : IM : IM :27.02

10 THE FIGHTING ILLINI athlete honors. KAITLYN JOYCE SOPHOMORE // FREE / FLY / BACK DARIEN, ILL. // BENET ACADEMY : Set personal best in the 200 back (2:03.13) at the Big Ten Championships... Owns two spots on the team s top-10 marks list from the season in the 200 back. HIGH SCHOOL: Four time varsity letter winner at Benet Academy... Named high school team captain... Qualified for Illinois High School State Finals and NSCA Junior Nationals... Named Illinois State Scholar... Member of Honor Roll... Received scholar PERSONAL: Born April 22, Parents are David and Leslie Joyce... Has one sister, Meghan... Hobbies include scuba diving, paddle boarding, being outside and being on the water... Biggest thrill in sports comes from winning for the team... Her high school coach, Sarah Maggio, most influenced her athletic career by teaching her how to work hard and that hard work is the key to success. OLIVIA KASSOUNI JUNIOR // DIVING EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. // EAST GRAND RAPIDS : Academic All-Big Ten honoree... Season bests in the one-meter dive (255.89) and three-meter dive (290.02) at Iowa... Posted the 10th-best three-meter dive score in program history, Season best in platform diving (200.40) at the Iowa Triangular; the sixth-best score in program history on the event (also owns the eighth-best mark) : Set personal-best scores in the one-meter (263.17) and three-meter (283.87) at the Southern Illinois, Olivet Nazarene Dual Meet... Recorded a score of in platform diving at the Big Ten Championships, which ranks third all-time in Illinois history... Qualified for NCAA Zone C Diving Championships. HIGH SCHOOL: Individual diving state champion 2010 and Team State Champions 2009 and Three-year All-American ( )... Four-year All-State selection ( )... Three-year All-Conference selection ( )... Four-year varsity letter winner. PERSONAL: Born Sept. 9, Parents are Armen and Kim Kassouni... Majoring in Recreation, Sport and Tourism... Hobbies include the trampoline... Lists her biggest thrill in sports as flipping... Plans to go on adventures before settling down to join the real world. JOYCE S CAREER BESTS 100 Back : Back : Fly Fly : Free : Free :36.04 KASSOUNI S CAREER BESTS One-Meter Three-Meter Platform MADELINE KUHN FRESHMAN // DIVING // BLOOMINGTON, ILL. // UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time Illinois State qualifier... University High s six- & 11-dive record holder... Leader on the region s all time list... Competed in several US Diving Junior Regional and Zone meets... Qualified for Junior Nationals in plaform diving... Top score of on six dives at one meter... Personal-best score of on 11 dives at one meter... Career-best score of on nine dives at three meters PERSONAL: Born February 4, Majoring in food science and human nutrition. AUTUMN LEDGIN FRESHMAN // BACK / FREE // BOCA RATON, FLA. // GRANDVIEW PREP HIGH SCHOOL: Florida High School State qualifier... Top 500 freestyle time of 5: freestyle best mark of 11: Recorded a personal-best mark of 1:01.89 in the 100 backstroke... Owns a personal-best time of 2:12.64 in the 200 backstroke... USA Swimming Club: Saint Andrews Swimming PERSONAL: Born October 24, Majoring in civil engineering ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 10

11 LORI LYNN SENIOR // FLY / BACK / IM SWANSEA, ILL. // HOMESCHOOLED : Academic All-Big Ten honoree... Season best in the 200 fly (2:00.46; second on fastest individuals list) and 200 IM (2:02.94) at the Big Ten Championships... Season best in the 50 back (:25.93; second on fastest individuals list) and 100 fly (:54.84; third on fastest individuals list) at Last Chance Qualifying meet... Part of school-record 200 medley relay (1:39.81) and 400 medley relay (3:41.75) at the Big Ten Championships... Owns the second-best individual mark in three events for Illinois on the season (100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM) : Posted the Illini s fastest 200 IM time of the season, swimming a personal best 2:04.21 at the Big Ten Championships... Recorded her season best 100 fly (55.94) at the Big Ten Championships... Posted personal best 200 fly (2:03.73) against Nebraska... Set personal best 100 back (57.43) at the Miami University Invitational... Swam her season