TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Women’s Swimming and Diving head coach Matt Leach along with Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman have announced the signing of nine student-athletes for the program’s first team, which is set for the first season of competition in 2016-17.
“This has been a really exciting time for myself and for Indiana State as we create this program and sign these first nine Sycamores,” Indiana State head coach Matt Leach said. “This core group will bring energy and they already mimic the core values of what we are trying to establish. It was challenging to start from scratch and creating an identity for a program that didn’t yet exist, but I am very confident in all nine of these talented women.”
Making up the first-ever signing class are Emily Boomershine (Indianapolis, Ind.), Cierra Campbell (Lawrence, Kan.), Allie Engstrom(Beaverton, Ore.), Mykenzie Kostka (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Jacquie Price (Springfield, Ore.), Emily Ratliff (Indianapolis, Ind.), Cori Taylor (Columbus, Ind.), Zoe Williams (Carmel, Ind.) and Danielle Yagelski (Crown Point, Ind.).
“These student-athletes were willing to be part of something original. They will be able to say that they are the foundation that ISU women’s swimming and diving is building upon and are already great ambassadors on this program,” Leach said. “It’s also really exciting to get six in-state girls on our initial roster and recruiting the state of Indiana was really important to me in order to establish success and longevity of this team.”
The Sycamores could add up to nine student-athletes in the in the spring signing period beginning in April. Indiana State will begin competition in the 2016-17 season as a part of the Missouri Valley Conference.
“It is with great anticipation that we are looking forward to our upcoming year with the new women’s swimming and diving program,” Prettyman said. “Coach Leach has worked diligently to recruit some of the finest swimmers in the Midwest and bring their talents to Indiana State University and to Sycamore Athletics. The program will be respected immediately through the talent, be visible in the community and diligent in the classroom as they train and prepare for their first ever season as a varsity sport at ISU. Please join me in welcoming these first nine student-athletes into the Sycamore Athletics family.”
Emily Boomershine
One of six Indiana natives on the roster, Boomershine swam at North Central High School in Indianapolis. She picked up a first place finish in the sectional championships in the 100-yard backstroke (59.83) and fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (25.02) in 2013-14. She posted a time of 1:00.42 in the 100-yard backstroke in the 2013-14 Indiana State Championships as well. She swam club for Riviera Swim Club in Indianapolis.
Top Times
100 Back: 59.83
200 Back: 2:13.72
50 Free: 25.02
100 Free: 53.83
What Coach Leach said
“Emily has great energy and we are excited to have her as a part of this program. She will help strengthen our sprint freestyle core and backstroke group.”
Cierra Campbell
Cierra Campbell, a Lawrence, Kan., native was ranked as the No. 3 recruit in the state of Kansas according to collegeswimming.com as she earned two top finishes at Free State High School in the Kansas Girls 6A State Championships in the 100-yard freestyle (52.32) and 200-yard freestyle (1:51.36) and a second place finish in the 500-yard freestyle (4:57.80). She finished fifth in the 1650-yard freestyle at the 2015 Speedo Championship Series (17:23.35) and 20th in the 200-yard fly. She swam club with Ad Astra Area Aquatics (AAAA) and is strong in the freestyle and butterfly. Campbell’s father, Clark Campbell, is the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks Women’s Swimming and Diving team.
Top Times
50 Free: 24.96
100 Free: 52.32
200 Free: 1:51.36
500 Free: 4:57.80
1000 Free: 10:18.85
1650 Free: 17:23.35
What Coach Leach said
“Cierra is a program changer. She not only helps with every single freestyle event, she will help with relays and is an all-around great person that comes from a great swimming family.”
Allie Engstrom
A native of Beaverton, Ore., Engstrom comes to Terre Haute after a four year career at Southridge High School where she competed in the 100-backstroke, 200 IM, 200-medley relay and 200-freestyle relay. She posted a second place finish in the 100-backstroke at the Metro League District while earning a seventh place finish at the Oregon State Athletic Association 6A state meet in 2015. She also earned an 11thplace finish at the OSAA 6A state meet in the 200 IM in 2015 and a 7th place team finish with Southridge in 2014. Engstrom swam with club team Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, Ore. under the direction of Alex Nikitin and head coach Matt Leach’s father, Gary Leach.
Top Times
100 Back 58.80
200 Back 206.24
200 IM: 2:13.22
What Coach Leach said
“The Northwest is a hot bed of talent and being able to recruit that area is a great bonus for us. Allie not only helps strengthen our backstroke core but she is up for multiple academic awards so she brings an all-around talent to our squad. She will help build a strong family atmosphere.”
