NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State swim and dive head coach Riley Hilbrandt has announced the Redbirds' 2026 signing class.
Hilbrandt stated, "We are very excited for each of these athletes to start a new chapter in their athletic career with us here at Illinois State. The quality of athletes we continue to have joining us is something we are very proud of and keeps us heading on the right trajectory to move up in the Missouri Valley Conference. We can't wait until they're here on campus in August."
The class of 2026 consists of five new additions to the Redbirds roster. Three countries are represented in the class. The five student-athletes who signed their scholarship agreements include Freya Hingston (Auckland, New Zealand), Julia Bartula (Bartlett, Ill.), Martyna Dobek (Elburn, Ill.), Ruby Esparza (Rockford, Ill.), and Carla Nevi (Rome, Italy).
Freya Hingston | IM/Butterfly | Auckland, New Zealand | Pakuranga Heights School
Hingston, a native of Auckland, New Zealand, joins the Redbirds from the United Swimming Club. In September, Hingston was a finalist in the 100 S IM at the New Zealand Short Course Championships. Hingston finished eighth with a time of 1:06.52 in the event.
Julia Bartula | Breaststroke/IM | Bartlett, Ill. | Rosary High School
Bartula joins the Redbirds as the No. 69-ranked recruit in the state of Illinois by the SwimCloud Power Index. Bartula, a native of Bartlett, Ill., swims at the club level for the Academy Bullets Swim Club. At Rosary High School, Bartula is a two-time Metro Catholic Aquatic Conference Champion in the 200 Y IM and the 100 Y Breast. On Nov. 8, helped Rosary's 200 Medley relay team secure a sectional title.
Martyna Dobek | Backstroke/Butterfly | Elburn, Ill. | Saint Charles North High School
Dobek heads to Normal as the No. 62-ranked recruit in the state of Illinois by the SwimCloud Power Index. Dobek, a native of Elburn, Ill., joins the Redbirds as a two-time DuKane Conference Champion in the 100 Y Back, 2024 DuKane Conference Champion in the 100 Y Fly, and a 2023 DuKane Conference Champion in the 200 Y IM.
Ruby Esparza | Breaststroke/Freestyle/IM | Rockford, Ill. | Boylan Catholic High School
Esparza joins Illinois State as the No. 35-ranked recruit in the state of Illinois. Esparza sits as the defending champion in the 100 Y breast with back-to-back NIC-10 Conference titles in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, Esparza also secured a conference title in the 200 Y IM.
Carla Nevi | Backstroke/IM | Rome, Italy | Southwest Minnesota State University
Nevi joins the Redbirds after spending the previous two seasons at Southwest Minnesota State. With the Mustangs, Nevi earned two All-NSIC First Team nominations in 2024 in the 200 Y Back and 100 Y Back. In 2025, Nevi earned CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-NSIC honors.
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