best 400 IM (4:32.48) against Oakland... Placed first in 200 IM (2:06.50) against Nebraska... Placed second in the 200 fly (2:06.71) and third in the 400 IM (4:32.48) against Illinois State... Finished first in the 200 fly (2:05.00) and second in the 400 IM (4:32.65) against Iowa State... Finished second in the 200 IM (2:07.60) and third in the 200 fly (2:05.52) at the Michigan State, Liberty Dual Meet... Swam leg of 200 medley relay (1:41.90) at the Big Ten Championships, which ranks as the fastest time in school history... Swam leg of 200 medley relay (1:42.71) at the Miami University Invitational, which ranks fourth all-time in school history... Swam leg of 400 medley relay (3:42.21) at the Big Ten Championships, which ranks as the fastest time in school history... Academic All-Big Ten honoree : Became the sixth-fastest individual in Illini history in the 200-yard backstroke at the Big Ten Championships (2:01.58) and the third-fastest individual in school history in the 100-yard butterfly at the Winter Nationals... Became the seventh-fastest individual in school history in the 200 IM at the Big Ten Championships (2:04.51)... Posted a season best in the 200 fly (2:05.55) at the TYR Invitational. HIGH SCHOOL: Four-time Illinois high school state qualifier... USA Swimming junior national qualifier... YMCA national qualifier and finalist and 2011 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American... At the 2011 Illinois high school state championship, finished 10th in the 100 fly and 11th in the 200 IM... At the 2010 state championship, finished 10th in the 200 IM and 10th in the 100 fly... At the 2009 state championship, finished ninth in the 100 fly and 13th in the 200 IM... At the 2008 state championship, finished 10th in the 100 Fly... At the 2011 YMCA national championships, finished eighth in the 100 fly, eighth in the 200 free relay, 13th in the 400 free relay and 15th in the 200 IM... At the 2010 national championship, finished sixth in the 100 fly... Four-year varsity letterwinner. PERSONAL: Born October 21, Parents are Ron and Kathy Lynn... Her older sister Erica currently swims for the Fighting Illini... Majoring in health... Hobbies include baking, shopping and hanging out with friends... Lists her favorite athlete as swimmer Natalie Coughlin. LYNN S CAREER BESTS 50 Back Back Back : Fly Fly : IM : IM...4:31.10 SLOANE MCDERMOTT SENIOR // BACK / IM MOKENA, ILL. // LINCOLN-WAY EAST : Academic All-Big Ten honoree... Season best in 200 back (2:00.65) at the Big Ten Championships, ranks sixth on the all-time fastest individuals list; Illinois fastest time in the event on the season... Owns three of Illinois four fastest 200 back times on the season : Finished season ranked sixth all-time in the 200 back after recording a personal best 2:01.24 finish at the Big Ten Championships... Recorded a personal best 100 back (57.06) at the Big Ten Championships... Set a personal best 200 IM (2:11.14) at the Miami University Invitational... Finished third in the 200 back (2:07.07) against Iowa State... Placed third in the 100 back (59.40) at the Southern Illinois, Olivet Nazarene Dual Meet... Academic All-Big Ten honoree : Posted a career best in the 100 back (57.83) at the Big Ten Championships... Won the 200 back against Illinois State... Posted a career best in the 200 back (2:04.06) at the TYR Invitational HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time Illinois high school state qualifier... NCSA junior national qualifier... USA Swimming Speedo sectional qualifier... At the 2011 Illinois high school state championship, finished seventh in the 100 back and 39th in the 200 IM... At the 2010 state championship, finished 16th in the 100 back... At the 2009 state championship, finished 47th in the 100 back... Four-year varsity letterwinner at Lincoln-Way East High School... Earned All-State honors in PERSONAL: Born May 23, Parents are John and Laurie McDermott... Major is currently undecided... Has three sisters, Darragh, Callan and Fiona... Sister Darragh currently dives for the Fighting Illini... Sister Callan formerly competed for the Fighting Illini... Lists her favorite athlete as swimmer Dara Torres. MCDERMOTT S CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Back Back Back : IM : Fly...1:00.21 SASCHA