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Novitsky Signs Seven to National Letters of Intent
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Coach Novitsky announced the addition of seven swimmers who will join the team next fall.
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Dec. 5, 2011
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois head coach Sue Novitsky announced the signing of seven student-athletes to national letters of intent on Monday. Jennifer Coady (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central), Stephanie Hein (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead), Lori Lynn (Swansea, Ill./Homeschooled), Sloane McDermott (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East), Isabella Schamber (Whittier, Calif./Maranatha), Hollie Smith (Pickering, Ontario, Canada/Dunbarton) and Sarah Sykstus (Batavia, Ill./Rosary) will join the Illini for the 2012-13 season.
"The seven student-athletes bring a dynamite range of versatility and talent," Novitsky said. "They will help us fill some current needs of our team and help replace our strong graduating class. All of them bring a great combination of being quality people with fantastic personalities and strong athleticism, and they are conscientious students. Coach (Steve) Farnau and I feel that these young ladies have the drive to help the team immediately in the pool, maintain our strong commitment to success in the classroom and be awesome teammates. We are looking forward to helping them continue to develop and be excellent representatives of the University of Illinois. They are all excited to have the opportunity to wear the orange and blue."
The 2012 recruiting class is highlighted by four USA Swimming junior national qualifiers, a Canadian senior national qualifier and a YMCA national qualifier. Together, the signees garnered eight National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) All-America accolades and seven USA Swimming Scholastic All-America honors.
Jennifer Coady
Hometown - Hinsdale, Ill.
High School - Hinsdale Central High School
USA Swimming Club - Westmont Swim Club
Main Events - Individual Medley, Breaststroke, Freestyle
Background
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 ... 2010 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.
Top Times
100 Freestyle - 53.93
200 Freestyle - 1:55.19
500 Freestyle - 5:10.41
100 Breaststroke - 1:06.42
200 Breaststroke - 2:24.23
200 Individual Medley - 2:06.76
400 Individual Medley - 4:33.10
Coach Novitsky on Coady: "Jen is a fantastic addition to our team with the wide range of events that she can swim. She was a relay workhorse for her high school team and true team player, only swimming one individual event to help improve her team's relay chances. Jen comes from an Illini family, including her sister Sarah, a current team member. In addition to her swimming, Jen is a terrific student and person who will keep adding to the overall quality of our team."
Stephanie Hein
Hometown - Hartland, Wis.
High School - Arrowhead High School
USA Swimming Club - Lake Country Swim Team
Main Events - Individual Medley, Breaststroke, Backstroke
Background
Four-time Wisconsin Division I high school state qualifier ... NCSA junior national qualifier ... USA Swimming Speedo sectional qualifier ... 2010 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 ... At the 2008 state championship, finished 11th in the 200 IM.
Top Times
100 Backstroke - 59.63
200 Backstroke - 2:04.17
100 Breaststroke - 1:06.48
200 Breaststroke - 2:24.88
200 Individual Medley - 2:05.45
400 Individual Medley - 4:28.64
Coach Novitsky on Hein: "Stephanie is another great addition who has tremendous versatility. She will be able to come in and help us in the individual medley, breaststroke and backstroke events. Stephanie has continued to improve throughout her high school career and ended her senior season with a runner-up finish in the 200 Individual Medley at the Division I Wisconsin high school state meet. With her strong academics and athletics, Stephanie fits the mold of the kind of person that we are looking to bring into our program."
Lori Lynn
Hometown - Swansea, Ill.
High School - Homeschooled
USA Swimming Club - Edwardsville YMCA Breakers
Main Events - Butterfly, Backstroke, Individual Medley, Freestyle
Background
Four-time Illinois high school state qualifier ... USA Swimming junior national qualifier ... YMCA national qualifier and finalist ... 2010 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.
Top Times
50 Freestyle - 24.44
100 Freestyle - 52.68
200 Freestyle - 1:55.40
500 Freestyle - 5:07.94
50 Backstroke - 27.55
100 Backstroke - 56.56
200 Backstroke - 2:01.48
50 Butterfly - 25.67
100 Butterfly - 56.10
200 Butterfly - 2:05.05
200 Individual Medley - 2:04.76
400 Individual Medley - 4:32.13
Coach Novitsky on Lynn: "Lori is a fantastic addition to our team and will be able to come in and have an immediate impact. The range of events that Lori competes in is phenomenal and she continues to get better each season. Her current times in five events would already rank her among the top-10 individuals all-time at Illinois. Lori is a fierce competitor, strong student and has a terrific personality - all the qualities that we look for in our student-athletes. Plus, we can't wait to have her join her sister Erica on the team."
