Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Signs Seven to National Letters of Intent
12/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Dec. 1, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Jimmy Tierney has announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The group will matriculate to Northwestern in the fall of 2006 and be eligible to compete during the 2006-07 season.
Stacy Congdon (Windermere, Fla./Lake Highland Prep), Mary Beth Francis (San Diego, Calif./Mission Viejo), Jenn Kocsis (Omaha, Neb.Marian), Rachel Rys (Goleta, Calif./Dos Pueblos), Kassia Shishkoff (Raleigh, N.C./St. David's School), Genny Szymanski (Haines, Alaska/Haines) and Emily Wong (Nepean, Ontario/St. Joseph's) comprise a class that truly represents all corners of North America.
"I am extremely excited to announce the signing of seven outstanding young women who may represent one of the deepest and most talented classes in the history of Northwestern's women's swimming and diving," Tierney said. "This group of student-athletes brings a tremendous amount of potential for Northwestern both in the pool and in the classroom. They will help NU reach greater heights in the Big Ten and NCAA in the coming years."
Congdon is a ten-time high school All-American who won a pair of Florida state titles in the 200 and 400 free relays. Tierney is counting on her to add power to the Wildcats' strong butterfly group and strengthen NU's relays.
"Stacy was our first commitment this fall and greatly influenced other girls to join the Wildcat family," Tierney said. "She will contribute right away in the 100-200 fly and in the 50-200 freestyles. I believe she will make others around her better with her infectious enthusiasm and love for the sport."
Francis is a distance freestyler who qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 800 free. She achieved world rankings in the 800 and 1500 free events in 2003.
"Mary Beth really impressed our team on her visit here," Tierney said. "She definitely is a talented distance swimmer who is being groomed by one of the top coaches in the U.S. right now. I am excited to see how fast Mary Beth will develop in the coming years."
Kocsis is a ten-time state champion in Nebraska, and holds the state records in the 200 free and the 200 and 400 free relays. She also is a Junior National and U.S. Open qualifier.
"We are very excited to add someone as talented as Jenn to our program," Tierney said. "She can do some damage for us in the middle-distance and distance freestyle events as well as in the 800 free relay. Jenn is our second big signee from Omaha in the past two years, so needless to say, we love Omaha!"
Rys was a Senior National finalist in the 200 fly and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. She also won the California Division I state title in the 100 fly.
"I really believe Rachel is a perfect match for Northwestern as a student and an athlete," Tierney said. "She seriously considered the Ivy's, but chose us and I know she will blossom here. She is one of the most talented butterflyers in the country to graduate this year. She has overwhelmed us with her enthusiasm about her future school and team ever since signing."
Shishkoff has won six North Carolina state titles, three each in the 200 and 500 free. She holds the state records in both events. Shishkoff placed eighth in the 200 free at the 2005 NCSA Junior Nationals and 12th in the 200 meter free at the 2005 Speedo Junior Nationals.
"Kassia will have an immediate impact on this team in several events," Tierney said. "She will arrive next fall as one of our top middle-distance freestylers. She also will provide depth in the 200 fly. I think she has a lot of potential, especially coming in from a top program that is training her hard and developing a great work ethic in her."
Szymanski holds a number of Alaska state age-group records, including three in the 100 back. She set the 13-14 age-group long and short course 100 back marks and the 15-16 age-group long course 100 record.
"Genny has a very unique background coming from a very small town in Alaska, but will fit right in at Northwestern and the Big Ten with her backstroke prowess," Tierney said. "She has amazing endurance and will continue to gain more speed as her strength develops. Genny will be a great addition to our team."
Wong has experience on the international stage, having competed for the Canadian Junior National Team at several meets. She took bronze in the 50-meter free and silver in the 4x100 and 4x200 free relays at the 2005 Junior Pan Pacific Games, and represented Team Ontario at the 2005 Canada Games where she won two golds and a bronze while setting a pair of meet records.
"Emily is one of Canada's emerging sprint stars," Tierney said. "She has a tremendous amount of speed and will provide us with a great 1-2 punch in the 50-100 free. Our free relays will benefit greatly with the addition of Emily, as well. We hope to help Emily improve her stature as an NCAA athlete and with the Canadian National team."
Following are complete bios for the seven members of Northwestern's Class of 2010:
Stacy Congdon (Windermere, Fla./Lake Highland Prep)
Free/Fly
High School: Two-time state champion in the 200 and 400 free relay ... Ten-time high school All-America honoree ... 2003 and 2004 Scholastic All-American ... Earned team's booster club award in 2002 and MVP honor in 2004 ... Team captain in 2003 and 2005 ... Swam club with Central Florida YMCA Racing ... Member of the National Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and is a National Hispanic Scholar ... Named AP Scholar with distinction ... Named to president's list.