MEYERS SOPHOMORE // FREE / FLY DEARBORN, MICH. // DEARBORN : Set personal bests in the 200 free (1:50.85) and 200 fly (2:03.13) at the Missouri Invite... Member of the 800 free relay squad that posted the ninth-best time in Illinois history at the Missouri Invitational. HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time varsity letter winner at Dearborn High School... Received 2011 All-State honors in 100 Free and 200 Free... Named Scholastic All-American in Competed at 2013 USA Swimming Junior National Championships in 100 Fly, 100 Free and 200 Free... State high point winner in PERSONAL: Born January 10, Parents are John and Veronica Meyers... Majoring in animal science... Hobbies include sailing, scuba diving, water skiing, boating and skiing... Biggest thrill in sports comes from the adrenaline rush she gets when she is leading the group or battling for the top seed... Plans to become a large animal vet after finishing school... Her parents have most influenced her athletic career by influencing her to learn to swim and then later encouraging her to compete at a collegiate level. MEYERS CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Free...4: Free...1: Back Back : Fly Fly...2: IM : ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 11

12 THE FIGHTING ILLINI ABY OLSON FRESHMAN // BACK / FLY LOVES PARK, ILL. // BOYLAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time Illinois High School State qualifier... USA Swimming Winter Junior National qualifier... NSCA Junior National qualifier... Finished third in the 100 backstroke her season season at the Illinois High School State meet... Personalbest time of :55.96 in the 100 backstroke butterfly top-time of :58.91 PERSONAL: Born on June 20, Majoring in kinesiology. AUDREY RODAWIG FRESHMAN // FLY / FREE CHAMPAIGN, ILL. // CENTENNIAL : (Ball State) Earned her second letter at Ball State... Secured team-best times of the season in all of her events at the MAC Championships... Turned in times in four events to earn a place in the Ball State record books : (Ball State) Notched the 10th-best 100 free time in school history at the MAC Championships... Member of the 200 free relay that broke a 17-year-old school record with a 1:33.49 at the MAC Championships... Member of the 400 free relay that clocked a season-best 3:26.05 at the league meet for the fourth-best time in school history. HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered all four years in swimming... Four-time all-conference... Two-time Scholastic All-American... News Gazette Swimmer of the Year in Four-time Team MVP... Two-time team captain... Three-time state qualifier. PERSONAL: Born May 26, Parents are Daniel and Suzanne Rodawig... Has two brothers... Majoring in speech pathology. RODAWIG S CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Free : Fly ISABELLA SCHAMBER SENIOR // BREAST / IM / FREE WHITTIER, CALIF. // MARANATHA PREPARATORY : Academic All-Big Ten honoree... Part of school-record 200 medley relay (1:39.81) at the Big Ten Championships... Posted the fourth-best individual time in the 200 breast for Illinois on the season at the Big Ten Championships (2:20.33) : Set personal bests in the 50 free (24.88), 100 breast (1:04.84) and 200 breast (2:21.68) at the Big Ten Championships... Recorded her season best 100 free (56.62) against Oakland... Posted her season best 200 IM (2:12.70) at the Michigan State, Liberty Dual Meet... Finished first in the 200 breast (2:24.58) at the Southern Illinois, Olivet Nazarene Dual Meet... Placed third in the 100 breast (1:07.02) and fourth in the 200 breast (2:25.44) against Kansas... Finished second in the 200 breast (2:23.11) against Nebraska : Posted a career best in the 100 breast (1:06.13) at the AT&T Winter National Time Trials... Posted a career best in the 200 breast (2:21.95) at the Big Ten Championships. HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time CIF champion in the 200 IM and two-time CIF champion in the 100 breast... In 2009, helped her team win the CIF Division IV championship... Team record holder in the 200 IM and 100 breast... Member of the Swim Pasadena National team. PERSONAL: Born Jan. 8, Parents are Scott and Barbara Schamber... Majoring in kinesiology... Plans to pursue a degree in physical therapy