Northern Michigan Opens 2021 Recruiting With Trio of Verbals from Zoe DeKievit, Ella Houwers, Faith Sill

Photo Courtesy: Northern Michigan Athletics

NEW COMMITS: Northern Michigan University has officially begun their class of 2025 recruiting after receiving a trio of verbal commitments from in-state standout Zoe DeKievit of Holland, Mich. as well as Wisconsin natives Ella Houwers (Whitewater, Wisc.) and Faith Sill (Belot, Wisc.).

ZOE DeKIEVIT

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“I am super excited to announce my verbal commitment to Northern Michigan University! I am so thankful for my family, friends, teammates, and coaches who have helped me get to this point! Go Cats!”

Primarily a breaststroker, DeKievit swims year-round with West Michigan Swimmers and most recently registered four top-20 finishes at the Red Junior Olympic Championships. Last summer, she earned 100% best times at the Michigan LCM Open Championships where her highest finish was a fourth-place showing in the 200m breast.

Her best times include:

100 breast – 1:06.19
200 breast – 2:21.69
50 free – 24.85

Also competing for Holland Christian High School, DeKievit is a three-time Michigan DIII State Championship finalist. She placed seventh in the 100 breast and ninth in the 100 fly as a junior while taking second in the 100 breast and 12th in the 200 IM during her sophomore season.

ELLA HOUWERS

Photo Courtesy: Ella Houwers via CollegeSwimming

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“I’m so thrilled to announce my commitment to swim and study at Northern Michigan University! I fell in love with campus, coaches and the team and I’m so excited to be a wildcat!”

Also a talented breaststroker, Houwers does her club swimming with J-Hawk Aquatic Club and finaled in two events at Wisconsin 13&O States in March after competing at NCSAs in 2019. She raced to eighth place in the 100m breast at Wisconsin LCM States last summer before going on to notch three best times at NCSAs.

Her best times include:

50 breast – 30.92
100 breast – 1:05.07
200 breast – 2:20.82
200 IM – 2:06.63

While representing Whitewater High School, Houwers is a six-time Wisconsin DII State Championship finalist. She won the 100 breast and was the runner-up in the 200 IM as a junior while taking first and third, respectively, in those events in her sophomore campaign.

FAITH SILL

Photo Courtesy: Faith Sill

She told Swimming World:

“I am so excited to be heading NORTHERN for my next step! The Wildcat team is a group of young men and women that I cannot wait to join! Go Cats!”

Sill trains year-round with Green County YMCA and is a successful backstroker who finished fourth in the 200 back and seventh in the 100 back at Wisconsin 13&O States three months ago. She had a strong showing at the Wisconsin LCM 13&O Championships last summer where she took fourth in the 200m back and tenth in the 100m back. She is also a rising senior at Beloit Memorial High School.

Her best times include:

50 back – 26.50
100 back – 56.29
200 back – 2:01.73

Under head coach Heidi Voigt, the Wildcats won their seventh GLIAC Championship title in school history and their first since 2002.

If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.

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