24 April 2003

Bicek, Hornbaker, Ozbolt Earn IWU Swim Honors

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Senior Erin Bicek and junior Molly Hornbaker were named “Most Valuable Swimmers” for the Illinois Wesleyan women’s team while junior Jason Ozbolt earned the honor for the third straight season for the IWU men’s team.
 Bicek (Downers Grove, North HS) was an all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin swimmer in three individual events as she won the 400 individual medley and placed second in the 200 breaststroke and 200 individual medley. She also swam a leg on four CCIW champion relay teams ? the 200, 400, and 800 free relays and the 400 medley relay team.
 Hornbaker (Princeton HS) won the 100 and 200 freestyle at the CCIW meet and placed third in the 50 free. Like Bicek, she swam on the four winning relay teams.
 Hornbaker and Bicek earned honorable mention All-America at the NCAA Division III national meet as they finished in the top 16 with four relay teams. Junior Heather Lingenfelter (Peoria, Richwoods HS) and freshman Robin Johnson (Peoria, Dunlap HS) were others on those NCAA relay teams.
 Ozbolt (Lockport, East HS) was also an all-CCIW swimmer and the men’s team’s lone winner at the conference meet, taking the 1650 freestyle.while placing second in the 500 free and 400 individual medley.
 In other team honors. freshmen Joe Pellum (Champaign, Central HS) and Meghan McCreary (Waukegan, Lake Forest Academy) earned the "Most Improved" swimmer awards for the men’s and women's squads, respectively.
 Bicek and senior Emily Hilgers (Dunlap HS) were named captains of the women's team and seniors Jeff Horvath (Morton HS) and Andy Sur (Normal, U High) were the men's captains.
 Other individual all-CCIW women swimmers were Lingenfelter with second-place finishes in both the 100 and 200 butterfly and sophomore Katie Wenzel (Palatine, Fremd HS), placing second in both the 500 and 1650 free.
 For the men, junior Marcus Meyer, Burr Ridge (Fenwick HS) swam to all-conference honors with his second place finish in the 200 breaststroke.

 Head coach Teresa Fish awarded letters to 32 swimmers. They are (with hometowns, high schools):

Illinois Wesleyan Women (16)

SENIORS - Erin Bicek, Downers Grove (North HS); Emily Hilgers, Dunlap (HS); Krista Phelps, Orland Park (Lockport HS).
JUNIORS - Molly Hornbaker, Princeton (HS); Heather Lingenfelter, Peoria (Richwoods HS).
SOPHOMORES - Ali Seger, Sterling Heights, Mich. (Henry Ford II HS); Natalie Swegle, Moline (HS); Michelle Uhlenkott, Seattle, Wash. (Holy Names Academy); Katie Wenzel, Palatine (Fremd HS).
FRESHMEN ? Robin Johnson, Peoria (Dunlap HS); Sara Lockman, Savoy (Champaign Central HS); Meghan McCreary, Waukegan (Lake Forest Academy); Meghan McGrady, Charleston (HS); Marissa Riermaier, Homewood (Homewood-Flossmoor HS); Erin Tilson, Mercer Island, Wash. (HS); Caitlin VonHuben, Orland Park (Sandburg HS).

Illinois Wesleyan Men (16)

SENIORS - Jeff Horvath, Morton (HS); Jay Ratliff, Mt. Prospect (Hersey HS); Andy Sur, Normal (U High).
JUNIORS - Dan Budny, Western Springs (Lyons North HS); Byron Lubenkov, LaGrange (Lyons North HS), Marcus Meyer, Burr Ridge (Fenwick HS); Jake Osterberg, Belvidere (HS); Jason Ozbolt, Lockport (East HS).
SOPHOMORES - Russell Blogg, West Dundee (Dundee Crown HS); Ben Braksick, Bloomington (Normal Community HS); Phil Butler, LaGrange (Lyons Township HS), Ryan Hardy, Charleston (HS).
FRESHMEN ? Bob Achtstatter, Arlington Heights (Buffalo Grove HS), Tim Achtstatter, Arlington Heights (Buffalo Grove HS), Joe Pellum, Champaign (Central HS); Ross Straseske, Champaign (Centennial HS).
 

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206 and/or head coach Teresa Fish, 309-556-3382