Nov. 29, 2011
NORMAL, Ill. - The Redbird swimming and diving team began its recruitment cycle, as head coach Steve Paska announced the signing of four swimmers and one diver to National Letters of Intent for the 2012-13 season. The signees include Tara Gidaszewski (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore High School), Sharron Isola (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich Community High School), Justine Kaszynski (Barrington, Ill./Barrington High School), Katelyn Kresal (Tinley Park, Ill./Marian Catholic High School) and Kaitlyn Neiheisel (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West High School).
“Our main objective for the fall signing period is to help replace the loss of our eight senior swimmers and two senior divers that are finishing out their last season at Illinois State,” Paska said. “The next goal is to find student-athletes that will help score points in multiple events at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships next year. The variety in this group is going to help achieve those goals. This is a dedicated group, and all five future Redbirds embody the full meaning of a ‘student-athlete’, excelling both in the pool and the classroom.”
Tara Gidaszewski | Sycamore, Ill. | Sycamore HS | Backstroke
Hometown: Sycamore, Ill.
High School: Sycamore High School
USA Swimming Club: Kishwaukee YMCA/Dekalb County Club
Main Events: Backstroke
Illinois/Missouri state qualifier... qualified for the swimming and diving national championships...All-American National Swimming finalist... honor roll student all four years... plans to major in athletic training.
Top Times
100-yard backstroke (1:00.33)
200-yard backstroke (2:07.34)
Coach Paska on Gidaszewski: “Tara is going to bring consistency to our line-up. Knowing she can be relied on to swim in backstroke events gives us quality depth to the program. She has trained for a long time and competed in multiple national meets, which is going to bring valuable experience to the team.”
Sharron Isola | Sandwich, Ill. | Sandwich HS | Butterfly, Backstroke, IM
Hometown: Sandwich, Ill.
High School: Sandwich Community High School
USA Swimming Club: Kishwaukee YMCA/Dekalb County Club
Main Events: Butterfly, Backstroke, Individual Medley
Illinois/Missouri state qualifier (2006-11)... YMCA National Long Course qualifier (2009-12)... YMCA National Short Course qualifier (2010-‘12)... Earned club team’s 2009 Most Improved Swimmer award... All American at the 2010-11 YMCA Long Course Nationals... IHSA sectional qualifier all four years at Sandwich Community HS... qualified for IHSA state championships her junior and senior years in the 100-yard butterfly... qualified for the 2011 Missouri Grand Prix in the 100-yard fly...plans to major in elementary education.
Top Times:
100-yard butterfly: (57.96)
200-yard butterfly: (2:07.47)
100-yard backstroke: (1:00.12)
200-yard backstroke: (2:07.46)
200-yard IM: (2:13.63)
Coach Paska on Isola: “Versatility is one of our key goals, and Sharron’s strengths in multiple events will be extremely important to the success of our program. She has the passion and excitement to compete that will make her an asset to the team during her career at Illinois State.”
Justine Kaszynski | Barrington, Ill. | Barrington HS | Butterfly, Freestyle
Hometown: Barrington, Ill.
High School: Barrington High School
USA Swimming Club: Patriot Aquatic Club
Main Events: Butterfly, Freestyle
Four-year varsity swimmer... team captain senior year... qualified for state in the 100-yard butterfly three years in a row... helped Barrington earn four conference titles during her high school career... honor roll student... plans to major in mass communication.
Top Times
100-yard butterfly: (58.55)
200-yard butterfly: (2:12.89)
200-yard freestyle (1:57.01)
Coach Paska on Kaszynski: “Justine has been an active member in swimming for a long time, but still carries the idea that her best swimming is ahead of her. That is a great characteristic, and also one that I like to look for in potential Illinois State student-athletes. She has a very positive outlook on her swimming career.”
Katelyn Kresal | Tinley Park, Ill. | Marian Catholic HS | Freestyle, Backstroke
Hometown: Tinley Park, Ill.
High School: Marian Catholic High School
USA Swimming Club: North Aquatics Club
Main Events: Freestyle, Backstroke
Four year varsity swimmer... earned the MVP title all four years... named captain her senior year... three-time state qualifier in the 100 and 200-yard freestyle... three-time sectional champion... Marian Catholic record holder in the 200-yard freestyle... also a three year varsity soccer player... named most improved... member of the National Honor Society... member of the honor roll all four years... member of the Recruitment Corp three years.
Top Times
100-yard freestyle: (53.43)
200-yard freestyle: (1:54.90)
100-yard backstroke: (1:02.04)
200-yard backstroke: (2:12.87)
Coach Paska on Kresal: “I believe Katelyn is going to be a very dependable freestyle swimmer for us. She has a tremendous work ethic, she stays positive and she is ready to take her swimming to the next step to compete at the collegiate level. I believe Katelyn will come in and try to earn a spot on the freestyle relay teams immediately.”
Kaitlyn Neiheisel | New Lenox, Ill. | Lincoln-Way West HS | Diving
Hometown: New Lenox, Ill.
High School: Lincoln-Way West High School
Main Event: Diving
Placed second at the 2011 IHSA State Finals... three-time state qualifier... two-time conference champion...earned all conference honors three years... Lincoln-Way West record holder for the 1-meter (6) and 1-meter (11) dives... also a member of the gymnastics and track and field teams... earned all-state honors in gymnastics...qualified for gymnastics state finals her sophomore and junior years... won first place at conference and sectionals in pole vaulting her junior year... went on to place 12th in the state for pole vault... plans to walk on to the Illinios State track and field team as a pole vaulter... member of the National Honor Society... also involved in academic society Mu Alpha Theta... earned a spot as a member of the Principal’s Cabinet... recognized by her high school as a scholar-athlete...plans to major in nursing
Top Scores
1-meter 6 dive: (245.4)
1-meter 11 dive: (489.30)
Head diving coach Phil Hoffmann on Neiheisel: “Kaitlyn is a fierce competitor, and her state meet was an outstanding accomplishment to end her senior year on such a high note. She is very excited and passionate about Illinois State, following in her mother’s footsteps, as she comes to ISU as a second generation Redbird. I am looking forward to seeing how she competes, progresses in the off-season and prepares for her collegiate career at Illinois State.”
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