Nov. 28, 2005
Illinois Swimming Head Coach Sue Novitsky has announced the signing of five swimmers for the Class of 2006. They are Morgan Gilman, from Champaign, IL.; Jennifer Ivarson, from Oak Brook, IL.; Kristen Kloechener, from Chesterfield MO.; Ann Nowak, from Aurora, IL.; and Kelly Smithwick from Houston, TX. In addition, Diving Head Coach Billy McGowan has signed two divers to his team next year. They are Kyla Bachtell, from Aurora, IL; and Nikki Spillone, from Mundelein, IL.
Morgan Gilman Fly/Back Champaign, IL/Centennial High
Morgan is a 2005 IHSA State Qualifier in the 100 Butterfly, 200 Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay. She was captain for the Centennial Chargers 2005 Sectional Championship team. This past summer Morgan competed at the USA Swimming Speedo Sectional Championships and the Central Zone Championships as a member of Team Illinois. In addition to her swimming, Morgan is a member of the National Honor Society, the yearbook editor and the treasurer for the Centennial High School Executive Board.
Coach Novitsky on Gilman: We are pleased to add Morgan to the Illinois Swimming & Diving family. Morgan has overcome some obstacles during her high school career and continues to have the drive and motivation to dig deep and was able produce some best times in her senior year. We believe that with her great attitude and work ethic she can continue to improve and develop her events at Illinois. She will add to our butterfly and backstroke groups and potentially branch out into some new events. Morgan is an outstanding student and leader and will make great contributions to the team.
Jennifer Ivarson Fly/IM/Free Oak Brook, IL/Downers Grove High
Jennifer is a USA Swimming Speedo Junior National and US Open qualifier in the 200 Butterfly. In her senior campaign, she earned Honorable Mention All-State by placing 8th in the 100 Butterfly and 10th in the 200 Individual Medley at the 2005 IHSA State Meet. She also won the 200 Individual Medley at her IHSA Sectional Meet. In addition to her swimming Jennifer is a member of the National Honor Society and plays the violin.
Coach Novitsky on Ivarson: We are excited to add Jennifer to the incoming class of 2006. She characterizes what we look for in a student-athlete; she is a determined and hard working individual as well as an exceptional student. Jen should come in and make an immediate contribution to our butterfly and individual medley events. She is an outstanding competitor that does not back down during a race. Jen has continued to improve during her high school career and we feel that she can continue that trend at Illinois.
Kristen Kloeckener Free Chesterfield, MO/Nerinx Hall High
Kristen is a 3-time high school record holder at Nerinx Hall in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. In addition she is USA Swimming Speedo Sectional qualifier and has earned Honorable Mention All-State honors at the Missouri High School State Meet. She has earned MVP honors for her high school team, the Sportsmanship Award for her club team and numerous Academic Excellence Awards as a scholar-athlete. In addition to swimming, Kristen has competed as a member of the Nerinx Hall High School Field Hockey Team. For field hockey her high school team has advanced to the State Tournament multiple times, with runner-up being the team's highest finish.
Coach Novitsky on Kloeckener: The outstanding athleticism that Kristen brings to Illinois is exciting. For her high school career she has had success competing as a two sport athlete in swimming and field hockey. It will be fun to see what Kristen can do while concentrating on only one sport. She is going to add to our distance freestyle group and we believe that she will continue to develop in her main races and in other events too. Kristen is a strong student with a terrific personality that is excited to wear the orange and blue while representing the Illini.
Ann Nowak Free/Breast/IM Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley High
Annie is a multiple time YMCA National qualifier for the Aurora YMCA. During her senior year she qualified for the 2005 IHSA State Meet in 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay and 400 Freestyle Relay. At the 2005 IHSA State Meet she earned Honorable Mention All-State honors for placing 11th in the 500 Freestyle. In addition to swimming Annie has competed for the Waubonsie Valley High School Water Polo team. She is the sister of former Illini swimmer Mary Nowak.
Coach Novitsky on Nowak: Annie is a strong addition to our middle distance freestyle group. She has had continued success throughout her high school and YMCA swimming career. We expect Annie to swim the freestyle events and also to work on her versatility by branching out more into the individual medley and breaststroke events too. She is a great team player that is passionate about her swimming. Annie is an excellent student that is motivated, determined and hard working, all characteristics that we look for to represent Illinois.
Kelly Smithwick Free/Fly/IM Houston, TX/Cypress Creek High
Kelly was a 2005 USA Swimming Speedo Junior National qualifier in the 1500 meter Freestyle. In addition she has earned All-State honors at the Texas High School State Meet and has been a USA Swimming Speedo Sectional finalist. In addition to her swimming, Kelly was a member of the Cypress Creek High School water polo team and is involved with many youth organizations.
Coach Novitsky on Smithwick: Kelly is a very versatile athlete that will be able to help us out immediately in dual meets and at championship meets. She has established herself as a strong distance swimmer, in addition to having a successful summer with in the butterfly and individual medley events. Having the opportunity to compete at the Junior National Championships over the summer gave her some terrific experience to continue to reach for higher levels in her swimming. Along with being a good student, Kelly is a fun, energetic and hard working young lady that will add to the Illinois tradition.
Kyla Bachtell Diver Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley High
Kyla is a senior at Waubonsie Valley high School. She has just completed her 4th varsity season for the Diving team and finished a great high school diving career. In her 4 years diving with Waubonsie Kyla has qualified for the State meet all 4 years and finished in the top 10 the past 2 years, finishing in a very strong 7th place at this year's State meet in Evanston, IL., which featured very tough competition. In addition to her success at the State meet Kyla also received All Conference All Academic honors in 2004 and this year received an Academic Merit Award. Kyla has also been very successful in the classroom and is interested in attending the School of Business while here at Illinois. Kyla's parents are both alumni of the Univ. of Illinois.
Nikki Spillone Diver Mundelein, IL/Mundelein High
Nikki hails from Mundelein, IL and is a senior at Mundelein High School. Nikki has had great success at the high school and US diving level. She qualified for the State meet for the past 2 seasons and finished a very impressive 5th last season while making finals yet again at this year's State meet in Evanston, IL. In addition to Nikki's diving she is also the ACE president at her high school and a member of the National Honors Society. Nikki is interested in studying elementary education and plans on attending the School of Education here at Illinois to pursue her academic goals. Like Kyla, Nikki's parents are both alumni of U of I.
Coach McGowan on Bachtell and Spillone: Nikki and Kyla will both be great additions to the diving team here next season. I'm very excited about them joining the other divers and adding to the team chemistry and training atmosphere. They're both great divers and hard workers and are going to fit in nicely with this program. Nikki and Kyla both have strong diving lists coming into their freshman year and still have 10 months to train before they get here, so I am expecting even more from them by the time the fall of 2006 season begins. The diving team has been improving steadfastly over the past 3 seasons with the current roster of senior Jackie Bain, sophomore Abbey Bernardo and freshman Marina Mendoza; and with the addition of Kyla and Nikki to the mix I expect that improvement to continue.
