Illinois-Chicago Strengthens Recruiting Class

CHICAGO, Illinois, May 2. THE University of Illinois-Chicago has signed five more swimmers to National Letters of Intent. The Flames have added Brian Anderson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East H.S.), Mark Kalafut (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North H.S.), Laurel Heath (Long Grove, Ill./Stevenson H.S.), Kathryn McLeland (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago H.S.) and Patty Wegryznowicz (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township H.S.) to their recruiting class. The swimmers will begin their college careers in the fall.

"This concludes our most successful recruiting class in recent memory," said UIC head coach Paul Moniak. "With this class, we are anxiously anticipating the 2007-08 season."

Kalafut, who swims for the Express Swim Club, owns career-best times of 21.58 in the 50-yard freestyle and 48.10 in the 100 free. He shared eighth place overall in the 50 free finals at the 2007 IHSA State Championships. Tying Kalafut for eighth in the state 50 free finals was Anderson. A competitor for the St. Charles Swim Club, Anderson swam a career-best 21.60 in the 50 free, 47.18 in the 100 free and 1:45.00 in the 200 free.

On the women's side, Heath will join the diving corps after placing 20th overall in the one-meter finals at the 2006 IHSA State Championships. McLeland is a freestyler and butterfly specialist with top times of 1:56.64 in the 200 free, 1:01.35 in the 100 fly and 2:16.50 in the 200 fly. She competes for the West Chicago Swim Club. Wegryznowicz is a backstroke specialist who has also competed in the distance free events. She owns career bests of 1:01.50 in the 100 back and 2:12.56 in the 200 back. Wegryznowicz competes for CATS Aquatics.

The five newest additions join a class already 11-deep prior to their signings. Anderson and Kalafut join men's team signees Evan Dunn (Edmond, Okla./Edmond North H.S.), Thomas Groark (Chicago, Ill./Oak Lawn Community H.S.), Kevin Linsley (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay H.S.), Alex Pawlus (Lake Forest, Ill./Stevenson H.S.), Andrew Schmitt (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South H.S.) and Steve Yemm (Sterling, Ill./Sterling H.S.).

The trio signing with UIC's women's swimming and diving program will be joined by Emily Hare (Homer Glen, Ill./Rosary Academy), Kelly Hashoian (Brookfield, Ill./Arrowhead H.S.), Sonia Peterson (Morton Grove, Ill./Niles North H.S.), Brooke Sawyer (Muskego, Wis./Muskego H.S.) and Julia Shallcross (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago H.S.).

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