May 20, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern Women's Swimming and Diving Head Coach Jimmy Tierney rounded out his 2002-03 recruiting class with the addition of three more swimmers. Janell Brodrick (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Canterbury), Amy Mueller (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough) and Marijana Surkovic (Dubrovnik, Croatia) committed to NU during the spring signing period and will join the Wildcats in the pool this fall.
"I am very pleased with the final signings for the class of 2006," said Tierney. "We definitely improved our team with the addition of these three women."
Brodrick is a two-time Indiana Senior State Champion in the 200 fly. Her best time in the event is 2:02.01. Brodrick's fastest time in the 100 fly is 57.62. She may also compete in the 500 free where she has swum a 5:02.86. Brodrick swims for the Ft. Wayne Aquatics club team.
"Janell has made significant strides this past year in the 100 and 200 butterfly," said Tierney. "She will help us continue our great butterfly tradition at NU, especially with the graduation of Merritt Adams. I believe Janell is talented enough to help us at our conference meet her freshman year and hopefully shoot for the NCAA level as she gets stronger and gains more experience."
Mueller was named the 1999 and 2000 Florida Swimming Swimmer of the Year. She will assist NU in the distance events. Her top times include 4:56.07 in the 500 free and 16:57.81 in the 1,650. Mueller also swims for the Carrollwood Village Swim Team.
"I am excited about the future of Amy Mueller, said Tierney. "I believe she has her best swimming in front of her. Amy will be able to train and gain experience with our strong distance group to eventually become a factor at the Big Ten Championships."
Sprint freestyler Surkovic will be the third active Wildcat athlete to hail from Croatia-men's basketball boasts the other two. At 16, Surkovic competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney as the youngest female member of the Croatian team. She is a three-time Dubrovnik Sports Woman of the Year award recipient. At the 2000 Junior European Championships, Surkovic placed seventh in the 50 free. Her top times, all of which were swum in short-course meter pools, include 26.10 in the 50 free and 57.77 in the 100.
"Marijana will immediately help us in the sprint freestyles, especially the relays, and possibly sprint butterfly," said Tierney. "She also has some international experience, which will give her confidence racing at the Big Ten and NCAA levels."