Indiana Adds Eleven for Next Season

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana. December 18. INDIANA head coach Ray Looze and the Indiana University swimming and diving program announced the signing of eleven student-athletes for the 2006-07 academic year, eight women and three men:. Presley Bard (Napa, Calif./Napa), Brittany Barwegen (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior), Emma Berry (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwestern), Emily Lanteigne (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North), Cassie Luhrsen (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon Township), Emily Porteous (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central), Alyssa Rosinko (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) and Amilee Smith (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) will look to impact Indiana beginning with the 2006-07 campaign.

“Presley Bard probably has the most potential of anybody in the class,” Looze said. “She will help in anywhere from the 50 to the 200 backstroke and will swim sprint freestyle up to 200 freestyle. She also comes from one of the best teams in the Terrapins from Concord.”

A four-time All-American, Bard never lost in a high school dual meet as a member of Napa High School. During her prep career, Bard set team records in the 100 back, 100 breast, 50 free, 100 free and 200 IM. Additionally, she claimed sectional titles in the 100 free and 100 back as both a freshman and sophomore. After her sophomore season, Bard concentrated on the club circuit as a member of the Terrapins Swim Team. During that time period, she swam at three senior nationals, three U.S. Opens, two American Short Course Championships and at the 2005 World Trials.

“Brittany Barwegen is an outstanding flyer and IMer,” Looze said. “She is going to help us in both the 100 and 200 fly as well as the 400 IM.”

A 13-time All-American, Barwegen led Plano Senior High to regional and district titles her final season. During her PSHS career, Barwegen placed third in the 200 IM twice and fourth in the 100 butterfly in 2005. Additionally, Barwegen set five school records during her time at Marcus High before moving to PSHS. As a member of the City of Plano club team, Barwegen traveled to junior nationals and placed 32nd in the 200 butterfly.

Academically, Barwegen claimed USA Swimming All-American Academic honors as well as Who’s Who Among American High School Students. She also earned a spot on the National French Honor Society.

“Emma Berry is a really strong 50 to 1,000 freestyler,” Looze said. “She should help us in all of those freestyle events. She has a tremendous attitude and is a good leader. We are pleased to have her.”

A freestyle specialist, Berry swam with the Kansas City Blazers club team. During her club career, she traveled to junior nationals, U.S. Open and sectionals.

“Emily Lanteigne has a beautiful build for a freestyler,” Looze said. “She is tall and has a really nice stroke. Her room to improve is about as high as it can be. We will look for her to help in the 50, 100, 200 and 500 freestyles.”

An 11-time All-American, Lanteigne eclipsed 10 school records during her time at Naperville North. In 2005, she earned all-state and placed second in the 200 free at state. During her junior all-state season in 2004, Lanteigne set the 200 and 500 free records and finished second at state in both events. In 2003, she blew up the school record books with eight standards (the most in school history) as she cleared four individual thresholds and helped break four relay marks en route to another all-state nod. In 2002, she picked up her first all-state recognition. Meanwhile, she competed at junior nationals in 2005.

“Cassie Luhrsen will be one of the best distance freestylers in the country,” Looze said. “She has great range, technique and a tremendous desire to win.”

A two-time All-American from O’Fallon Township, Luhrsen earned three all-state kudos as well as a pair of all-metro honors during her prep career. The three-time letterwinner also traveled to junior and senior nationals on the club circuit, while serving as team captain for two years.

“Emily Porteous is one of the better breaststrokers from the state of Indiana,” Looze said. “She came on strong last summer. She was the first female we had commit to us. That just showed how much she wanted to be an Indiana Hoosier. That meant a lot.”

An All-American from North Central, Porteous has a wide experience base to draw on as a Hoosier. Not only did she lead her squad to three consecutive top-three finishes at state, her team also claimed a trio of sectional and county crowns during her prep career.

“Alyssa Rosinko is one of the top freestylers and butterfliers in the state of Indiana,” Looze said. “She is one of the first swimmers I have signed from Carmel. We are excited to have somebody with that kind of legacy of winning. They have won 19 straight state titles, which is the nation’s longest streak in any sport.”

A nine-time All-American, Rosinko helped Carmel to three state championships during her time at CHS. Additionally, Rosinko won the 100 butterfly state championship in 2005 and swam on the state championship medley relay team in both 2003 and 2004. Meanwhile, Rosinko qualified for nationals in the 100 fly and the U.S. Open in the 50 free and 100 back. On the club level, Rosinko competed at senior and junior nationals for the Washington Township Swim Club. She placed seventh in the 100 fly and fifth in the medley relay at junior nationals.

“Amilee Smith is one of the best breaststrokers in the country,” Looze said. “She is from the Washington, D.C., area and she is going to take care of our breaststroke for years to come. She is an outstanding swimmer and a very good IMer in her own right.”

A member of the Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club, Smith swam at both the 2004 Olympic Trials and the 2005 Senior Nationals.

On the men's side IU has gained Chris Oleksiak (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove), Jensen Ried (Cypress, Texas/Cypress Springs) and Drew Sease (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) who will look to impact Indiana beginning with the 2006-07 campaign.

“Chris Oleksiak is one of the top distance swimmers in the state of Indiana,” Looze said. “He is the returning champion in the 500 freestyle. He has a wonderful amount of potential. He is a big guy. The fact that he is from the state of Indiana again is always important. It is great to get the top kids in the state.”

A six-time high school All-American, Oleksiak earned those certificates in the 200 and 500 freestyle events as well as the 400 freestyle relays. The four-year letterwinner, Oleksiak led Center Grove to three county championships and two sectional titles.

Meanwhile, the defending state 500 free champion garnered all-state recognition in the 200 and 500 free as a junior.

“Jensen Ried is a good distance swimmer out of Houston, Texas,” Looze said. “He is a super kid and is a hard worker. He should blend in nicely with our really good distance group here at IU.”

A freestyle specialist, Ried swam for the ConocoPhillips Splash Club Tour Team as well as FLEET. Meanwhile, Ried claimed an Oklahoma Junior Olympics title as well as sectional and gulf championship crowns. Furthermore, Ried picked up Oklahoma State Freshman of the Year honors.

“Drew Sease is very versatile,” Looze said. “He is also one of the better swimmers in the state of Indiana. He is also a very good butterflier. He is a potential leader as well as one of the hardest workers on his current team. We expect Drew to have an immediate impact as a freshman.”

A 15-time All-American, Sease comes to the Hoosiers with a wealth of swimming experience. The four-time letterwinner paced North Central to state, sectional and conference championships in 2005 as well as an undefeated dual-meet ledger. Furthermore, Sease helped North Central’s 400 freestyle relay to a state title his senior campaign. On the club circuit, Sease swam for Washington Township. During his club competition, his squad picked up the 800 freestyle relay title at Junior Nationals. He also took sixth in the 200 butterfly at the Counsilman Classic in 2005.

The Hoosiers anticipate announcing more signees in the weeks to come. Keep an eye on IUHOOSIERS.com for any developments.

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