TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Women’s Swimming and Diving head coach Matt Leach has announced the signing of eight more to the program’s first ever signing class on Thursday The program has now signed 16 for its first ever season for the upcoming school year in 2016-17.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome our newest group of signees to the Sycamore family,” Indiana State head coach Matt Leach said. “These eight young women are all exemplary people that will help Indiana State University grow, continue to strength our rich tradition of helping our community and will be instrumental in creating our new traditions in our developing program.”
The Sycamores welcome a variety of athletes from all over the country and includes the program’s first international recruit. Joining the Sycamores are Taylor Christie (Astoria, Ore.), Kendall Hansen (Wildwood, Mo.), Alex Malmborg (Burbank, Ill.), Katherine Minatra (Rockvale, Tenn.), Tessa Muzzy (Roanoke, Va.), Blanca Saez-Illobre (Madrid, Spain), Laney Recer (Sherman, Texas) and Courtney Skelley (Santa Clara, Calif.).
The eight spring signees join 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.) and Danielle Yagelski (Crown Point, Ind.) who all announced their commitment during the November signing period.
A two-year letterwinner at Astoria High School in Astoria, Ore. where she was the team’s MVP for two seasons. She holds three records at Astoria in the 500 free, 200 IM and 100 Fly. She has competed in the Oregon State meet since 2008 and was a senior sectionals finalist from 2014-16. She swam club with Hillsboro Heat in Hillsboro, Ore. and is ranked 25th in the state of Oregon by collegeswimming.com.
Top Times
50 Free: 24.79
100 Free: 53.61
500 Free: 5:25.95
100 Breast: 1:09.32
100 Fly: 59.96
200 IM: 2:16.21
What Coach Leach said
“Taylor has a ton of untapped potential and upside to her swimming. I look forward to working with her as she continues to grow as a sprint freestyler. She will add depth to our program, but she will be challenged every day to improve and help our team progress.”
A four year letterwinner at Lafayette High School, Hansen is an all-state performer in the 100 free, 100 back, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. She recently posted her best time in the 50 Free at the NCSA Spring Championship on March 15(25.09) and set a new best in the 100 Free at the Missouri Girls State Championship (52.39). Hansen swam club with Rockwood Swim Club in Ellisville, Mo. She is the 13th ranked swimmer in the state of Missouri by collegeswimming.com.
Top Times
50 Free: 25.09
100 Free: 52.39
50 Back: 27.76
100 Back: 57.18
200 Back: 2:05.46
200 IM: 2:10.02
What Coach Leach said
“Kendall’s background is quite unique as she took off this past season. Every time she touched the water in a two month stretch it seemed like she was going best times, meet after meet after meet. Her time drops this past season make her a swimmer to watch as our young team forms. She will add depth to the freestyle events, but also will a strong force in the backstroke and IM events.”
Malmborg is an Illinois Girls Sectional Champion in the 50 Free and a third place finisher in the 100 Free this season for Reavis High School. She was a team captain and helped her team to a conference championship, sectional championship and was a state qualifier. Malmborg was an all-conference and all-sectional honoree and qualified for junior nationals, Speedo sections and Speedo futures. She swam club with the Oak Lawn Lightning.
Top Times
50 Free: 24.26
100 Free: 54.08
What Coach Leach said
“She is a natural talent not only as a swimmer but also as a track athlete. Alex is a presidential award winner, the recipient of the highest academic award at Indiana State University, who brings natural talent and determination to the classroom and the pool. As a sprint freestyler, I am excited to work with her and develop her all-around.”
Minatra comes to the Sycamores from Eagleville High School in Rockvale, Tenn. where she swam for all four years. She was a captain all four year and earned the team’s Most Valuable Player honors along with MVP honors from the Daily News Journal. She is an all-region second team and all-area selection in the pool. Minatra swam club with Excel Aquatics in Nashville Tenn. She is ranked as the 21st swimmer out of the state of Tennessee by collegeswimming.com.