after graduation... Enjoys spending time on the beach in Laguna, Calif. SCHAMBER S CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Breast : Breast : IM :08.18 AMELIA SCHILLING JUNIOR // FREE / BACK SHOREWOOD, MINN. // MINNETONKA : Academic All-Big Ten honoree... Ranked in the top 10 in four events on the all-time fastest individuals lists... Set personal best in the 500 free (4:51.15; fourth on fastest individuals list) at the Big Ten Championships : Finished the season ranked sixth all-time in the 200 free (1:49.18), fifth in the 500 free (4:52.11) and seventh in the 1650 free (16:53.20)... Set personal bests in the 50 free (24.57) and 200 back (2:03.52) at the Last Chance Meet... Recorded personal bests in the 100 free (53.28) and 100 back (58.45) at the University of Miami Invitational... Swam a season best 1000 free (10:14.83) at the Northwestern, Eastern Michigan Dual meet... Finished first in the 500 free (5:03.46) and 1000 free (10:20.22) against Illinois State... Placed second in the 200 free (1:53.43) and fourth in the 200 back (2:07.92) against Oakland... Finished second in the 500 free (5:02.58) and 1000 free (10:16.97) against Iowa State... Swam leg of 800 free relay (7:19.05) at the Miami University Invite, which ranks as the fastest time in school history. HIGH SCHOOL: State champion in 200 free and 500 free in State record-holder in 500 free... Four-year varsity letter winner... Named All-State in Named All- Conference in named team MVP in 2010 and Named team captain in Named Minnetonka High School Female Athlete of the Year... Named Minnesota Class AA Female Athlete of the Year... Team record holder in 200 medley Relay, 200 free, 400 free relay and 500 free. PERSONAL: Born August 6, Parents are Bill and Ellen Schilling... Graduated summa cum laude... Lists her biggest thrill in sports as racing and seeing other teammates reach their goals and perform at a high level. SCHILLING S CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Free : Free : Free : Free : Back Back : ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 12

13 THE FIGHTING ILLINI HIGH SCHOOL: Four-time IHSA State qualifier... NSCA Junior National qualifier... USA Swimming Winter National qualifier... Finished first in the 200 freestyle relay, second in the 200 IM, second in the 200 medley relay and fourth in the 400 freestyle relay for the runner-up team at the 2014 IHSA State Championships... Placed first in the 200 medley relay and sixth in the 200 IM at the 2013 IHSA State Championships... Career-best time of :24.61 in the 50 freestyle and :52.92 in the 100 freestyle... Lifetime best of 1:05.21 in the 200 breaststroke IM personal best is 2: PERSONAL: Born on November 1, Undecided on a major. Last Chance Meet. GABRIELLE SERNIUTE FRESHMAN // BREAST / FREE / IM DOWNERS GROVE, ILL. // DOWNERS GROVE NORTH GABBIE STECKER JUNIOR // FREE / FLY / BACK / IM BETTENDORF, IOWA // PLEASANT VALLEY : Set two new school records and had top-10 performances in three other events... Swam a school record (4:46.99) in the 500 free at the Missouri Invite... Placed second on the school s all-time fastest individuals list in the 200 fly with a time of 2:00.21 at the Missouri Invite... Ranks 8th in the 200 free (1:49.28) and 200 back (2:01.59), both of which she accomplished at the Missouri invite... Swam the ninth best time in the 50 back (27.00) at the Purdue : Broke school record in the 200 fly, finishing in a personal best 2:00.52 at the Big Ten Championships... Finished the season ranked tenth all-time in the 200 free (1:50.29), second in the 500 free (4:48.53), sixth in the 1000 free (10:10.11) and ninth in the 1650 free (16:55.75)... Swam a personal best 100 free (52.72) at the Miami University Invitational... Recorded a personal best 400 IM (4:28.81) against Iowa State... Posted a personal best 200 back (2:07.42) against Oakland... Finished first in the 200 free (1:52.54), 500 free (4:56.62) and 400 IM (4:28.81) against Iowa State... Placed first in the 500 free (4:58.71) and 1000 free (10:13.77) against Kansas... Finished first in the 500 free (4:57.28) and second in the 1650 free (17:14.05) against Nebraska... Swam first leg of 800 free relay (7:19.05) at the Miami University Invite, which ranks as the fastest time in school history. HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year swimming varsity letter winner at Pleasant Valley High School... All- American in 500 free and 200 free in State Champion in the 200 free, 500 free, 1000 free, 1650 free and 200 fly. PERSONAL: Born June 12, Parents are John and Connie Stecker... Majoring in Biology... Enjoys drawing and mountain biking... Hopes to pursue a career in the medical field... Lists her biggest thrill in sports as racing and being part of an amazing team. STECKER S CAREER BESTS 100 Free Free : Free : Free : Free : Back Back... 2: Fly Fly... 2: IM... 2: IM... 4: Breast... 