April 17, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
After losing ten seniors from the 2007-08 squad, the Illinois State swimming and diving team looks to continue its successful tradition by adding eight more recruits for the 2008-09 class. They will join Sarah Coghlin and Michelle Stoeppelman, who were the first two recruits added to the team in November.
The Illinois State swimming and diving team's 2008-09 recruiting class includes: Lauren Boyd (Deerfield, Ill.), Polly Hirt (Mundelein, Ill.), Kristin Lynch (Naperville, Ill.), Jillian Olson (Delafield, Wis.), Sarah Piechocinski (St. Louis, Mo.), Amber Siggins (Orlando, Fla.), Brittany Tazzioli (Libertyville, Ill.) and Lauren Terzis (New South Wales, Australia).
Head coach Steve Paska is excited about what this year's class will add to the squad once the group joins the team next fall.
"Each one will provide us with competitiveness in events and quality depth throughout the season," said Paska. "They will come to understand what role they will fulfill on this team as we communicate with the incoming class. Every one of them will play an integral role in the success of our program.
"They all have a tremendous work ethic and drive to be the best student-athletes they can, which was one of the main reasons each one of them was recruited to continue their careers here at Illinois State."
Head diving coach Phil Hoffmann believes that the two diving recruits will be major contributors to the team early on.
"Both of them bring a great diving background at both the high school and club levels. They will be instant contributors to the team from the 2008-09 season onward."
2008-09 ILLINOIS STATE SWIMMING AND DIVING SIGNEES
Lauren Boyd
Deerfield Ill. | Deerfield High School | Sprint freestyle
Varsity letter award recipient all four years ... served as team captain ... all-conference all four years ... team MVP senior year ... team was two-time Central Suburban League Champions ... sectional champion senior year ... three-time state qualifier ... all-state swimmer sophomore year ... pool-record holder in the 200 freestyle relay ... honor roll member all four years ... scholar athlete.
Paska on Lauren Boyd ...
"Lauren will provide us with a dependable sprint freestyle throughout the dual-meet and championship seasons. Her gifted sprint ability will enhance our relays that are crucial for having successful meets. Her reliability and dependability provides her a very bright future on this team."
Polly Hirt
Mundelein, Ill. | Mundelein High School | Diver
All-Conference and all-academic junior and senior year ... MVP senior year ... co-captain senior year ... AAU National Qualifier in 2007 ... sectional champion in 2007 ... placed 17th at the 2006 state championships and 20th at the 2007 state championships ... summa cum laude graduate ... National Honor Society member for two years ... high honor roll all four years ... sister, Emily, dove at Illinois State from 2002-06.
Hoffmann on Polly Hirt ...
"Polly epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete. She has already been honored as a presidential scholar at Illinois State. I look forward to seeing her mature as an athlete and student. She has a bright future both in diving and in the classroom."
Kristin Lynch
Naperville, Ill.|Naperville North|Breaststroke|Individual Medley
State team qualifier all four years ... eighth-place finish in 100 breaststroke ... academic all conference team for four years ... member of all-state and all-american teams ... academic honor roll for seven semesters ... team captain senior year ... plans on majoring in apparel design and fashion merchandising.
Paska on Kristin Lynch ...
"Kristin comes from one of the best club teams in Illinois and has trained under some of the finest coaches at the high school and club level. I am excited to have someone with her breaststroke ability to add to our program. She has a genuine passion for the sport and I believe she will provide our team with enthusiasm, energy and a diligent work ethic. She will be relied on as one of our top breaststrokers as we enter our 2008-09 campaign."
Jillian Olson
Delafield, Wis.|Kettle Moraine High School|Backstroke|Individual Medley| Butterfly
Competed in state meet all four years ... earned all-state honorable mention honors three years in a row ... competed in several Speedo meets and in Junior Nationals her senior year ... U.S. Swimming Scholastic All-American two years and high school MVP two years.
Paska on Jillian Olson ...
