Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Signs Four to National Letters of Intent
11/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 21, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Jimmy Tierney today announced the signing of four future Wildcats from the Class of 2011 to National Letters of Intent. Katie Eschenburg (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead), Liza Engstrom (Reno, Nev./Robert McQueen), Alex Kraus (Birmingham, Ala./Vestavia Hills) and Sylvia Zaich (Irvine, Calif./St. Margaret's Episcopal) comprise the class that will matriculate to Northwestern in the fall of 2007.
"We are thrilled with the young women who will become a part of our Wildcat swimming and diving family next year," Tierney said. "They all are very classy individuals who will represent the University and our program well in the coming years. We do not graduate any swimmers this year so this group will just complement an already talented team."
Eschenburg won four-straight state team titles in Wisconsin, earning five individual medals in the state meet. She also holds a national record in the 200 medley relay.
"Katie locked in on NU early in the fall and committed right after returning from our campus, much to our delight," Tierney said. "She is a very talented sprint flyer and backstroker who will play a key role on relays as well as in her individual events. She is used to big time performances coming from powerhouse Arrowhead High School in Homestead, Wis., and will bring that experience to the 'Cats."
Engstrom is a high school All-American in the 100 back, having won the Nevada state title in both that event and the 50 free. Her team finished second in the state during her freshman and sophomore seasons.
"Liza is one of the country's leading high school backstrokers," Tierney said. "Her family visited campus this summer and really felt at home here. She will be a great fit and will make an immediate impact in the 100 and 200 backstroke. I truly believe Liza will develop into one of the top backstrokers in the Big Ten."
Kraus is a U.S. Open qualifier in both back and fly events, and is a USA Scholastic All-American. She has earned five-career medals at the Alabama state meet.
"Alex comes from a very strong Birmingham Swim League team under veteran coach Ben Davis," Tierney said. "She has great sprinting ability in the butterfly and should only get better in the coming years. She'll fit right in with our girls and will help give us a great butterfly group for the next few years."
Zaich is a California CIF champion in the 100 breast, and holds five different school records. A National Merit Commended Scholar, she also is an NCSA and USA Swimming sectional qualifier in both breast and individual medley events.
"We are very excited to add Sylvia to our already strong breaststroke group," Tierney said. "Her best swimming still is ahead of her, and she has the potential to contribute right away and score at Big Ten's."
Following are complete bios for the Northwestern Class of 2011:
Katie Eschenburg
Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead
5-10 • Fly
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Arrowhead High School ... Captain of the swim team during senior year ... High school All-American ... National record holder in the 200 medley relay ... Member of four-consecutive state champion women's swim teams ... Member of 400-freestyle 2006 state champion relay team ... Second-place in 100 backstroke and third-place in 100 butterfly at 2005 and 2006 state championships ... Third-place in 100 yard butterfly at 2004 state championship ... Swam with the Lake Country Swim Team for eight seasons, setting a national record in the 200-meter free relay.
Personal: Born Katherine Jane Eschenburg on 8/10/89 ... Daughter of Larry and Chris Eschenburg ... Sister swam for South Carolina ... Chose Northwestern over Purdue ... Major at Northwestern is undecided.
Liza Engstrom
Reno, Nev./Robert McQueen
5-7 • Back/Free
High School: Won the Nevada state title in the 100 back and the 50 free, setting a zone record in the 50 free ... All-America in the 100 back and named team's most valuable swimmer in 2006 ... High school team place second in the state in her freshman and sophomore years.
Personal: Born on Elizabeth Hall Engstrom on 12/19/88 ... Daughter of Kris and Larry Engstrom.
Alex Kraus
Birmingham, Ala./Vestavia Hills
5-3 • Back/Fly
High School: USA Scholastic All-American ... U.S. Open qualifier in the 100 fly and junior national qualifier in the 100 back and 200 fly ... Birmingham News Scholar Athlete of the Week ... Third-place at 2003 state meet in 100 butterfly and 200 IM ... Second-place finishes at 100 butterfly and 200 IM in 2004 state meet ... Third-place in the 100 butterfly and 4th-place in the 200 IM at 2005 state meet ... Member of the Latin Honor Society and National Honor Society ... Honor roll honoree all four years of high school.
Personal: Born Alexandria Clare Kraus on 2/24/89 ... Daughter of Thomas and Barbara Kraus ... Father was a place-kicker on the Miami (Ohio) football team when former Northwestern head coach Randy Walker was a graduate assistant there ... Chose Northwestern over North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and Notre Dame ... Major is undecided.
Sylvia Zaich
Irvine, Calif./St. Margaret's Episcopal
5-8 • Breast/Fly
High School: 2004 CIF champion in the 100 breast ... 2005 Academy League champion in the 100 breast and 100 fly ... First-team All-League in the 200 medley relay, 400 free relay, 100 breast and 100 fly ... High school won the 2006 Academy League Championship ... Was a CIF Southern Section qualifier in all events ... School record holder in the 200 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay, 100 breast and 100 fly ... NCSA junior qualifier in the 100 and 200 breast ... USA Swimming sectional qualifier in the 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM ... Headmaster honor roll all four years of school ... National Honor Society member ... National Merit Commended Scholar ... USA Swimming Scholastic All-American ... AP Scholar.
Personal: Born Sylvia Pauline Zaich on 7/8/88 ... Daughter of Jon and Anna Zaich ... Brother Paul swims at Stanford ... Father played rugby and wrestled at UCLA ... Completed level 10 California Certificate of Merit for the piano ... Paints abstract art ... Chose Northwestern over Stanford, Michigan, Yale, Indiana, Harvard, Princeton and UCLA ... Plans to major in journalism and political science.
