The Eastern Illinois Panthers, a team with some serious momentum behind the leadership of head coach Elliott McGill, has picked up another important piece as they look to climb out of the cellar of the Summit League.
Kelsey Ferguson is the incoming transfer from Marshall University in West Virginia joins the program. She will join the team this winter as a sophomore.
One of the better swimmers in West Virginia prep history, Ferguson was a three-time state champion in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 IM (she was also a two-time state champion in track). She swam a best time in the 100 breast as a freshman at Marshall with a 1:06.8 in prelims at the Conference USA Championships, but her focus had to be divided, as the Thundering Herd used her as a backstroker on both of their medley relays.
She should have at least a dozen-point impact individually, and after the graduation of Kelli Dicanio after last season, should contend with Kate Paige and Janis McGee for breaststroke legs on EIU’s medley relays (Paige swam the butterfly leg last year, so using Ferguson on breaststroke might make more sense).
Ferguson’s hidden bonus to this EIU team is that with yards bests of 25.50 and 54.80 in the 50 and 100 yard freestyles, she will probably end up on some EIU free relays as well.
The EIU women finished 6 out of 7 teams at last year’s Summit League Championship meet, but they’ve managed to break school records in 11 different events in the last year, which shows that things are headed the right direction.
This year’s Summit League looks markedly different than last year’s. Notably, defending champions Oakland have left the conference. They were replaced, though, by Denver, who is equally as good. The current members are:
IUPUI
Eastern Illinois
Western Illinois
South Dakota State
South Dakota
Denver
Nebraska – Omaha