Nov. 13, 2003

Champaign, Ill. - Illinois softball continues to garner attention from some of the nation's top players. Illini Head Coach Terri Sullivan announced an impressive class of six for the Class of 2008. This class is especially significant with the graduation of the Illinois' first class next spring.

The Illini signing class includes Sarah Bryers, a 5-8 outfielder from Glenbard North (Ill.) High School, Claire DeVreese, a 5-11 pitcher from Mishawaka (Ind.) High School, Shanna Diller, a 5-10 infielder from Normal (Ill.) Community High School, Leigh Farina, a 5-11 catcher-infielder from Naperville (Ill.) Central High School and Kankakee Community College, Angelena Mexicano, a shortstop from San Jose, Calif.; and Makenzie Smith, a 5-6 shortstop from Lancaster, Calif.

Coach Sullivan on the Class: "Our 2003-04 recruiting class is the most talented class of players ever to have committed to Illinois. We are very excited about the skill level and athleticism of each recruit, but more importantly, they all possess the type of attitude in a player that we have built Illinois softball around. Angelena, Makenzie, Sarah, Shanna, Claire, and Leigh all play with great heart and have a real love of the game. We believe that each of them will make an immediate impact on our program and step up to the challenge of replacing a special graduating class. Each of them comes from terrific families who we are happy and proud to have joining our family at Illinois."

Sarah Bryers * 5-8 Outfield * Bloomingdale, Ill. * (Glenbard North H.S.) .
Sarah Bryers, a first-team all-state selection from Glenbard North, batted .421 with 16 doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 33 RBI in 2003. Bryers was named to the all-state tournament team in 2001 after helping Glenbard North to third place at the IHSA State Tournament. The Panthers also have won three straight regional championships. Bryers earned First Team All-State accolades from the Illinois High School Coaches Association. A unanimous All-DVC selection, she was named to the Daily Herald All-Area team and Special Mention All-State by the Chicago Tribune. Bryers was also a finalist in the IHSA Hitting Derby competition in 2003. A three-sport athlete, Bryers was a member of the Glenbard North cross country team that qualified for state two straight years and was an honorable mention-All DVC choice in basketball.

Coach Sullivan on Bryers: "We have been watching Sarah play for some time now both with her successful high school team, Glenbard North, and at our summer camps. Every year she became a better player and that is a testament to the kind of work ethic she has. Sarah is a two-way outfielder, therefore, we expect her to do good things defensively and at the plate."

Claire DeVreese * 5-11 Pitcher * Mishawaka, Ind. * (Mishawaka H.S.)
Claire DeVreese was named first team All-State in Indiana after leading the Mishawaka Cavemen to the sectional title in 2003. She holds school records for lowest ERA in school history after posting an 0.19 earned-run average in 2002. Her 26 strikeouts in one game tied an Indiana state record. She also was the leading hitter on the team. DeVreese earned First Team All-Northern Indiana Conference honors as both a sophomore and junior. Off the field, DeVreese was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in 1999.

Coach Sullivan on DeVreese: "Claire will be the hardest throwing pitcher we have ever had at Illinois and that will add to the strength of our pitching staff immensely. With all of the success she has had thus far on the mound, we believe that her best days and biggest successes will come at Illinois."

Shanna Diller* 5-10 Infield * Normal, Ill. (Normal Community)
Diller comes to Illinois from one of the most successful programs in the state - Normal Community. The Ironmen won the 2001 Illinois Class AA state championship in 2001 and finished runner-up in 2002. Diller earned All-Big 12 Conference honors and was named Second Team All-State in 2003 as a second baseman. The lead-off hitter batted .393 with 10 doubles, one home run, one triple, and 19 RBI as a junior and hit over .300 as a freshman and sophomore as well. She played for the Southern Illinois Force Gold Club Team, helping them to the Canada Cup title. Diller is captain for Normal's high-powered volleyball team, which is playing this weekend at the Class AA State Tournament. This is the third straight appearance for the Ironmen volleyball team at state after finishing fourth and third, respectively, the past two seasons. Diller was a Second Team All-Area selection by the Bloomington Pantagraph .

Coach Sullivan on Diller: "Shanna is a tremendous athlete and that makes her a very versatile and threatening softball player. She is a starter on her Normal Community volleyball team that is making a trip downstate. Shanna can play third base and second base proficiently, and her offensive talent batting from the left side is exciting."

Leigh Farina * 5-11 Catcher/Infield * Naperville, Ill. (Central/Kankakee Comm. Coll.)
Leigh Farina is transferring to Illinois after playing one year at Kankakee Community College, where she tore up the league, batting .476 with 19 home runs and 72 RBI in 54 games played. The 19 home runs and 72 RBI are new KCC records. Kankakee won the Region IV Tournament and placed third in the national NJCAA Division II Tournament. Farina was a first team All-American and was listed as the top catcher in Division II on the NFCA/Diamond Sports Team. A 2001 graduate of Naperville Central High School, Farina was an All-DuPage Valley Conference performer after hitting a school-record seven home runs. She also was invited to the Chicago Tribune Super 60 Tournament.

Coach Sullivan on Farina: "Leigh is the first junior college player to come to Illinois, and she is a talented one. Leigh can flat out hit - for power and average. Playing for a great coach at Kankakee, Denny Clark, she became a First Team All-American and led the nation in home runs. We know that with her drive and determination, she will continue doing great things with her teammates at Illinois."

Angelena Mexicano* 5-4 Shortstop * San Jose, Calif. * (Mt. Pleasant)
Angelena Mexicano was a three-time first team all conference selection and three-time team MVP. She earned honors for Freshman, Sophomore and Junior, Athlete of the Year, at Mt. Pleasant High School. During the Summer Session, she batted .378 with five doubles, three home runs, and 22 RBI after batting .429 with one double, two triples, one home run and eight RBI during the fall. Mexicano played for the prestigious San Jose Strikkers, which placed ninth at the national tournament held in Salem, Ore., this past summer. A two-sport athlete, Mexicano is also a middle blocker on the volleyball team at Mt. Pleasant High.

Coach Sullivan on Mexicano: "Angelena is a special player. She is a very talented shortstop with tremendous range. Her knowledge of the game, and enthusiasm for playing it will be evident to all Illinois softball fans from day one. Angelena has great power and runs well and will compete very hard every pitch of every inning."

Makenzie Smith * 5-6 Utility Lancaster, Calif. * (Desert Christian)
Makenzie Smith played for the prestigious Southern California Stealth Team. She helped her team to the ASA National 16U Team 13th place at the ASA Nationals and the 18U-A team to 25th at the ASA Nationals. Smith played for Desert Christian High School, earning Second Team All-CIF Division V honors in 2003, while also being named "Southland's #1 Hitter" by the Los Angeles Times. She earned two all-area honors -- Antelope Valley Press All-Valley and Daily News All Area team. Smith led the area in batting with a .681 average with 39 runs scored, five triples, 35 RBI, 47 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of .902, and a slugging percentage of 1.157.

Coach Sullivan on Smith: "Makenzie is going to be a very exciting player to watch at Illinois. She gets the job done offensively in a lot of different ways and like Shanna is versatile defensively. Makenzie is my kind of player in that she is a fierce, tough competitor who refuses to lose."