Sloane McDermott
Hometown - Mokena, Ill.
High School - Lincoln-Way East High School
USA Swimming Club - Academy Bullets
Main Events - Backstroke, Individual Medley
Background
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.
Top Times
50 Backstroke - 28.05
100 Backstroke - 57.26
200 Backstroke - 2:06.58
200 Individual Medley - 2:11.50
Coach Novitsky on McDermott: "We are ecstatic to have a third member of the McDermott family become an Illini, as Sloane joins her sisters Callan and Darragh on the team. Sloane is coming off a terrific high school season earning her highest finish at the state meet in the 100 backstroke, where her time would rank her as the 10th-fastest individual all-time at Illinois. We expect that she will come in and put in the effort to continue to develop her backstroke and other events. Sloane is very active in numerous groups at her school and is another strong student."
Isabella Schamber
Hometown - Whittier, Calif.
High School - Maranatha High School
USA Swimming Club - Swim Pasadena
Main Events - Breaststroke, Individual Medley
Background
USA Swimming junior national qualifier ... California CIF Southern Sectional high school qualifier ... 2010 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American ... At the 2011 California southern section championship, finished fourth in the 100 breast and eighth in the 200 IM ... At the 2010 section championship, finished 17th in the 100 breast and 21st in the 200 IM.
Top Times
100 Breaststroke - 1:04.11
200 Breaststroke - 2:22.15
200 Individual Medley - 2:06.18
400 Individual Medley - 4:32.24
Coach Novitsky on Schamber: "Bella is a tremendous addition to our breaststroke and individual medley groups. Her 100 breaststroke time already ranks among our top 10 all-time. Bella has gained valuable experience swimming at the national level and has continued to develop throughout her high school career. We expect her to be able to come in and help us immediately. Bella is a terrific student with an outstanding personality that will also add to the quality of our team."
Hollie Smith
Hometown - Pickering, Ontario
High School - Dunbarton High School
USA Swimming Club - Pickering Swim Club
Main Events - Breaststroke
Background
Canadian senior national qualifier and finalist ... Canadian Eastern Nationals finalist ... Canada Cup qualifier ... At the 2010-11 Canadian Eastern Nationals, finished eighth in the 100 breast, 13th in the 50 breast and 16th in the 200 breast ... At the 2010-11 Canadian Summer Nationals, finished 26th in the 100 breast and 30th in the 50 breast ... At the 2009-10 Canadian Senior Nationals, finished 24th in the 50 breast ... Participated in the 2010-11 and 2009-10 Canada Cup.
Top Times - Converted
50 Breaststroke - 29.38
100 Breaststroke - 1:04.08
200 Breaststroke - 2:23.73
Coach Novitsky on Smith: "Hollie is a terrific addition to our breaststroke group. She has gained some terrific experience over the past couple seasons competing at the senior national level in Canada and coming to the states to compete at some Grand Prix events. Her top times in the 50 and the 100 breaststroke events already rank her in our top 10 all-time. In addition, Hollie brings in a lot of energy and enthusiasm with her upbeat personality. She is on the honor roll and is involved in many volunteer efforts in her community and at her school."
Sarah Sykstus
Hometown - Batavia, Ill.
High School - Rosary High School
USA Swimming Club - St. Charles Swim Club
Main Events - Butterfly, Individual Medley, Freestyle
Background
Three-time Illinois high school state qualifier ... USA Swimming junior national qualifier ... NSCA junior national qualifier ... Four-time NISCA High School All-American ... At the 2011 Illinois high school state championship, finished second in the 200 IM, fourth in the 100 fly, fourth in the 200 medley relay and fifth in the 200 free relay ... At the 2010 state championship, finished sixth in the 200 IM, sixth in the 100 fly and first in the 200 free relay ... At the 2009 state championship, finished ninth in the 50 free, 20th in the 500 free, first in the 200 free relay and second in the 400 free relay.
Top Times
50 Freestyle - 23.99
100 Freestyle - 52.10
200 Freestyle - 1:53.28
500 Freestyle - 5:03.77
50 Butterfly - 25.93
100 Butterfly - 55.49
200 Butterfly - 2:04.23
200 Individual Medley - 2:03.64
400 Individual Medley - 4:28.10
Coach Novitsky on Sykstus: "Sarah is an outstanding addition and is going to have an immediate impact in multiple areas on our team. Her range of events is tremendous, and she has continued to improve throughout her high school career. She had her highest individual finish at the state meet - runner-up in the 200 Individual Medley. Sarah's times in three events would already rank her among the top 10 at Illinois. She is a tough competitor who is motivated and hard-working. Sarah is a bright young lady with a great personality that will make her a great teammate at Illinois."
