Illinois Announces Signing Of 10 For 2018-19 Season

Press Release courtesy of Illinois Athletics

Head coach Sue Novitsky and diving coach Manny Pollard have announced the signing of ten recruits to the Fighting Illini swimming and diving program. The ten will join the Orange and Blue for the 2018-19 campaign.

“We are excited to have these outstanding young ladies join the Illini family,” Novitsky said. “Each one will be an asset to the team and will be able to come in and compete for spots in individual events and on relays. They have a desire to see Illinois swimming and diving climb the ranks and be seen at the national level. As a group, they possess some strong attributes that we look for in our student athletes. They strive to achieve, have strong work ethic in the pool and classroom and will bring great energy to the deck. We are looking forward to the opportunity to help them continue to develop and leave their mark on the program.”

Emily Bolger 

• Hometown: Palatine, Ill.
• High School: William Fremd High School
• Club Team: Palatine Park District
• NCSA Junior National Qualifier

Top Times:
50 Freestyle                           24.49
100 Freestyle                         52.45

Abigail Cabush 

• Hometown: Sussex, Wis.
• High School: Arrowhead High School
• Club Team: Lake Country Swim Team
• USA Swimming Junior National Qualifier

Top Times: 
50 Freestyle                          23.95
100 Freestyle                        51.29
200 Freestyle                        1:49.81
500 Freestyle                        5:01.66
100 Backstroke                     56.37
100 Butterfly                          56.67

Sarah Cano 

• Hometown: Cedar Park, Texas
• High School: Leander High School
• Club Team: Nitro Swimming
• NCSA Junior National Qualifier

Top Times: 
100 Backstroke                    57.30
200 Backstroke                    2:03.45
200 Individual Medley          2:08.15

Kaylee Heimes 

• Hometown: Quakertown, Penn.
• High School: Quakertown Senior High School
• Club Team: Upper Perk YMCA Swim Team
• USA Swimming Winter Junior National Qualifier
• USA Swimming Scholastic All-American 2016-17

Top Times:
100 Backstroke                    56.18
200 Backstroke                    2:03.19

Caroline Hippen 

• Hometown: Verona, Wis.
• High School: Middleton High School
• Club Team: Badger Aquatic Club
• NCSA Junior National Qualifier

Top Times:
50 Freestyle                          23.96
100 Freestyle                        51.76
200 Freestyle                        1:52.11

Sidney Kennedy 

• Hometown: Bloomington, Ill.
• High School: University High School
• Club Team: Waves Bloomington/Normal YMCA Swim team
• USA Swimming Summer Junior National Qualifier
• USA Swimming Scholastic All-American 2015-16 & 2016-17

Top Times: 
500 Freestyle                        4:57.00
1000 Freestyle                     10:12.27
1650 Freestyle                     16:55.01

Abigail Martin

• Hometown: Mason City, Ill.
• High School: Illinois Central High School
• Club Team: Academy Bullets
• NCSA Junior National Qualifier
• Younger sister of current Illini swimmer Emily Martin

Top Times: 
500 Freestyle                        5:02.67
1000 Freestyle                     10:21.76
1650 Freestyle                     17:11.58

Tiffany Qiao

• Hometown: Northbrook, Ill.
• High School: Glenbrook North High Shool
• Club Team: Glenbrook Aquatics
• NCSA Junior National Qualifier

Top Times:
100 Backstroke                    58.85
200 Backstroke                    2:08.84
100 Breaststroke                 1:06.95
100 Butterfly                        56.86
200 Butterfly                        2:05.38
200 Individual Medley         2:07.19

Maddy Crosby 

• Hometown: Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas
• High School: Champion High School
• Club Team: Alamo Diving Club
• Club team captain
• 7th place at AAU nationals in 2014
• 3rd place at Regionals
• 2nd place at Districts
• 12th place at AAU nationals in 2016
• All-American

Taylor Shegos

• Hometown: Fenton, Mich.
• High School: Fenton Senior High School
• Club Team: Legacy Diving
• Nov 2015 Michigan D2 (High School) State Meet 1M – 5th
• July 2016 Michigan Diving Association State Meet 1M – 1st
• Nov 2016 Michigan D2 (High School) State Meet 1M – 2nd
• Named the mlive.com (Flint Journal) Swimmer/Diver of the Year
• Holds the 1-meter 6 dive Varsity Record – 267.85
• Holds the 1-meter 11 dive Varsity Record, Pool Record, and Flint Metro League Record – 460.55
• All-State – 2015, 2016
• All-American – 2016

“I am really excited to have these two young athletes join our program,” said head diving coach Manny Pollard. “They are the beginning to a whole new era of Illinois diving and they will be a great fit for our program. Both of these athletes have their own individual strength, which is what we need to improve the diving program to be more competitive with the rest of the Big Ten, as well as the nation. I could not be more excited to have them join the team!”

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