NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State swimming and diving team added to its 2016-17 roster, as head swimming coach Scott Cameron announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, on Tuesday.
The new Redbirds are: Janise Everest (Holland, Mich./Zeeland East HS), Alexa Hardewig (Cincinnati, Ohio/ Turpin HS), Jensen Keck (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb HS), Elizabeth McPherson (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville HS), Rachel Rymer (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville HS), Rachel Stein (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln Community HS) and Mary-Katherine Tillotson (Gainesville, Va./Battlefield HS).
“I couldn’t be more excited about our incoming class for 2016,” said Cameron. “They are a very talented and well-rounded group of athletes. I believe they will come in and make a big impact for many years to come.”
The recruiting class includes (listed alphabetically):
Janise Everest
Hometown: Holland, Mich.
High School: Zeeland East HS
Club: West Michigan Swimming
Events: Breaststroke and Individual Medley
Career highlights: Earned All-America consideration from National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association and Speedo … four-time Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state qualifier … three-time all-state selection … earned runner-up finish in 100-yard breaststroke in 2015 MHSAA state finals.
Cameron on Everest: “I’m excited to have Janise become a Redbird swimmer. She is a very talented breaststroker who continues to improve quickly and she will make a big impact in our breaststroke group. She has the ability to swim multiple events, and will give us a lot of flexibility over the course of her career here at ISU.”
Alexa Hardewig
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: Turpin HS
Club: Kingfish Aquatic Club
Events: Freestyle
Career highlights: Three-time Ohio High School Athletic Association state qualifier … holds club records in the 400-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard medley relay and 800-meter freestyle relay.
Cameron on Hardewig: “Alexa has shown a tremendous amount of excitement for swimming and for the opportunity to compete at Illinois State. She has a lot of upside and will make a big impact with our middle distance and distance freestyle events over the next four years. She will make a great Redbird.”
Jensen Keck
Hometown: DeKalb, Ill.
High School: DeKalb HS
Club: DeKalb County Swim Team
Events: Breaststroke and Individual Medley
Career highlights: Four-time Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state qualifier … three-time YMCA national qualifier … 2015 National Club Swimming Association (NCSA) junior national qualifier.
Cameron on Keck: “Jensen has shown a lot of excitement and passion for swimming, and also for Illinois State. She will be a big part of our strong breaststroke group moving forward, and I couldn’t be happier to have her be a part of our Redbird family.”
Elizabeth McPherson
Hometown: Edwardsville, Ill.
High School: Edwardsville HS
Club: Edwardsville YMCA
Events: Backstroke and Individual Medley
Career highlights: Four-time IHSA state qualifier … Scholastic All-American … helped her team to back-to-back sectional championships.
Cameron on McPherson: “Elizabeth will be a big contributor early in her career for the Redbirds in the backstroke events. She has the passion for swimming and the desire to improve, and I believe that she has a lot of untapped potential coming in. It will be great having her join the Redbird swimming team.”
Rachel Rymer
Hometown: Strongsville, Ohio
High School: Strongsville HS
Events: Butterfly and Freestyle
Career highlights: Three-time Virginia High School League (VHSL) state qualifier … earned a runner-up finish at VHSL state meet in 500-yard freestyle … 2015 NCSA junior national qualifier.
Cameron on Rymer: “Rachel will be a great addition to our team next fall. She brings a level of excitement and energy to our team, and she will be make a big impact early in her career in the fly and middle distance freestyle events. I’m excited to have her as a Redbird.”
Rachel Stein
Hometown: Lincoln, Ill.
High School: Lincoln Community HS
Club: Redbird Diving Club
Events: Diving
Career highlights: 2015 IHSA sectional champion and state qualifier … holds school’s 1-meter diving record.
Head diving coach Phil Hoffmann on Stein: “I am excited to have Rachel become the newest Redbird diver. The enormous upside I see with her is a vast amount of untapped potential. In her short diving career, she has achieved great things, but there is so much more growing as a diver for her, that her limits have not been touched yet. In addition, outside of the classroom she has an outstanding academic record and community involvement that will blend nicely with our team culture at Illinois State.”
Mary-Katherine Tillotson
Hometown: Gainesville, Va.
High School: Battlefield HS
Club: Nation’s Capital Swim Club
Events: Freestyle
Career highlights: Conference champion in 100- and 200-yard freestyle … named her team’s Most Valuable Swimmer.
Cameron on McPherson: “Mary-Katherine is an up-and-coming sprinter who we think has a ton of upside. She has a great passion for swimming, and a ton of excitement in becoming a Redbird. I’m excited to have her and I know that she will be a great addition to our team.”
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