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Nov. 27, 2007

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois women's golf coach Renee Slone announced the signing of five talented and successful golfers to national letters of intent on Tuesday. The 2008 class includes Abby Cotter (Noblesville, Ind./ Noblesville H.S.), Katelin Dilger (Palmdale, Calif./Quartz Hill H.S.), Hailey Koschmann (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest H.S.), Samantha Sloan (Lansing, Ill./Marian Catholic H.S.), and Kaitlyn Wampler (Normal, Ill./University H.S.).

Two state champions, a tour series champion, a three-time sectional medalist, and a two-time All-State honoree highlight the 2008 class. Koschmann won the 2007 Class AA IHSA State Championship, shattering the tournament record of 144 with a 36-hole total of 135. She also notched second and third-place finishes at the 2006 and 2005 State Championships, respectively. Cotter earned medalist honors at the 2007 Indiana Girl's State Junior Championship. Dilger is a Spring Series Champion on the Southern California PGA Junior Tour and has seven victories on the SCPGA Junior Tour. Wampler is a three-time sectional medalist, finished fifth at the 2006 Class AA State Championship and helped lead her team to three consecutive IHSA State Championships from 2005-07. Sloan earned All-State honors in 2006 and 2007 and is a six-time Illinois Junior Golf Association Player of the Year.

"I am extremely excited about our incoming class," said Slone. "With five seniors currently on the team, these players will be stepping in immediately and making contributions to our success right from the start. These players will be forming the foundation of this team for the next four years. Each of these players has experienced success at the local, state and national level and will assist in leading this program to the next level."

PROFILES ON THE NEWEST ILLINI

Abby Cotter

Abby Cotter // Noblesville HS / Noblesville, Ind.
Notes: 2007 Indiana Girl's State Junior Championship Medalist ... 2007 FCWT (Future Collegians World Tour) First Team All-American ... 2007 USGA Girls Junior Sectional Medalist ... Two-time Indiana High School Athletic Association All-State Team ... Led high school team to four consecutive state appearances with one second-place finish and three fourth-place finishes ... Four-time All-Conference player and team MVP in high school ... Holds nine-hole (32) and 18-hole (67) school records ... High school coach is Lynn Milburn ... NCAA "Stay In Bounds" Student Ambassador ... Will graduate with an Indiana Academic Honors Diploma.

Coach Slone on Abby:
"Abby had a terrific summer and was named a FCWT All-American. She responds to challenges well as evidenced by earning medalist honors at the US Junior Girls Sectional Championship on a tough Kampen Golf Course at Purdue. By advancing to the final 32 at the US Junior Girls Championship, she showed that she is one of the nation's best. Abby can go low (rounds of 66 and 67 in the last 2 Indiana Girls Juniors) and knows how to win."

Katelin Dilger

Katelin Dilger // Quartz Hill HS / Palmdale, Calif.
Notes: Spring Series Champion on the Southern California PGA Junior Tour ... Four-time Antelope Valley CC Girls Junior Club Champion ... 2006 Pasadena City Championship Winner ... 2007 Junior Amateur Golf Scholar Medalist ... Western All-Star Team Member ... Went undefeated in 34 Golden League matches to become conference champion in 2006 and 2007 ... Tallied the lowest conference nine-hole average (35.8) in 2007 ... Team captain from 2005-07 ... Earned varsity letters all four years ... High school coach is Stu Manthey ... International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate ... Member of National Honor Society.

Coach Slone on Katelin:
"Katelin has really come into her own over the past eight months or so and has shown significant improvement in the past year. She has established herself as one of the top players in California and is getting comfortable in posting sub-par rounds in recent months. Katelin is looking forward to carrying on the family tradition as her father, cousin Meghan and cousin Ken are all graduates of the University of Illinois."

Hailey Koschmann

Hailey Koschmann // Lake Forest HS / Lake Forest, Ill.
Notes: 2007 IHSA Class AA State Champion ... Shattered the IHSA state tournament record of 143 with rounds of 66 and 69 (135) in 2007 ... 2006 IHSA Class AA State Runner-Up ... 2005 IHSA Class AA Third Place Finish ... 2007 USGA Junior Girls Sectional Medalist ... Earned top-four finishes at the 2006 and 2007 Illinois Junior Girls Championship ... Earned All-Conference and team MVP honors all four years ... Pioneer Press Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007 ... Chicago Tribune Athlete of the Month in October 2007 ... High school coach is Marlene Miller ... Earned All-Academic honors in 2006 and 2007.

Coach Slone on Hailey:
"Hailey established herself as one of the best players in the state her freshman year. She had an amazing performance at the IHSA State Championship this year with a record-setting performance of 66-69 to win by nine shots. This event will provide a great confidence boost as she has proven that she can post back-to-back low rounds."

Samantha Sloan

Samantha Sloan // Marian Catholic HS / Lansing, Ill.
Notes: Six-time Illinois Junior Golf Association Player of the Year ... Four-time state qualifier earned All-State honors in 2006 (4th place) and 2007 (5th place) ... Three-time conference and regional champion ... High school team placed second, fourth and third at the IHSA State Championship in 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively ... First girl to ever qualify for state from Marian ... Holds the nine-hole school record of 33 (-4) ... 2007 Illinois Junior Girls Champion ... 2007 Illinois Junior Girls Match Play Champion ... Team captain as a senior ... Four years on the High Honor Roll ... High school coach is Linda Gilley ... Member of National Honor Society.

Coach Slone on Samantha:
"Sammi has been a dominant player on the IJGA (Illinois Junior Golf Association) tour for years. With her opening rounds of 68-73 to take the lead in the Illinois Women's Open this past summer, she proved that she is ready to take her game to the next level. With her wins at both the Illinois Junior Girls and Illinois Girls Match Play, she is one of the state's elite players. Sammi is a grinder that pulls everything out of a round she possibly can."

Kaitlyn Wampler

Kaitlyn Wampler // University HS / Normal, Ill.
Notes: Helped lead her team to three consecutive IHSA State Championships (2005-07) ... Three-time IHSA sectional medalist (2005-07) ... Earned a fifth place finish at the 2006 IHSA State Championship ... Earned top-25 finishes at the 2005 (18th) and 2007 (23rd) IHSA State Championships ... 2007 DuPage County Classic Champion ... 2006 Country Youth Classic Champion ... Three-time team MVP ... High school team was IHSA state champions in 2005, 2006 and 2007 ... Holds the school record for nine-hole career average (38.8) ... 2006 Little Peoples Championship runner-up ... Won the PJGT (Plantations Junior Golf Tour) Tournament of Champions ... High school coach is Cal Hubbard ... Was on the honor roll all four years.

Coach Slone on Kaitlyn:
"Kaitlyn has led her team to IHSA State Championships for the past three years and knows how to get the job done. She knows what it takes to be successful at the national level and puts forth that extra effort. She is a hard worker and will be a valuable asset to this team."