Tomazin, Kozak Earn IWU Swim Honors

April 26, 2007

Mike Kozak Angie Tomazin

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Sophomore Angie Tomazin and freshman Mike Kozak have been named “Most Valuable Swimmers” for the Illinois Wesleyan women’s and men’s teams, respectively.

Tomazin (Warrenville, Ill., Wheaton Warrenville South HS) finished sixth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet in both the 100 and 200 backstroke events and swam a leg on the second place 400 and 800 relay teams. Despite limited practices early in the year due to a sprained ankle on one leg and a stress fracture in her other foot, Tomazin turned in the team’s best time of 2:22.35 in the 200 individual medley and was CCIW “Swimmer of the Week” once.

Kozak (Aurora, Ill., Waubonsie Valley HS) set a school record in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:54.17 when he finished second in the CCIW meet and also earned all-CCIW honors with a third place finish in the 100 butterfly and swimming on the third place 200 free, 400 free and 400 medley relay teams.

In other team honors. senior Sarah Lewis (Deer Park, Ill., Barrington HS) and sophomore Jeff McCortney (Park Ridge, Maine South HS) earned the "Most Improved" swimmer awards for the women’s and men's squads, respectively.

In addition to Kozak, other all-conference male swimmers were juniors Ben Rock (Dunlap, Ill., Illinois Valley Central HS) and Larry Graves (Downers Grove, Ill., North HS), and freshman Chris Betzle (East Moline, Ill., United Township HS).

Rock earned a second place finish in the 100 breaststroke and got third in the 200 breaststroke while Graves was third in both the 500 and 1650 free and fifth in the 200 free. Betzle swam to fourth place finishes in the 500 free and 400 individual medley.

All-conference women swimmers were seniors Jessica Hohl (Winfield, Ill., Wheaton North HS) and Erin Storck (Melrose Park, Ill., West Leyden HS) and junior Anne Kopf (Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich., North HS).

Hohl got second in both the 100 and 200 free events, Storck was third in the 1650 free and fourth in the 500 free, while Kopf placed fourth in the 200 free, fifth in the 50 free and sixth in the 100 free. Hohl and Kopf also teamed with Tomazin on three top three relay teams.

The Titan teams both finished third in the conference championships.

Storck was chosen as a captain of the 2006-07 women’s team along with seniors Jenifer Becker (Petersburg, Porta HS) and Taissa Boyko (Brookfield, Ill., Riverside Brookfield HS).

Head coach Teresa Fish awarded letters to 25 swimmers. They are (with hometowns, high schools):

Illinois Wesleyan Women (12)

SENIORS - Jenifer Becker, Petersburg (Porta HS); Taissa Boyko, Brookfield, Ill. (Riverside Brookfield HS); Jessica Hohl, Winfield, Ill. (Wheaton North HS); Sarah Lewis, Erin Storck Melrose Park, Ill. (West Leyden HS); Sandra Tobik, Manchester, Mo. (Parkway West HS)
JUNIORS - Anne Kopf, Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich. (North HS); Kerry Sindewald, Orland Park, Ill. (Sandburg HS)
SOPHOMORES - Nicole Litzner, Rosemount, Minn., (Eastview HS); Samantha Sebastian, Crystal Lake, Ill. (South HS); Angie Tomazin, Warrenville, Ill. (Wheaton Warrenville South HS)
FRESHMAN - Carlie Mangieri. Galesburg, Ill. (HS)

Illinois Wesleyan Men (13)

SENIOR - Dan O’Keefe, Springfield, Ill. (HS)
JUNIORS - Larry Graves, Downers Grove, Ill. (North HS); Ben Rock, Dunlap, Ill. (Illinois Valley Central HS)
SOPHOMORES - Zac Birch, Des Plaines, Ill. (Maine West HS); Brian Lubek, Justice, Ill. (Argo HS); Jeff McCortney, Park Ridge, Ill. (Maine South HS)
FRESHMEN - Chris Betzle, East Moline, Ill. (United Township HS); Brian Busch, East Moline, Ill. (United Township HS); Kevin Kalafut, Downers Grove, Ill. (North HS); Michael Kozak, Aurora, Ill. (Waubonsie Valley HS); Oliver Smidt, Wheeling, Ill. (HS); Matt Swanstrom, Naperville, Ill. (Waubonsie Valley HS); Ben Um, Northbrook, Ill. (Glenbrook North HS)

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206