Illinois State Signs Four to 2007-08 Class

NORMAL, Illinois, April 25. ILLINOIS State announced the signing of four student-athletes to its 2007-08 class. Ashley Bachler, Lindsay Dinkelman, Corrie Heine and Tina Vande Vusse have signed their National Letters of Intent to become Redbirds

Head coach Steve Paska is looking forward to the versatility and depth the four new recruits will bring to the team.

"We are losing six athletes off our roster, and because of this we have made quality and depth the focus for the new recruits," said Paska. "With this recruiting class, added to the returning roster of swimmers and divers, we have so much potential for the upcoming season."

Bachler is a native of Chicago, Ill., and has spent the last four years swimming sprint freestyle events for Mother McAuley High School. Paska believes Bachler will add a special dimension to the team.

"Ashley is truly a gifted swimmer," Paska said. "Her enthusiasm and passion for the sport of swimming will make for a very bright future and will help contribute to our team success, as well as her own individual success as a student-athlete at Illinois State. She has the value of being dedicated and the desire to succeed."

Dinkelman is coming to Illinois State as a transfer student from Kaskaskia College. She is originally from Irvington, Ill., and attended Centralia High School, where she swam breaststroke and freestyle events. Paska values what Dinkelman will bring to the team.

"Lindsay is a young lady that is dedicated and very committed to the sport, which is a value I cherish in the recruiting process," said Paska. "She's a very hard worker and commits herself to her plan of success, both academically and in the pool. She truly has the values I am looking for in a Redbird student-athlete."

Vande Vusse attended Main West High School in Des Plaines, Ill., and is transferring to Illinois State after a year at Valparaiso. Her specialty events are the 50 and 100 freestyle, along with the 100 butterfly. Paska recognized the optimism Vande Vusse will bring to the team.

"I am really excited to have Tina's optimistic attitude added to our sprint freestyle and butterfly mix," Paska said. "I think she will take her opportunity at Illinois State to become one of our top sprint butterfly swimmers and also be competitive in the freestyle events. I was excited when she made the announcement she was coming to Illinois State, and her past experience in the sprint butterfly and freestyle events is a perfect fit for our program."

Heine resides in Peoria, Ill. and has been recruited from Dunlap High School. While she will be concentrating on diving at Illinois State, Paska knows her background as a tri-athlete in high school will add to her collegiate success.

"Corrie is somewhat of an interesting recruit for Illinois State," Paska said. "In my 22 years of coaching and recruiting, she might be listed as on of, if not the, most gifted athletes we have ever recruited because of her exceptional athletic talent in a number of different sports. She's been a decorated gymnast and is one of the top senior pole-vaulters in Illinois, so with the multi-talents she has, I'm very excited she's chosen the sport of diving. Corrie is obviously a person who loves to compete and those are the type of student-athletes we want in our program."

Special thanks to Illinois State for providing this release.

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