NORMAL, Ill. – Members of the Illinois State swimming and diving team were honored Saturday at an end-of-the-year team banquet at the Hancock Stadium Club.
Senior Marissa Yontz was named the team's Most Valuable Swimmer for the second-consecutive year, while senior Wenting Zhang was named the team's Most Valuable Diver for the fourth year in a row.
Cecilia Holmes won the team's Spirit Award. The trio of Yvette Kruk, Rachel Root and Rachel Holm shared the Most Improved Award. Holm was also named Newcomer of the Year.
Tara Gidaszewski was the recipient of the Rebecca Wade Award, which honors a current student-athlete who exemplifies dedication and perseverance in the sport of swimming, and is named in honor of Wade, a former Redbird swimmer who lost her battle with cancer on Oct. 8, 1999.
Kruk earned the Dede Woytowych Endowed Scholarship and nine Redbirds earned the Scholastic Award, honoring student-athletes with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.7 or higher. Those included: Maddie Farrell, Valerie Jones, Katelyn Kresal, Laura Paskoff, Rachel Root, Kelly Sanks, Molly Schatz, Samantha Schuckles and Kristin Verkler.
Head coach Steve Paska was also honored at the banquet as the team celebrated his 30-plus years of service to the team. Paska will retire in July.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.Â
