Lewis University Inks Huge Class of 18

ROMEOVILLE, Illinois, May 8. LEWIS University announced the signing of 18 swimmers for the 2007-08 incoming class. In addition to the early signings of Alexandra Henges, Evan Childers and Luke Pavlakovich, six men and eight women signed a National Letter of Intent this spring to join the class of 2011. The men's team will also welcome a transfer to the class of 2010.

"This is a very significant accomplishment for our program and Lewis University," said head coach Stephen Thompson. "We enjoyed a lot of support on campus to bring in these student athletes. I am particularly grateful to the admissions office, the Lewis University faculty, and the athletics staff for the interest they took in our recruits. Of course, our swimmers have also done an outstanding job representing Lewis University, and I am proud of the efforts they have made to improve our program. Coming in, these young men and women have a great impression of our community, and I am confident they understand their role at Lewis University as student athletes."

The Flyers' 18 recruits come to Lewis from 11 states.

For the men, Evan Childers (Bloomington, Ind.), Kevin Coates (Louisville, Ky.), Arty Czarobski (Lansing, Ill.), Tom Fitzgerald (Prospect, Ky.), AJ Gebhardt (McKinney, Texas), Trent Mason (Charlotte, N.C.), Luke Pavlakovich (Aurora, Colo.) and Allan Sliva (Grand Rapids, Mich.) have signed a National Letter of Intent to join the class of 2011. Aaron Olszeski (Houston, Texas) will be a part of the class of 2010, after transferring from Principia College in Missouri.

On the women's side, Genny Aamoth (Moorpark, Calif.), Ruth Bass (Chesterton, Ind.), Carrie Borgstede (Colleyville, Texas), Sarah Griffith (Rockford, Ill.), Stephanie Halcomb (Springfield, Mo.), Allie Henges (Cincinnati, Ohio), Deirdre Mikolajcik (Wichita, Kan.), Kayla Muir (Watertown, Wis.), and Margaret O'Leary (Libertyville, Ill.) have signed a National Letter of Intent as members of the class of 2011.

"I am excited that we have been able to attract so many quality swimmers to our program who have strong backgrounds competing with some of the best teams in USA Swimming," said Thompson. "This talented group represents our future potential at the GLIAC and NCAA Division II championships."

Aamoth is a member of Conejo Simi Aquatics, a USA Swimming Bronze Medal club. At CSA, she is coached by Mark Temple. She is primarily a middle distance freestyle, but she also swims the butterfly. At La Reina High School, she has been a four-year letterman, and she has helped the team to two consecutive Division IV CIF championships.

"Genny will compete well with our senior captain, Jackie Olivares, junior, Andrea Freisleben, and sophomore, Amanda Everson, and they will give us depth in the middle distance free," said Thompson. "I am also looking forward to seeing her together with our other recruits, Margaret O'Leary and Sarah Griffith to challenge our junior captain, Tracey Kueltzo in the 100 fly. As a member of a two time state championship team, Genny will bring a positive attitude to our program."

Bass, a distance swimmer, is a member of USA Swimming at the Duneland Swim Club where she was coached by Jim Voss. She is also a member of the Chesterton High School varsity swim team coached by Kevin Kinel. She plans on majoring in elementary education.

"Ruth has the potential to be one of the top distance swimmers at the GLIAC championships," said Thompson. "She has the ideal mindset for the distance events, and she is great for our program. I will put Ruth in with our men during practices, and I am excited to see how she responds to the challenge."

Borgstede swims for Pete Salvan at the Grapevine Colleyville Aquatic Team. She also is a multiple school-record holder and high school All-America swimmer at Grapevine High School where she was coached by Phil Bingenheimer. As a member of GCAT, she has participated in elite level meets such as the American Short Course Championships, the Kerr McGee Grand Prix, and USA Swimming Southern Sectionals. Carrie has a 4.59 GPA, and she plans to major in exercise science.

"Carrie will come is as one of the top sprinters in the GLIAC," said Thompson. "She has posted times which are already faster than the NCAA "B" standard, and she will challenge our school records in the 50, 100 and 200 free immediately. Not only is she talented, but she is a very conscientious student athlete who will significantly and positively improve our program."