1:09.78 HOLLIE SMITH SENIOR // BREAST PICKERING, ONTARIO // DUNBARTON : Academic All-Big Ten honoree... Season best in the 100 breast (1:04.36) at the Missouri Invite; third-fastest individual mark for Illinois on the season... Posted Illinois fifthfastest individual time in the 200 breast with a mark of 2:21.55 at the Missouri Invitational : Finished the season ranked sixth all-time in the 100 breast after recording a personal best 1:03.97 at the Big Ten Championships... Set personal bests in 50 free (24.98) and 200 breast (2:20.33) at the Big Ten Championships... Finished second in both the 100 breast (1:08.64) and 200 breast (2:29.42) at the Southern Illinois, Olivet Nazarene Dual Meet : Posted a career best in the 100 breast (1:05.47) at the Big Ten Championships... Posted a career best in the 200 breast (2:23.18) at the Big Ten Championships... Posted a career best in the 50 free (26.50) at the TYR Invitational HIGH SCHOOL: Member of the Pickering Swim Club provincial and national qualifying team... In 2012, she qualified for the Olympic Trials of Canada... Four-year honor roll member. PERSONAL: Born on December 31, Parents are Jon and Laurie Smith... Has a younger sister, Amy... Lists her favorite athlete as swimmer Annamay Pierse... Plans to teach abroad when she is done with school. SMITH S CAREER BESTS 50 Free Breast...1: Breast...2: IM...2:11.10 SAMANTHA STRATFORD SOPHOMORE // IM / FLY / BREAST / FREE CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO // CENTENNIAL CVI : Four Individual performances that rank on the school s all-time top 10 fastest individuals list... Part of a school record time (7:13.98) in the 800 free relay at the Big Ten Championships... Swam a 1:03.00 in the 100 breast at the Missouri Invite to place her third on the school s all time fastest individuals list... Ranked fifth on the list in the 200 breast with a time of 2:15.41 at the Missouri Invite... Swam the third fastest 200 IM with a time of 2:01.72 at the Missouri Invite... Placed fifth on the fastest individuals list in the 400 IM with a time of 4:22.01 at the Missouri Invite... Earned UI s first ever Big Ten Freshman of the Week award on November 18. HIGH SCHOOL: Member of the Canadian National Development Team Canadian World Team Trials qualifier and finalist, finishing 12th in 200IM... Placed 7th in 200IM, 13th in 400IM and 14th in 200 Fly at the 2013 Canadian Summer Nationals Canada Summer Games Medalist, placing 2nd in 200IM... earned Academic Honors in and PERSONAL: Born May 7, Parents are Ian Stratford and Vicki Nickless... Born in Toronto, Ontario... Majoring in psychology... Hobbies include riding her unicycle, skiing, hanging out with friends and traveling... Biggest thrill in sports is being able to be part of a team and contributing to their success... Plans to go to teachers college or pursue masters degree following graduation... Her coach in summer swimming has most influenced her athletic career by encouraging her to join winter swimming. STRATFORD S CAREER BESTS 100 Free Free : Free : Free : Free : Back...2: Fly Fly...2: IM...2: IM...4: Breast...1: Breast...2: ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 13

