NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State Swim and Dive will be well represented at the World University Games in Chengdu, China as senior swimmer Madyson Morse and assistant coach Sean Sullivan were selected to represent the United States at the upcoming games July 28 to August 8.
Morse is one of 18 swimmers on the United States women's roster, which includes athletes from UCLA, Georgia and USC. She turned in an historic campaign in 2022-2023, winning three MVC titles an earning Valley Swimmer of the Year honors at the 2023 MVC Swimming and Diving Championships. She also earned a second straight honor as MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and third straight selection to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team. To cap of the year Morse, a three-time school record holder, became the first Redbird to be crowned at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship as she took home the 100-yard Breaststroke title with a mark of 1:00.68.
"I was ecstatic when I was invited to compete at the World University Games and represent the United States," Morse said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I couldn't let it pass me by. I'm excited to not only represent my university, teammates, and coaches, but also the country that I call my home."
Sullivan, who is in his second year at Illinois State, is on a United States staff led by USC men's and women's associate head coach Peter Richardson. The USA coaching staff was selected by the United States International University Sports Federation. The group of 10 coaches from across the country recruited Morse and her fellow USA team members over the last few months.
Illinois State is one of five programs with a swimming coach and athlete representing the United States at the World University Games in Chengdu, located in Western China. The games were initially set to run in August of 2021, but the pandemic resulted in postponement to this summer. This year's World University Games are set to feature more than a dozen events, including swimming, tennis, fencing and taekwondo.
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