NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State swimming and diving team has added three student-athletes to its roster who will be eligible to compete during the 2016-17 season, Redbird head swimming coach Scott Cameron announced Thursday.
Illinois State has added swimmer Jessica Nichols and divers Rayanne Muzzo and Emma Butts to its 2016-17 roster.
Nichols, an incoming freshman from Florissant, Missouri, was a standout at Hazelwood West High School, where she was a four-year member of the swimming and diving team. Nichols was a three-time medalist at the state meet and won multiple individual conference championships during her time at Hazelwood West.
"We're very excited to add Jessica to our team this upcoming fall," Cameron said. "She is a strong competitor with lots of potential in the sprint freestyle events, and we look forward to watching her grow as a Redbird."
Muzzo is a transfer from Central Connecticut State, where she spent her first three collegiate seasons, including a redshirt season in 2015-16. A native of Chicago Heights, and graduate of Marian Catholic High School, she will be eligible to compete for Illinois State during the 2016-17 season, with two years of eligibility remaining. During her time at Central Connecticut State, Muzzo helped the team to back-to-back conference titles.
"I am very excited to add Rayanne to our team," said Illinois State head diving coach Phil Hoffmann. "She provides us some much-needed depth, as well as experience at the Division I level. She is fully recovered from an injury that sidelined her last season and is ready to make an immediate impact on our program."
Butts is a true freshman from Bensenville, Illinois, and Fenton High School, where she was an all-conference selection and two-time sectional qualifier.
"Emma is truly passionate about becoming a Redbird and joining our team," Hoffmann said. "She is full of untapped potential as she has only been diving for a few years. She is eager to learn and I am excited to work with her."
Nichols, Muzzo and Butts will join seven other newcomers who signed with the program during the early signing period. They include: Janise Everest, Alexa Hardewig, Jensen Keck, Elizabeth McPherson, Rachel Rymer, Rachel Stein and Mary-Katherine Tillotson.
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