9 May 2002
CONTACT: Head coach Teresa Zurick, 309-556-3382

Carroll, Ozbolt Repeat as IWU Swim "Most Valuable"

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Senior Kathy Carroll and sophomore Jason Ozbolt have repeated as the "Most Valuable Swimmers" for the 2001-02 Illinois Wesleyan swim teams.

Carroll (Orland Park, Sandburg HS), who was the "MVP" for all four of her college seasons, helped IWU to its best-ever team finish in the Division III national meet as the Titans placed 27^th of 63 teams.

Carroll swam to four school records at the national meet as she placed 12th in the 500 freestyle, 13th in the 1,650-meter freestyle, and 14th in the 400-meter individual medley. She was also honorable mention All-American with her finishes as part of the 400 medley relay, 200 free relay, and 800 free relay teams.

Ozbolt (Lockport, East HS) was an all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin swimmer in three events where he won the 400 individual medley with a season-best time of 4:15.15 and finished second in the 500 free (4:44.87) and 1650 free in a school record time of 16:15.33.

Freshman Ben Braksick (Bloomington, Normal Community HS) was chosen as the "Most Improved" men's swimmer while freshman Ali Seger (Sterling Heights, Mich., Henry Ford II HS) earned the honor for the women's squad.

Braksick finished ninth in both the 100 (58.41) and 200 backstroke (2:07.19) at the CCIW meet and also got a 10^th place finish in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:06.30. Seger posted her best time of the season at the CCIW meet in the 200 individual medley, the 200 back, and the 100 back.

Carroll and senior Kate Edwards (Darien, Wis., Delavan HS) were named captains of the women's team and junior Jeff Horvath (Morton HS) and sophomore Dan Budny (Western Springs, Lyons North HS) were the men's captains.

In other individual results, sophomore Heather Lingenfelter (Peoria, Richwoods HS) was 32nd in the 100 butterfly (1:00.50) and junior Erin Bicek (Downers Grove, North HS) finished 28th in the 400 individual medley with a personal-best time of 4:41.87. Bicek was also 30th in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:27.74.

Carroll, Bicek, Lingenfelter, and senior Lisa Diersen (Park Forest, Rich East HS) were all-CCIW performers for the women, as was freshman Russell Blogg (West Dundee, Dundee Crown HS) for his second place finish in the 200 butterfly.

Head coach Teresa Zurick awarded letters to 35 swimmers. They are (with hometowns, high schools):

Illinois Wesleyan Women (19)

SENIORS - Amy Attivissimo, Oak Lawn (HS); Missy Caldwell, Effingham (St. Anthony HS); Kathy Carroll, Orland Park (Sandburg HS); Lisa Diersen, Park Forest (Rich East HS); Kate Edwards, Darien, Wis. (Delavan HS); Becky Hoyt, St. Louis, Mo. (Webster Grove HS).

JUNIORS - Erin Bicek, Downers Grove (North HS); Emily Hilgers, Dunlap (HS); Krista Phelps, Orland Park (Lockport HS); Carrie VonHuben, Orland Park (Sandburg HS).

SOPHOMORES - Molly Hornbaker, Princeton (HS); Heather Lingenfelter, Peoria (Richwoods HS); Blair Silliman, Barrington (HS).

FRESHMEN - Natalie Burda, Oak Park (Oak Park-River Forest HS); Beth Fanselow, Schiller Park (East Leyden HS); 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).

Illinois Wesleyan Men (16)

JUNIORS - P.J. Hoffman, Downers Grove (South HS); Jeff Horvath, Morton (HS); Jay Ratliff, Mt. Prospect (Hersey HS); Andy Sur, Normal (U High).

SOPHOMORES - Brad Andrews, Downers Grove (South HS); Dan Budny, Western Springs (Lyons North HS); Shane Gornik, Woodridge (Downers Grove South HS), Byron Lubenkov, LaGrange (Lyons North HS), Jake Osterberg, Belvidere (HS), Jason Ozbolt, Lockport (East HS).

FRESHMEN - Russell Blogg, West Dundee (Dundee Crown HS); Ben Braksick, Bloomington (Normal Community HS); Phil Butler, LaGrange (Lyons Township HS), Ryan Hardy, Charleston (HS), Marc Massaro, Elk Grove Village (Conant HS); Dan Nelson, Libertyville (HS).