Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Adds Pair to Incoming Freshman Class
5/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
May 8, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Jimmy Tierney announced today (May 8) the addition of two future Wildcats to the incoming 2009-2010 freshman class. Marybeth Hall (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) has signed a National Letter of Intent while Katie McCullough (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) has accepted an offer of admission from the University.
Hall is a junior national, senior national and U.S. Open qualifier who has the potential in compete on the Big Ten stage immediately. She comes from a championship pedigree, having won the league title and qualified for state with her team in all four of her high school seasons.
"We are very excited to grow our 2009 recruiting class with Marybeth Hall," Tierney said. "I think Marybeth is very versatile and has speed in fly, breast and free that will benefit our team. She will also help us out at the Big Ten level in the 200 IM right away. We have no doubt that Marybeth will fit in real well with our team. Her best swimming is still ahead of her so the future is very bright for her and Northwestern Swimming."
McCullough was all-America in a pair of individual and relay events in high school, and finished third with the 200 free relay at the 2008 YMCA National Championships. The three-time all-state honoree was named Zone 5 Swimmer of the Year as a senior.
"We are very pleased to have Katie join our Wildcat Swimming & Diving family," Tierney said. "She seemed like a great fit for us as a talented student and swimmer from the first time we met. Katie has the ability to step right in and compete in the freestyle events, particularly in the 100 and 200 distances, and in sprint breaststroke. We hope she develops to compete on our freestyle relays."
Hall and McCullough join Meaghan Fenn, Meredith King, Felicitas Lenz and Taylor Reynolds in comprising Northwestern's incoming class. Complete bios for Hall and McCullough follow:
Marybeth Hall
Brighton, Mich./Brighton
5-7 • Fly/IM
High School: Five-time NISCA high school all-American ... Six-time all-state recipient in individual events ... Was high school team MVP ... Holds five varsity team records ... High school team qualified for the state meet in all four years of her high school career ... High school won four league championships ... Swam five years for Club Wolverine ... Qualified for the U.S. Open in the 100 fly and 200 IM ... Was a Junior National qualifier in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 breast, 100 fly and 200 IM ... Was Michigan LCM women's high-point champion ... Senior National qualifier ... USA Swimming Scholastic All-American in 2007-08 ... Treasurer of National Honor Society ... Honor roll during all quarters of high school.
Personal: Born Marybeth E. Hall on 6/7/91 ... Daughter of Bethany and Denis Hall ... Chose Northwestern over Stanford, Harvard, and University of Michigan ... Plans pre-medicine studies.
Katie McCullough
Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central
5-6 • Free/Breast
High School: Earned all-conference and all-America honors in all four of her high school seasons ... Was all-state as a freshman, junior and senior ... As a senior, named Zone 5 Swimmer of the Year and first-team all-area ... All-America in the 100 free, 200 free, 200 free relay and 200 medley relay as a senior ... Holds team and pool records in the 200 free ... Won state championships with the 200 free relay in 2005 and the 200 medley relay in 2007 ... Team finished fourth or better in the state in all four of her prep seasons ... Swam club with the RAYS from 2000-09 ... Finished third at the YMCA National Championships in the 200 free relay in 2008 ... Took 15th at the YMCA Long Course National Championships in the 50 breast in 2008 ... National Honor Society member ... Earned High Academic Achievement award and honor roll status from 2006-09.
Personal: Born Katherine Rae McCullough on 6/15/1991 ... Daughter of Neil and Jill McCullough ... Neil McCullough is a 1986 graduate of Northwestern ... Chose Northwestern over Michigan and Washington University in St. Louis ... Plans to major in mathematics.