Top Times
500 Free: 5:17.13
1000 Free: 10:52.56
1650 Free: 18:05.27
100 Back: 1:00.74
200 Back: 2:06.03
100 Fly: 1:00.97
200 Fly: 2:11.14
200 IM: 2:14.50
400 IM: 4:38.12
What Coach Leach said
“Katherine comes from a very close knit family, so her addition to our program will help strengthen our bond as a team. She is a versatile swimmer and I know that if I ask her to swim any event in our lineup she will put a smile on her face, get behind that block and do battle to the best of her ability. She comes from a great program in Tennessee and we are looking forward to her contributions in and out of the water.”
A three-time Virginia High School League Championships finalist, Muzzy posted a fifth place finish in 2016 in the 200 IM for Cave Spring High School. The Roanoke, Va. native placed third in the 100 Back and fourth in the 200 IM in 2014 championships. She swam club with the Virginia Gators and recently posted a top times in the 50 Back (27.10) and 100 Free at the 2016 Dolfin Junior National Championship Cup in March.
Top Times
50 Back: 27.10
100 Back: 57.73
200 Back: 2:04.48
100 Fly: 59.78
200 IM: 2:08.61
What Coach Leach said
“Tessa is primarily swims backstroke and comes from a family that swims. Not only will she help add depth, but we are hoping to continue her progression in the IM events and breaststroke to help strengthen her versatility. She will bring a fun attitude to our day-to-day training atmosphere.”
Blanca Saez-Illobre
The Sycamores’ first international signee, Saez-Illobre hails from Madrid, Spain where she swam for Real Canoe during her prep career.
Top Times
100 Free: 1:00.72 (LCM), 53.26 (converted)
100 Breast: 1:13.42 (LCM), 1:04.34 (converted)
200 Breast: 2:30.77 (SCM), 2:15.82 (converted)
200 IM: 2:22.37 (LCM), 2:05.37 (converted)
400 IM: 5:08.60 (LCM), 4:32.25 (converted)
What Coach Leach said
“Blanca is our first international student-athlete to our program not only does she enjoy swimming, she is excited to continue her education here at Indiana State University. Blanca comes to our program as a very strong breaststroker and IMer. She will make an immediate impact to those events and she can also get up and help our program with relays and sprint freestyle.”
A native of Saugus, Calif., Skelley swam the butterfly and freestyle for Quartz Hill and Saugus High School. She was named the Quartz Hill Swimmer of the Year in 2013 and 2014 and holds the Golden League record for the 200 free and 400 free relay. At Saugus High, she holds the record in the 400 free relay and was named the 2015 MVP. She swam club with Canyons Aquatic under Coley Stichers.
Top Times
50 Free: 24.50
100 Free: 52.71
200 Free: 1:54.20
100 Fly: 56.50
200 Fly: 2:07.38
200 IM: 2:10.06
What Coach Leach said
“Courtney will be a great team player and will help our team progress in our sprint events. We couldn’t be happier to add her to our fly group which is developing quickly as she will be training with Jacquie Price and Mykenzie Kostka.”
Recer is a two-time Texas 5A State Finalist from Pottsboro High School with eighth place finishes in the 200 Free in 2015 and 2016 and 100 Free in 2016. She finished fourth in the 200 Free at the UIL 5A Region 3 Championships while also posting a fifth place finish in the 100 Free. Recer swam club with Texas Ford Aquatics and Frisco Aquatics in Frisco, Texas. She’s ranked as the 24th best recruit from the state of Texas.
Top Times
50 Free: 25.15
100 Free: 53.04
200 Free: 1:53.29
400 Free: 4:37.43
500 Free: 5:07.65
What Coach Leach said
“Laney is a great up and comer. She had a successful high school and club season and we are looking to continue on that path. She is primarily a middle distance freestyler and we hope to continue her progression into a few more sprint events and a few more distance events.”
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.