Griffith is a member of the Rockford Marlins Swim Club, and she attends Boylan Catholic High School. With the Marlins, she is coached by Jeff Frydenlund, and she has competed in the USA Swimming Central Sectionals, as well as the Illinois Senior State Meet. She is a part of the 200 and 400 medley relay records at Boylan Catholic, and she also earned NIC-9 All Conference while swimming for Christy Kowalski. During her four year high school career, Griffith helped Boylan Catholic earn their first ever Conference and Sectional Championships in school history. Griffith has 3.3 GPA, and she is undecided about her major.

"Sarah should challenge sophomore Amanda Everson and junior captain Tracey Kueltzo in the 200 fly," said Thompson. "I am also impressed with how much Boylan Catholic improved during her four years and with her contributions. I am looking forward to her having the same effect on our program."

At Ozark High School, Halcomb became the first Missouri State qualifier in school history while swimming for Dave Collins. She is the school record holder in the 50, 100 and 200 free, the 100 fly and the 200 I-M. Halcomb also is a member of all four of the relay records. She swam for the 2007 NCAA Division II Women's Swimming Coach of the Year, Brian Reynolds (Drury University) as a member of Springfield Aquatics. Halcomb has a 3.7 GPA, and she will major in aviation administration.

"Stephanie reminds me a lot of sophomore Nicole Marano with her raw talent," said Thompson. "I am excited to challenge her and freshman Carrie Borgstede to improve our sprint freestyle events and relay teams at the GLIAC championships."

Henges joins the Flyers after a successful career with the Cincinnati Marlins, a USA Swimming Gold Medal team. She also competed for her high school team at Purcell Marian. As a Marlin, Henges was coached by Brent Ransom and Head Coach Chris Wolford. She qualified for the USA Swimming/Speedo Champion Series and she was part of the Marlins combined team championship last summer. During her high school career, Henges is a four time state qualifier earning all-state each year. She also holds the Purcell Marian team records in the 100 and 200 freestyle as well as the 100 butterfly and backstroke, and she is a member of the 200 and 400 free and 200 medley relay records. Henges has a 4.29 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. Allie plans on majoring in international business.

"Signing Allie during the early signing period was outstanding for our recruiting during the second semester," said Thompson. "She is a versatile swimmer who can compete in any number of events at the GLIAC and NCAA Championships, and her presence helped us to attract other top recruits to Lewis."

Mikolajcik is another swimmer who comes to Lewis via a USA Swimming Gold Medal Club, the Wichita Swim Club. At WSC, she was coached by Eric Nelson where she earned multiple USA Swimming Central Sectional time standards. At Derby High School, Mikolajcik was coached by Terri Lemos, and she was a state finalist all four years. She has a 4.0 GPA, and she will major in English.

Muir is coached by Dave Joyce at the Oconomowoc YMCA Piranhas and Mark Kruse at Watertown High School. She has earned USA Swimming Top 16 time standards, as well as qualified for the YMCA Swimming and Diving National Championships, USA Swimming Central Sectionals, and the Wisconsin Zone Team. At Watertown High School, Muir is the school record holder in the 100 back and the 200 medley relay. She was also an All-State Honorable Mention selection during her senior year. She has a 3.5 GPA and she is going to major in pre-physical therapy.

"Deirdre and Kayla will compete immediately in the backstroke events at the top of the GLIAC," said Thompson. "They should also push each other to challenge the NCAA time standards during their career at Lewis. Both of these athletes will bring a tremendous work ethic and energy to our training, and they are conscientious students who excel in the classroom as well. Both of these student athletes will have a positive influence on the Lewis University community."

O'Leary is a member of the Lake Forest Swim Club, a Bronze Medal USA Swimming team, and she swims for coach Maureen Sheehan. O'Leary is an Illinois Senior State Championship qualifier. At Libertyville High School, O'Leary was coached by Maggie Castleyn and was named the most improved swimmer. O'Leary will major in elementary/special education.

"Margaret and men's recruit, Luke Pavlakovich are perfect swimmers for our team," said Thompson. "They both enjoy the mission of Lewis University, and they are proud to be a part of our community. Margaret has also been a part of one of the best USA Swimming teams in Illinois, and I am confident she has developed a great base to improve from in our program."

Childers is a member of the USA Swimming Counsilman Center Indiana Swim Team located at Indiana University where he qualified for the Indiana Senior State Championships. Childers began swimming four years ago for Bloomington South High School, and he was named the MVP his freshman, junior, and senior years. He served as captain his junior and senior years. During his senior season, Childers was the conference champion and state qualifier in the 50 and 100 free, as well as the 200 and 400 free relays. Childers has a 3.5 GPA, and he plans on majoring in history.

