May 25, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern has added seven members to its incoming Class of 2011, bringing the total size of its recruiting class for next season to 11. Ellen Grigg (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School), Teisha Lightbourne (Nassau, Bahamas/Peddie School (N.J.)), Caitlin Masney (Hong Kong, China/Chinese International School) and Erin Reilly (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) all have signed National Letters of Intent, while Kiersten Cooley (Hershey, Pa./Hershey), Kate Stephensen (Davis, Calif./Davis Senior High) and Caroline Walls (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino) all have accepted offers of admission to the University.
"We are extremely excited to have added seven quality young women to our freshman class for the 2007-08 season," head coach Jimmy Tierney said. "These student-athletes represent just what NU is all about: high intelligence, great work ethic and commitment to success. This is one of our deepest classes ever and has great potential to add to our future success at the NCAA and Big Ten level."
Northwestern announced the signing of the first four members of the class to LOI's in November, and adds depth and talent to that group with this spring's additions. Collegeswimming.com named this year's Northwestern class one to "keep an eye on."
"This spring we have strengthened our distance group, particularly with the addition of Ellen Grigg, who can immediately impact our already talented distance trio from last year," Tierney said. "I also believe that we will realize benefits in our sprint group in the coming years, especially with Teisha Lightbourne, from the powerhouse Peddie School, and Erin Reilly, a hidden talent from this area.
"This group will leave it's mark on NU swimming around the country. We are anxious to begin the 2007-08 season with this eager group and our outstanding group of returnees."
Representing five different states and three countries, the additional seven members of the 2007-08 freshman class certainly have the ability to leave their marks not only across the nation, but internationally as well. Both Masney (from Hong Kong) and Lightbourne (from the Bahamas) already have international swimming experience.
Following are complete bios for Northwestern's spring additions to the Class of 2011:
Kiersten Cooley
5-6 Distance Free
Hershey, Pa./Hershey
High School: All-American with the 200 medley relay in 2005-06 ... Swam on the state champion medley relay in 2005-06 ... Team won state title in both of those years ... All-State consideration times in the 100 fly and 500 free ... Swam 11 years with the Hershey Aquatic Club, winning the league title numerous times ... Distinguished Honor Roll all four years of high school ... National Honor Society member ... Academic All-American.
Personal: Born Kiersten Marie Cooley on 10/25/88 ... Daughter of Mark and Judy Cooley ... Chose Northwestern over Emory, Georgetown and Boston College ... Plans to major in journalism.
Ellen Grigg
5-8 Mid-Distance/Distance Free
Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School
High School: Four-year varsity letter winner at Charlotte Latin School... Captain of swim team in senior year... All-State and All-Conference in all four years of high school... Named All-American in freshman and senior years... Charlotte Weekly's 2007 Swimmer of the Year... Team won Charlotte Independent School Athletic Association (CISAA) conference championships from 2004-2007... Member of New South Swimming club team... Member of Cum Laude Society and National Junior Classical League Latin Honor Society.
Personal: Born Ellen Louise Grigg on 9/11/89 ... Daughter of Amy Grigg and John Grigg... Chose Northwestern over Duke, Dartmouth, Williams and Georgetown... Plans to major in history.
Teisha Lightbourne
5-10 Sprint Free
Nassau, Bahamas/Peddie School (N.J.)
High School: Swam internationally for the Bahamas ... Senior captain of the Bahamas Swimming national team in 2006 and 2007 ... Qualified for the Pan-Am Games at the age of 14 ... competed in the CARIFTA Swimming Championships from 2002-2007 ... Competed in the CISC Swimming Championships in 2002, 2004 and 2006 ... Competed in the CCCAN Swimming Championships in 2003 and 2005 ... Represented the Bahamas at the CAC Games and U.S. Open in 2006 ... Swam for the St. Andrews School of the Bahamas through 12th grade ... Swam for the Peddie School as a post-graduate student ... Holds the 200 IM relay and 200 free relay national prep-school records ... Team won the Eastern Interscholastic Championships and the High School MAPL (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) meet ... Swam club for the Peddie Aquatics Association ... Team came in second at the 2007 Speedo Champions Series ... Prefect, Honor Student and on the Principal's List at the St. Andrews School of the Bahamas.
Personal: Born Teisha Gabrielle Lightbourne on February 6, 1989 ... Daughter of Dr. Jerome and Natasha Lightbourne ... Chose Northwestern over Emory University, Amherst College and Indiana University ... Anticipated major is biology.
Caitlin Masney
5-11 Sprint Free
Hong Kong, China/Chinese International School
High School: Four-year varsity swimmer ... Captain of the swim team ... Two-time MVP of the swim team ... British National qualifier ... Swam club for the Hong Kong Mantas in the South China Athletic Association ... High school letterwinner in several other sports including tennis, cross country, netball and soccer.
Personal: Born Caitlin Devon Bertine Masney on 2/3/89 ... Daughter of Tom and Lark Masney ... Major is undecided.
Erin Reilly
5-8 Sprint Free
Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East
High School: Four-year varsity letter winner in swimming and water polo ... Holds seven of the 10 fastest times in high school's history in 50 free, five of the 10 fastest in the 100 free and six of the 10 fastest in the 100 back ... Four-year Sectional champion in the 50 free ... All-conference and all-sectional selection all four years ... Two-time All-State honoree ... Placed ninth (2005) and sixth (2006) in the 50 free at the state championships ... Swam club for Lincoln-Way Swim Association (LWSA) ... Two-time Illinois senior state champion in the 50 free ... Central Zone/Speedo Sectional qualifier ... U.S. Open qualifier ... Illinois Mid-State All-Star Team selection ... LWSA High School Swimmer of the Year ... High Honor Roll ... National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society member ... Illinois State Scholar ... PSAE All-Star.
Personal: Born Erin Kathleen Reilly on 12/7/88 ... Daughter of John and Diane Reilly ... Chose Northwestern over Boston College, Indiana, Illinois and Emory.
Kate Stephensen
5-7 Free
Davis, Calif./Davis Senior High
High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner in swimming ... 2004 Davis High Swim Team MVP ... Team won Sectional championship from 2004-2006 ... Swam club for the Davis Aquadarts ... Named Aquadart of the Month ... National Honor Society co-President ... California Scholarship Federation.
Personal: Born Kate Andrup Stephensen on 8/3/89 ... Daughter of Kim Andrup and Charles Stephensen ... Plans to double major in archaeology and history.
Caroline Walls
5-7 Distance Free
Tucson, Ariz./Sabino
High School: Four-year varsity letter winner in swimming ... Team MVP ... Tucson Citizen Swimmer of the Week ... Region Champion ... Competed in High School State and Nike Classic All-Star events ... Won Southern Arizona Aquatic Association Championship with club team ... National Merit Finalist and scholarship winner ... Salutatorian ... AP Scholar with honors ... Wendy's High School Heisman nominee
Personal: Born Caroline Jolene Walls on 4/26/89 ... Daughter of Lisa and Steve Walls ... Brother, Daniel, swims for Northwestern's men's team ... Plans to major in political science and environmental science ... Chose Northwestern over Emory, Vanderbilt, UC Berkeley, UCLA and UCSD.