1 November 2000
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206
and/or head coach Teresa Zurick, 309-556-3382
Added Depth Gives IWU Swim Teams Optimism
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Nineteen letterwinners, including both of last season's most valuable performers, return for the Illinois Wesleyan women's and men's swim teams.
The Titans, coached by Teresa Zurick, open their dual meet season with a double-dual against Washington U. and Chicago at IWU's Fort Natatorium this Friday at 7 p.m., then have a dual meet at Benedictine at 1 p.m. Saturday.
"Both teams are deeper with talent than they've been in past and we have more potential scorers in the conference meet than ever before," said Zurick.
Both the men's and women's team earned second place finishes in last year's College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet. Wheaton has won the last four men's league titles as well as the last three women's championships.
Leading the IWU women returners is junior Kathy Carroll (Orland Park, Sandburg HS), who has been the team's MVP two seasons straight. An honorable mention All-American, Carroll set school records in three events in the NCAA Division III championships and was co-winner of the "Most Outstanding Performer" award at the CCIW meet.
In the national meet, she was 11th in the 1,650-yard freestyle, 13th in the 400 individual medley, and 12th in the 500 freestyle. At the CCIW meet, she finished first in the 500 free (5:10.22), the 1650 free (17:51.22), and the 400 individual medley (4:39.02).
Bethany Schoenbeck (Lockport HS) and Kara Boyden (Galesburg HS) are seniors who are top performers in their respective events. Schoenbeck swims the 50 and 100 freestyle and is the school recordholder in the 100 butterfly, while Boyden has a top six finish at the CCIW meet in backstroke.
Other top returners include junior Lisa Diersen (Park Forest, Rich East HS) and sophomores Emily Hilgers (Dunlap (HS) and Danielle Lureau (Carol Stream (West Chicago HS). Diersen was the CCIW champion in the 100 breaststroke while Hilgers was co-winner of the team's "Most Improved Swimmer" honor as she shaved four seconds off her 100 butterfly time during the season and missed qualifying for nationals in the event by just two seconds.
Of the freshmen women, Zurick has seen potential in sprint freestyler Heather Lingenfelter (Peoria, Richwoods HS), a state qualifier in high school, and has added depth to the team with Molly Hornbaker (Princeton HS), Blair Silliman (Barrington HS), and Anna Stella (Naperville, Benet Academy).
Zurick also has a strong corps of women divers, including senior Gretchen McDowell (Wildwood, Gurnee Warren HS) and freshman Cathy Gilbert (Hinsdale, Central HS), a state qualifier in high school.
Sophomore Andy Sur (Normal, U High) was the men's MVP as he posted the school's best times of the season in four freestyle events 200, 500, 1,000, and 1,650 and was a member of four relay teams that posted the team's top times.
"It's within reason that Andy will set a couple of school records this year," said Zurick. "He is a hard worker with a great attitude and helps us in a lot of events."
Seniors Brian Rawlins (Atlanta, Stanford Olympia HS) and Ken Perry (Orland Park, Sandburg HS), both three-year lettermen, are solid point-scorers in the CCIW meet, while junior Tom Howard (Peoria, Richwoods HS) has been looking very strong in the butterfly and freestyle.
Sophomores Jay Ratliff (Mt. Prospect, Hersey HS), last year's "Most Improved Men's Swimmer", and Jeff Horvath (Morton (HS) add needed depth for the men's team.
"Ratliff is another really hard worker who did a lot of swimming over the summer and has more confidence than last year," said Zurick. "Horvath was a top six finisher at conference in backstroke and individual medley last year and we'll also count on him in the sprint relays."
Among the freshmen, Jason Ozbolt (Lockport HS) will help immediately in the distance freestyle and individual medley, Dan Budny (Western Springs, Lyons Township HS) gives depth to the sporint relay teams, and Byron Lubenkov (LaGrange (Lyons Township HS) has been pleasant surprise in backstroke.