NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State swim & dive program is proud to welcome five new Redbirds to its 2027 signing class, as announced by first-year head coach Ryan Evans.
The incoming class features student-athletes from Florida, Italy, Texas, Michigan and Illinois, bringing experience in multiple swimming events and diving disciplines to the program.
"We are thrilled to welcome the first members of our 2027 recruiting class," said Evans. "Each student-athlete brings a unique set of talents that will help us with our goal of moving up in the Missouri Valley Conference. They already possess the ability to contribute at the conference level, but just as importantly, they represent the character, work ethic and competitive drive that we want our program to be known for."
Savannah Petrosevich | Diving | Saint Augustine, Fla. | Alan D. Nease High School
Prior to Illinois State: Petrosevich earned her high school's Coach's Award and has served as captain of her club team for the past two years. At the 2025 Florida State High School 3A Championships she finished third and won the Region 1 Championship in the one-meter.
Personal: Born March 17, 2009. She is the daughter of Stacy and Eric Petrosevich and has one sister, Alexis. She plans to major in psychology. Petrosevich chose Illinois State because of the team's culture and the academic opportunities available to her, believing ISU would provide an environment where she could succeed both in and out of the pool.
"We are so excited to welcome Savannah to the Redbird Swim and Dive team," said ISU assistant diving coach Sienna Breton. "She will bring depth and skill to the group, and her work ethic and positive energy will add to our team culture and atmosphere. Savannah has the drive to compete at a high-level while being a great teammate, and we are eager to see how she grows as an athlete and student here. We can't wait to have her here in Normal."
Veronica Frigo | Breaststroke | Varese, Italy | I.S.I.S Edith Stein Gavirate
Prior to Illinois State: Veronica is a regional champion in the 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke and a multiple-time qualifier for the Italian National Youth Championships, including the Criteria Championships in Riccione and Category Championships in Rome. At the most recent Category Championships, she finished sixth in the 50-meter breaststroke final. She also qualified for the Italian Absolute National Championships in Riccione, reaching the junior finals, and competed in the Settecolli International Trophy in Rome. Academically, she is a two-time recipient of a city-awarded Student of the Year academic scholarship.
Personal: Born June 9, 2008. She is the daughter of Cinzia Chendi and Maurizio Frigo and is an only child. She plans to study marketing and consumer behavior. Veronica chose Illinois State after developing a strong impression of the coaching staff and team during the recruiting process. She believes ISU will provide excellent opportunities for professional, academic and personal growth.
"I've enjoyed getting to know Veronica throughout the recruiting process and can't wait to have her on campus," said Evans. "She is highly driven, enthusiastic about competing at the NCAA level and brings the kind of passion that we are looking for. The first time I saw her race, it was clear she had the talent to make a significant impact for our program. Her technique is exceptional, and she will be a tremendous addition to our breaststroke group and overall team success."
Addison Crail | Backstroke/Freestyle | Austin, Texas | McNeil High School
Prior to Illinois State: Crail set her high school's record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56.79 at the UIL 6A State Championships. She competes for Nitro Swimming, recognized as one of the largest and most decorated swim clubs in the United States. Outside of the pool, she is actively involved in volunteering with Special Olympics.
Personal: Born March 26, 2009. She is the daughter of Amy and Bryan Crail and has one younger brother, Andrew. Her father, Bryan, played baseball at Texas Lutheran University. She plans to study exercise science and allied health. Crail chose Illinois State because of her connection with the coaching staff and the team's overall environment. She was also drawn to the opportunities available at the university and could envision herself as a Redbird.
"Addison comes from one of the premier club programs in the country, which will prepare her to compete at a high level from day one," said Evans. "What stood out most during the recruiting process was her commitment to improvement and her desire to keep getting better. She already has a 100 backstroke that puts her in position to compete for an A-final in our conference, and I'm excited to see how much she continues to develop across her event lineup during her time at Illinois State."
Maria Baldwin | Butterfly/Backstroke | Saline, Mich. | Saline High School
Prior to Illinois State: Baldwin earned All-State and All-Conference honors in swimming and was named her team's Most Valuable Swimmer. She also served as her swim and dive team's captain. Outside of swimming, she received the Conference Sportsmanship Award in soccer, earned National Honors Gold recognition and maintained Gold Honor Roll status. She was also selected to attend the Women in Leadership Conference.
Personal: Born October 2, 2008. She is the daughter of Brent and Elizabeth Baldwin and has three siblings, Sydney, Garrett and Brady. Her father, Brent, played football at Ball State University, while her mother, Elizabeth, swam at Ball State. She plans to study sports management and marketing. Baldwin chose Illinois State because of the welcoming team environment, the passion of the coaching staff and the opportunity to grow both in and out of the pool. She was also drawn to the faith community on campus and within the team and looks forward to building lifelong relationships as a Redbird.
"We are excited to welcome Maria to our program," said Evans. "She already has times that would make an impact at the conference level, but I believe she is just beginning to tap into her potential. As a multisport athlete balancing swimming and soccer, she has developed tremendous athleticism and competitiveness. With the opportunity to focus solely on swimming at the collegiate level, I'm excited to see how much she can continue to grow and contribute to our team."
Eliana Niemi | Freestyle/Butterfly | Algonquin, Ill. | Jacobs High School
Prior to Illinois State: Niemi was a four-time state qualifier in swimming and a Futures Championships qualifier. She was named Conference Most Valuable Swimmer in back-to-back seasons and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Born May 5, 2009. She is the daughter of Emily and David Niemi and has two brothers, Gabriel and Benjamin, and one sister, Hannah. She plans to major in nursing. Niemi chose Illinois State because of the team's chemistry, the coaching staff and the welcoming environment created by the swimmers. She also enjoyed the campus and the opportunity to connect with the team.
"Eliana has the potential to make an immediate impact in our sprint freestyle events and relays," said Evans. "She brings a strong foundation and plenty of upside, and we believe her best swimming is still ahead of her. During the recruiting process, we heard great things about her from her club coach, both as an athlete and as a person. She embodies the qualities we want in our program and will be a great addition to our team culture."