Personal: Born Stacy Congdon on 3/9/88 ... Daughter of Daniel and Rita Congdon.
Mary Beth Francis (San Diego, Calif./Mission Viejo)
Mid-Distance Free
High School: Qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 800 free ... United States Swimming All-America in the 1500 free ... High school All-America in the 500 free ... Academic All-America selection ... Was ranked 51st in the world in the 1500 free and 82nd in the word in the 800 free in 2003 ... Holds the San Pasqual High School records in the 200 and 500 free and the 200 I.M. ... Holds J.V. records in the 200 and 500 free at Mission Viejo High School, where she could not swim varsity due to CIF transfer regulations ... Honor roll all through high school.
Personal: Born Mary Beth Francis on 5/12/88 ... Daughter of Bob and Sally Francis.
Jenn Kocsis (Omaha, Neb./Marian)
Free
High School: Thirteen time high school All-American ... Set the Nebraska state records in the 200 free and the 400 free relay in 2004 ... Earned the Nebraska state record in the 200 free relay in 2003 ... Ten-time Nebraska state champion, winning the 200 free in 2004 and 2005, the 500 free in 2003-05, the 200 free relay in 2003-05 and the 400 free relay in 2004 and 2005 ... State runner-up in the 200 free in 2003 ... Junior National Qualifier in the 200, 400 and 1500 free ... U.S. Open Qualifier in the 200, 400, 1000 and 1500 free ... Team captain from 2004-06 ... USA Swimming Scholastic All-America team selection in 2003-04 and 2004-05 ... National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society member ... Member of Mu Alpha Theta ... Earned school's First Honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
Personal: Born Jenn Kocsis on 5/3/88 ... Daughter of John and Mary Kocsis.
Rachel Rys (Goleta, Calif./Dos Pueblos)
Fly
High School: Three-time first-team All-America swimmer ... U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 fly ... Senior National qualifier in the 100 and 200 fly ... Undefeated in Channel League competition at Dos Pueblos High School in California ... CIF-SS Division I state champion in the 100 fly ... 2004 Senior National finalist in the 200 fly, finishing eighth ... Santa Barbara Athlete of the Year for swimming ... Santa Barbara Athlete of the Week ... High school team's MVP and captain for two years ... National Merit Commended Scholar ... National Honor Society member ... California Scholarship Federation member ... Member of the Academic Team Championship, honored for having the highest GPA in the CIF ... Goleta Teen of the Year nominee.
Personal: Born Rachel Ann Rys on 12/5/87 ... Daughter of Mike and Judy Rys.
Kassia Shishkoff (Raleigh, N.C./St. David's School)
Mid-Distance Free
High School: Three-time North Carolina state champion in both the 200 and 500 free ... State and school record holder in those events ... North Carolina state all-star for three years ... Fastest 200 yard and meter freestyler in North Carolina in 2004 and 2005 ... Placed eighth in the 200 free at the 2005 NCSA Junior Nationals ... Placed 12th in the 200 meter free at the 2005 Speedo Junior Nationals ... Scholastic All-America team honoree in 2003-04 and 2004-05 ... National Honor Society member.
Personal: Born Kassia Shishkoff on 9/3/88 ... Daughter of Alex and Liz Shishkoff.
Genny Szymanski (Haines, Alaska/Haines)
Back
High School: Alaska state record holder in the 13-14 age group long course 100 back and short course 100 and 200 back ... Also holds the Alaska state record in the 15-16 age group long course 100 back ... 2004 and 2005 Scholastic All-American ... Alaska Scholars Award honoree.
Personal: Born Genny Szymanski on 9/28/88 ... Daughter of Jim and Randa Szymanski.
Emily Wong (Nepean, Ontario/St. Joseph's)
Free
High School: Member of the Canadian Junior National team competing at the 2005 Junior Pan Pacific Championships ... Took bronze in the 50-meter free and silver in the 4x100 and 4x200 free relays ... Represented Team Ontario at the 2005 Canada Games, earning bronze in the 100 free and taking gold with the 4x100 and 4x200 free relays ... The relay times at the meet set Canada Games records ... Team Ontario traveled to San Antonio, Texas for the U.S. Open and to Quebec for Canada's Tri Meet ... Named Ottawa Swimmer of the Year in 2004 ... Finished fifth in 100 free at the World Championships trials in Montreal in 2005 ... Qualified for the Canadian Junior National Team traveling to Australia for the Youth/Junior Olympics in January of 2006 ... Participated in National Team sprint training camp in Montreal in September of 2005 ... Honor roll member all throughout high school ... Social Science award in 2005.
Personal: Born Emily Wong on 6/20/88 ... Daughter of Bill Wong and Patrice Flanagan.