"I am excited because when Evan came to campus for his official visit, our swimmers immediately took to him," said Thompson. "He has only been swimming for four years, but he has gained great experience swimming in the shadows of the Indiana University program"

Coates swims for Mike DeBoor at Lakeside Seahawks, a USA Swimming Gold Medal team. He is also the 500 freestyle school record holder and Most Valuable Swimmer at Ballard High School coached by Kelly Lewis. Coates is a US Open and USA Swimming Junior National qualifier in the distance freestyle. He is also the three-time Kentucky Long Course State Champion in the 1500 freestyle. Coates will major in TV/radio production at Lewis.

"Kevin, sophomore Jared Zimmer, and senior captain Adam Brown will give us one of the strongest distance freestyle groups in NCAA Division II," said Thompson. "Kevin has already posted NCAA "B" times which would have placed him in the top eight along with Jared and Adam. I am looking forward to the intensity of training from this group along with sophomore Jason Ament."

Czarobski is coached by his father, Art at the Lansing Swim Organization. He is coached by Chris Simich and Mandy Burns at Thorton Fractional South. Czarobski is the school record holder in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 and 400 free relays, and he qualified for the IHSA championships. He has a 3.08 GPA, and will major in psychology.

Fitzgerald is a teammate of Kevin Coates at the Lakeside Seahawks, where he also is coached by Mike DeBoor. Fitzgerald is the Kentucky Short Course State Champion in the 200 breaststroke, and he has qualified for the USA Swimming Southern Sectional championships. He attends North Oldham High School and he is the school record holder in the 100 breaststroke. Coach Mike Heuke named Fitzgerald the team MVP and team captain during the past two seasons. He will major in writing and computer science.

"Arty and Tom, along with Luke Pavlakovich, Aaron Olszeski, and sophomore Aidan Murphy will combine to give us one of the strongest breaststroke groups at the GLIAC championships," said Thompson. "Tom has already posted times faster than our school record in the 200 breast, while he and Luke have also been under the 100 time."

Gebhardt swims for Brent Mitchell at Metroplex Aquatics. Gebhardt is also the co-captain of the McKinney High School varsity team, and he qualified for the State UIL Championships. Gebhardt is member of the National Honor Society, and he has earned academic excellence awards every year in high school. He plans on majoring in aviation flight management.

Mason is the fifth Lewis University recruit to compete with a USA Swimming Gold Medal team at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club. At MAC, Mason earned USA Swimming Southern Sectional and NC Senior State time standards training under Dave Fatzinger. Mason also swims for Robert Savino at the Providence Day School. Mason earned a 3.5 GPA in high school, and is undecided on his major.

"Trent and AJ both have enjoyed training in an elite environment," said Thompson. "I am looking for them to improve our depth in the 400 I-M along with Aaron Olszeski."

Pavlakovich is a member of the Regis Jesuit High School varsity swim team which has won twelve consecutive Colorado state high school championships. Pavlakovich has qualified for state each of his four years, earning all-state and All-America recognition. He also was elected captain his senior year. Pavlakovich has a 3.95 GPA, and he has earned USA Swimming Academic All-America status. He will major in theology at Lewis.

Sliva swims for the Grand Rapids Rays YMCA and Forest Hills Central swim teams. As a senior, Sliva helped lead his high school team to a fourth place finish at the Michigan High School Division I championships. He is planning on majoring in athletic training.

"Allan and Luke Pavlakovich are athletic kids who will benefit our sprint program,"aid Thompson. "They both played multiple sports, and I think they should excel by committing to swimming year round. I am looking forward to being more aggressive with our sprint group, including Evan Childers and junior captain Greg Marx."

Olszeski joins the men's team as a transfer from Principia College in Missouri. He and his twin brother, current Flyer swimmer Adam, trained with former world ranked swimmer Jarrod Marrs in Houston.

"Adam has been a positive addition to our team, and it is not very often you are able to get a genetic match of one of your best athletes," said Thompson. "Aaron will compete with his brother in the IM and middle distance freestyle, and he will also help to significantly improve our breaststroke group."

Special thanks to Lewis University for contributing this report.

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