Nine Swimmers to Join UW in 2005-06
November 24, 2004 | Women's Swimming & Diving
University of Wisconsin head swimming coach Eric Hansen today announced nine individuals have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Badgers in 2005-06. The group is comprised of three women and six men.
The nine recruits have earned a total of nine U.S. Open qualifying standards as well as five national qualifying standards. Five have captured state championships, winning a total of 11 events.
The incoming women have experience on the national and international levels. Yi Ting Siow represented Malaysia at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. In the latter, she competed in the several events, including the 200-meter breaststroke in which she took 21st.
New York native Jennifer Illescas, meanwhile, was a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in both the 200-meter butterfly and 400-meter freestyle.
"We feel good about the experience and type of athletes we 're getting to continue moving forward on the women's side,' Hansen said. "These recruits will certainly complement our returnees well.'
On the men's side, Scott Rice earned state titles in Washington in the 100-yard butterfly, the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay. Future teammate Mike Hopkins also is a multiple state champion, as he won the 100-yard backstroke and 400-yard freestyle relay in 2003.
'This recruiting class is very important,' Hansen said. 'We are losing three of our most accomplished athletes on the men's team. The newcomers will fill holes and add a great deal to our depth. All-in-all, this group will help us get back to where we need to be."
WOMEN'S RECRUITS
Jill Courtney (Olathe, Kan./Olathe North)
U.S. Open qualifier in 200-yard freestyle ' 2003 state champion in 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle
100 Free ' 52.21
200 Free ' 1:49.96
Jennifer Illescas (East Elmhurst, N.Y./Mary Louis Academy)
U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle ' national qualifier in 200 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 400 IM ' took fourth in 400 freestyle at 2004 ConocoPhillips Summer National Championships
500 Free ' 4:54.55
1650 Free ' 16:58.00
200 Fly ' 2:03.38
400 Free ' 4:16.58 (50m)
400 IM ' 4:56.92 (50m)
Yi Ting Siow (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School)
Represented Malaysia at 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games ' finished 22nd in 200-meter IM (2:19.52), 36th in 100-meter breaststroke (1:13.70) and 21st in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:33.79) at 2004 Athens Games ' 2003 Florida 1A state champion in 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke ' won gold medal at the Sea Games in 2001 ' was one of only two swimmers representing Malaysia at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
100 Breast ' 1:02.69
200 Breast ' 2:12.74
200 IM ' 1:59.91
400 IM-4:15.52
MEN'S RECRUITS
Ben Bruce (Seattle, Wash./Mt. Rainier)
U.S. Open qualifier in 200 backstroke and 400 IM ' member of 2004 3A state champion 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams
200 Back ' 1:52.54
200 IM ' 1:54.99
400 IM ' 4:01.23
Nick Fulton (New Brighton, Minn./Irondale)
2004 Minnesota AA state finalist in 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke
100 Back ' 50.85
200 Back ' 1:49.59
Mike Hopkins (Wilmington, Del./Concord)
National qualifier in 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke ' finalist in 200 backstroke at 2004 ConocoPhillips Summer National Championships ' 2003 state champion in 100-yard backstroke and 400-yard freestyle relay
100 Back ' 50.85
200 Back ' 1:49.59
Eric Johnson (Federal Way, Wash./Decatur)
U.S. Open qualifier in 100 breaststroke ' finished second in 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke at 2004 4A state championships
100 Breast ' 56.90
200 Breast ' 2:06.60
Scott Rice (Des Moines, Wash./Mt. Rainier)
U.S. Open qualifier in 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 IM ' 2004 3A state champion in 100-yard butterfly ' member of 2004 3A state champion 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestyle relay teams
100 Fly ' 50.46
200 Fly ' 1:52.73
200 IM ' 1:53.11
Kyle Sorensen (Palatine, Ill./Palatine)
U.S. Open qualifier in 50 and 100 freestyle ' placed second in 100-yard freestyle at 2004 state championships
50 Free ' 20.97
100 Free ' 45.82