Mykenzie Kostka
An Indiana native, Kostka hails from Fort Wayne, Ind., where she swam for Carroll High School and posted fifth place finishes in the 100-yard fly (58.42) and 50-yard freestyle (24.65) at sectional championships. She also helped the 200-free style relay to a seventh place finish at the state championships. She swam club with Northwest Aquatic Club Swimming in Fort Wayne.
Top Times
50 Free: 24.64
100 Free: 54.16
100 Fly: 58.42
200 Fly: 2:11.51
What Coach Leach said
“Mykenzie is one of our Indiana core swimmers she comes from a great club program in Fort Wayne and she will be a strong academic addition. She will help at a conference level for us next season.”
Jacquie Price
Price is a two-time MVP for Thurston High School in Springfield, Ore. and ranked No. 13 in the state of Oregon by collegeswimming.com. She is an Oregon LC Championships runner-up in the 200 IM and third place finishes in the 200 IM and 200-freestyle. She also earned an 11th place finish in the 100-fly and was a 12th place finisher in the 2015 Speedo Champions Series (Federal Way) in the 500-yard freestyle (5:00.34). She swam club with Willamalane Swim Club in Springfield, Ore.
Top Times
100 Free: 52.95
200 Free: 1:54.33
500 Free: 5:00.34
100 Fly: 56.07
200 IM: 2:10.74
400 IM: 4:37.92
What Coach Leach said
Jacquie is another solid Northwest recruit that will help with our butterfly and middle distance core and help immediately at Missouri Valley Conference level. We hope to progress her quickly at the conference level and get her onto the national stage quickly.”
Emily Ratliff
Ratliff, who hails from nearby Indianapolis, Ind. swam at Hamilton Southeastern High School and part of a team that finished fourth place overall at the Indiana High School state meet and conference and sectional champions from 2013-15. She was a 2013 sectional champion and state qualifier in the 100-breaststroke (1:09.44) and earned the team’s Most Improved Award in 2015. She swam club with Southeastern Swim Club in Fishers, Ind.
Top Times
100 Breast: 1:09.44
200 Breast: 2:28.94
What Coach Leach said
She is one of the student athletes who will help set standards for our community service efforts so we can be in line with the university’s No.1 ranking in that area. She is a great character addition who is going to continue to improve in our program. We look for her to continue helping out, not only on campus, but in the pool as well.”
Cori Taylor
A native of Columbus, Ind., Taylor set season bests of 5:16.01 in the 500-yard freestyle and 1:11.73 in the 100 breaststroke with respective places of second and fourth in the 2015 Columbus North Sectional. Taylor’s finishes helped her Columbus North team to a 2015 sectional championship. She also placed second in the 500 free (5:33.15) and fourth in the 100 breast (1:14.48) in the 2015 Conference Indiana meet.
Top Times
50 Free: 26.71
500 Free: 5:31.48
100 Breast: 1:12.42
200 Breast: 2:35.57
What Coach Leach said
“Cori Taylor comes from another great Indiana club swim program and we are so excited to have her on board. She is going to help not only academically, but will also be someone who can come in and swim different events for us and help out in different areas.”
Zoe Williams
Williams, from Carmel, Ind., swam at Westfield High School in the 100-backstroke, 100-freestyle, 50-freestyle and 100-fly. She’s ranked at No. 36 in the state of Indiana by collegeswiming.com and finished fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (53.22) and sixth in the 50-yard freestyle (24.72). She came in 29th in the 2015 Indiana Open Water Championships in the 1650-yard freestyle (27:15.50). She also competed in the Indiana State Championships as a junior in the 50-yard freestyle. She swam with club team Fishers Area Swimming Tigers in Fishers, Ind.
Top Times
50 Free: 24.72
100 Free: 53.22
100 Back: 58.87
200 Back: 2:10.15
What Coach Leach said
“Zoe is the world’s biggest One Direction fan and she’s got the biggest personality that will be a game changer for our culture. She comes from a big club program in Fischers and she helps us continue to get our feet wet in Indiana recruiting.”
Danielle Yagelski
Yagelski is a state qualifier for Crown Point High School in Crown Point, Ind. where she finished third in the 100-yard freestyle at the Indiana Sectional Championships and 18th at the Indiana State Championships (55.42). She also finished fifth in the 100-yard freestyle (54.21) and seventh in the 100-yard backstroke. Yagelski was also a Post-Tribune honorable mention in the 400-freestyle relay. She swam club with Union Township Swim Club in Valparaiso, Ind.
Top Times
100 Free: 53.87
100 Back: 59.75
What Coach Leach said
“She comes from another Indiana club team and we are looking for her to drop time coming in. Danielle is also going to be another great addition to our team culture and I’m looking forward to having her be a part of our program.”
For the latest information on the Indiana State Women’s Swimming & Diving team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
Swimming news courtesy of Indiana State Swimming & Diving.
zoe is a very hard worker and is my best friend so they got a real steal with that one