"Jillian will be entering the ISU program as one of our top backstrokers. She is also a very versatile swimmer in both the butterfly and Individual Medley events. She is coming from a solid club swimming season and has a hunger to continue to get faster which will make for a bright future in our program. Her work ethic is something I feel that will enable her to have a fantastic four years here at ISU."
Sarah Piechocinski
St. Louis, Mo. | St. Joseph's Academy | Individual Medley | Breaststroke
Member of the Rockwood Swim Club ... Speedo Sectional Championship qualifier all four years for the Rockwood Swim Club ... St. Louis All-Metro Team selection junior year (honorable mention) and senior year (second-team) .... school was conference champions all four years ... conference champion in the 200 Individual Medley senior year ... four-time high school state swimming qualifier ... high school state swimming top 16 finalist junior and senior year in the 100 breaststroke and 200 Individual Medley ... all-conference First Team 2007 and `08 ... all-state award for the 400 freestyle relay in 2007 ... team captain for the 2007-08 season ... member of the St. Joseph's Academy academic honor roll.
Paska on Sarah Piechocinski ...
"I am very excited we were able to convince Sarah to continue her academic and swimming career here at ISU. She has a very promising future in our program and will be very dependable swimmer in the backstroke and IM events. She also adds a lot of versatility to the team and will be able to switch rolls if called upon."
Amber Siggins
Orlando, Fla.|Olympia High School|Individual Medley|Butterfly|Backstroke
State qualifier in sophomore, junior and senior years ... district champion in the 200-meter Individual Medley senior year ... team captain for three years ... sectional qualifier all four years ... USA Swimming Scholastic All-American ... National Honor Society member ... team was district champions all four years ... older sister, Yasmin, swims at Florida Atlantic University ... plans on majoring in biology/ nursing.
Paska on Amber Siggins ...
"Amber truly exemplifies versatility as she has the potential to compete in a number of events. I am excited to work with someone that is very coachable and will put the team first. She really gets into practice and tries to improve on a daily basis. Amber is coming from a strong high school and club program. She will be a leader by example and a team player for us. It will be interesting to see what role she plays as she will be a huge part of the future success of this team."
Brittany Tazzioli
Libertyville, Ill. | Libertyville High School | Diver
All-conference junior and senior year ... varsity member last three years ... team captain junior and senior year ... all-state diver in 2007-08 .... team was sectional champions her junior and senior year ... North Suburban Conference medal winner past two years ... placed third at sectionals in 2006 and in second in 2007 ... finished 24th at state her junior year and eighth her senior season ... was also a member of varsity gymnastics all four years.
Hoffmann on Brittany Tazzioli ...
"Brittany is a fierce competitor and we look for that in an athlete. She is a very good 1-meter diver, finishing at the top in the 2007 State meet. I look forward for her growth and development on the 3-meter board."
Lauren Terzis
New South Wales| University of Sydney | Freestyle| Butterfly
Placed fourth and sixth, respectively at Australian Age National Championships in 200-meter butterfly in 2002 and 2005 ... Australian Age National Championships Qualifier for 100-, 200- and 400-meter freestyles and the 100- and 200-meter butterfly ... Victorian State Age Champion in the 800-meter freestyle ... Victorian State Age Medalist in the 200- and 400-meter freestyle and the 100- and 200-meter butterfly ... Pacific School Games finalist in 200- and 400-meter freestyle ... represented Victoria at Australian All-School Swimming Championships ... Itoman Invitational Swimming Championships finalist in Osaka, Japan in the 200-meter butterfly ... club team 4X200-meter freestyle relay placed seventh at Australian Commonwealth Games Trials ... team captain for 2005-06 season ... swimming champion from 2001-2006 ... holds school record in 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle and the 50-meter backstroke ... member of the University of Sydney's International Honors Society ... was also a member of cross country, golf and concert band ... plans on majoring in sociology.
Paska on Lauren Terzis ...
"Lauren is coming into our program as a gifted freestyle swimmer and to have someone with experience swimming in Australia is very exciting. She will be brining a bubbly, happy- go-lucky personality and I am very excited that ISU fits her wants and needs both in the pool and academically. She will be a true joy to work with and she will help make us a stronger program with her energy and sense of humor."