14 THE FIGHTING ILLINI SARAH SYKSTUS SENIOR // FLY / IM / FREE BATAVIA, ILL. // ROSARY : Academic All-Big Ten honoree... Season best in the 200 IM (2:03.28) at the Missouri Invite; ranking sixth on the all-time fastest individuals list at Illinois... Part of school-record 400 medley relay (3:41.75) at the Big Ten Championships : Finished the season ranked third in the 200 fly after recording a personal best 2:01.94 at the Miami University Invitational... Posted the Illini s fastest 400 IM time of the season, finishing in a personal best 4:27.58 at the Miami University Invitational... Set personal best 200 free (1:56.85) against Oakland... Posted personal best 100 back (59.48) at the Southern Illinois, Olivet Nazarene Dual Meet... Recorded her season best 100 fly (56.25) and 200 IM (2:05.28) at the Miami University Invitational... Finished first in the 200 fly (2:05.90) and 400 IM (4:31.65) against Illinois State... Finished first in the 200 fly (2:04.70) at the Michigan State, Liberty Dual Meet... Placed first in the 100 fly (58.10)at the Southern Illinois, Olivet Nazarene Dual Meet... Swam leg of 400 medley relay (3:44.77) at the Miami University Invitational, which ranks fourth all-time in school history... Academic All-Big Ten honoree. MEGAN VUONG FRESHMAN // FLY / FREE MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO // RICK HANSEN HIGH SCHOOL: Canadian Senior National Qualifier Canadian Pan-American Games Trials qualifier... Lifetime best performances of :26.42 in the 50 freestyle, :57.66 in the 100 freestyle and 2:04.00 in the 200 freestyle.. personal-best times of 1:02.36 in the 100 butterfly and 2:17.21 in the 200 butterfly PERSONAL: Born February 18, Undecided on a major : Posted the fastest times on the team in both the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley... Became the sixth-fastest individual in the 200 fly (2:02.52) and fifth-fastest in the 200 IM (2:03.80) at the Big Ten Championships... Also became the 10-th fastest individual in school history in the 100 fly at the Big Ten Championships. HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Rosary High School... Earned All-State and allconference honors for three straight seasons... Finished first in the 200 free relay and second in the 400 free relay in the 2009 IHSA state meet... Finished first in the 200 free relay at the IHSA state meet in PERSONAL: Born on April 10, Parents are William and Christine Sykstus... Has two sisters, Erin and Jennifer... Majoring in business... Hobbies include reading and hanging out with friends... Member of the National Honor Society... Her favorite athlete is swimmer Natalie Coughlin. SYKSTUS CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free : Free :56: Back : Fly Fly : IM : IM...4:27.58 CHARLI WIKE SOPHOMORE // BREAST STERLING, ILL. // STERLING : (UW Milwaukee) Finished 6th in the 200 breaststroke, 8th in the 100 breast and 25th in the 200 IM at the Horizon Leage Championships... Won the 200 breast at Northwestern Jan Won the 200 breast and was fourth in the 100 breast in a win over Green Bay Jan Won the 200 breast at Wisconsin Feb posted 10 top-10 finishes on the season, including three wins. HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered all four years in swimming... Team MVP and captain as a junior and senior... Earned conference MVP honors as a junior... All-conference all four years... Earned Best Freshman award... Three-year state qualifier in track along with junior and senior-year MVP honors... High Honors all four years... Named to Dean s List. PERSONAL: Born May 21, Parents are John and Dana Wike... cousins James (Auburn) and Emily (Oakland) both swam collegiately. KIRSTEN ZBOREK SENIOR // FREE LOCKPORT, ILL. // LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP : Academic All-Big Ten honoree... Part of season-best 200 free relay (1:32.23) at the Big Ten Championships; ranking as the sixth-fastest time in Illinois history... Member of the school record setting 400 medley relay team with a time of 3:41.75 at the Big Ten Championships : Set personal bests in the 50 free (24.17) and 100 free (52.56) and a season best 200 free (1:58.16) at the Big Ten Championships... Recorded a personal best 100 fly (1:06.86) at the Miami University Invitational... Academic All-Big Ten honoree : Posted career-best times in the 50 free (24.55) and 100 free (53.64) at the Big Ten Championships. HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Lockport Township High School. PERSONAL: Born December 1, Parents are Jack and Michelle Zborek... Majoring in biology/pre-med... Has two siblings, Ashley and Austin... Plans to attend medical school after graduation. WIKE S CAREER BESTS 100 Back : Breast : Breast : IM :10.01 ZBOREK S CAREER BESTS 50 Free Free Free : Fly : ILLINOIS SWIMMING & DIVING // 14