Dec. 12, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. -

The Missouri Tiger women's swimming team has signed four high school standouts to onal Letters of Intent, as announced by MU Head Coach Brian Hoffer. Kyle Robinson, Kimberly Gainey, Rachel Wender and Lindsay Kraus will help the team adjust with the upcoming loss of seniors Tiffany Bohon, Katy Chandler, Ellen Cross, Chrissy Frieh, Leslie Hoh and Sarah Stowe.

Robinson is a senior from Gouldsboro, Maine. A High School All-American in the 500 freestyle, she will compete in all the distance freestyle events as well as the individual medley events for the Tigers. She is a U.S. Open Qualifier in four different events. She attended swimming powerhouse The Peddie School in New Jersey her freshman thru junior years. While at Peddie she was a All-State swimmer, two-time captain and three-event finalist for the Eastern High School champs. Her career best times include 5:01.30 in the 500, 10:08.50 in the 1,000 and 17:05.40 in the 1,650 freestyle events. Her individual medley times include 2:07.40 in the 200 and 4:27.40 in the 400 individual medleys.

Robinson is also a Junior Nationals qualifier and holds 16 age group records. At the age of 12 she help set two world records as a member of a relay team that crossed the English Channel. She plans on studying journalism at Missouri.

Gainey hails from Grapevine, Texas where she was the 5A Texas state champion in the 500 freestyle last season as well as garnering First Team All-State honors in the four events. Her time in the 500 freestyle was the 20th fastest all-time in the state meet. Gainey also received All-American honors in four events. She was the 2002 Northeast Tarrant County Female Swimmer of the Year. She currently holds three school records. Her career best times include 1:54.35 in the 200, 4:56.55 in the 500, 10:11.80 in the 1,000 and 17:07.87 in the 1,650 freestyle events.

Gainey is an honor roll student who recieved the schools Top Scholastic Swimmer Award in 2001. She is a member of the Grapevine/Colleyville Aquatic Swim Club, coached by Pat Henry. She plans on studying marketing at Missouri.

"With the impending loss of Sarah Stowe and Katy Chandler, it was critical for the program to sign Kyle (Robinson) and Kim (Gainey) if we wanted to stay competitive next season," said Hoffer. "Both are the type of athletes we recruit, they combine work ethic, academics, personality and athletic ability."

Wender is a senior at Woodlands High School in Texas. She is an All-American in three relay events, the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and the 200 medley relay. Wender is also an All-State selection in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Last season as the captain of the team she helped guide Woodlands High School to the #2 ranking in the nation for public high school teams. She is a member of the Woodlands Swim Club, coached by Tim Bower, where she was a Texas Age Group Champion in the 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley. Her career best times include 24.20 in the 50, 51.80 in the 100, in relays and 1:54.00 in the 200 freestyle events. Her backstroke times include 59.34 in the 100 and 2:06.80 in the 200 backstrokes.

Wender is also the captain of the Woodlands High School Water Polo team. She is a three-year letterwinner and MVP for the water polo team. Wender is a member of the National Honor Society and plans on studying business at Missouri.

"Rachel will help us out in a number of events," said Hoffer. "Having her will allow us to have flexibility in dual meets because of her versatility. Her positive outlook and personality will fit well on this team and make her adjustment to collegiate competition very smooth."

Kraus is a senior from St. Charles, Illinois. The two-time All-American will compete in the middle distance events and the breaststrokes at Missouri. She was a All-State swimmer in 2000 and 2001 for St. Charles North High School. She is a member of the Academy Bullets Swim Club, coached by Bill Schalz. As a club swimmer she competed at both the 2001 and 2002 Speedo Championship Series in the 200 freestyle and 200 breaststroke. Kraus has international competition experience as well, competing in the 1997 South German Championships and finishing second in the 800 freestyle. The following year she competed in the 1998 German Nationals, participating in three individual events (200, 400 and 800 freestyles). Her career best time in the 200 breast is 2:27.40, 200 freestyle is 1:54.35.

Kraus is an accomplished student, making the Dean's List four consecutive years. She is currently ranked first academically in her class and is a 2000 and 2001 Academic All-Conference selection. She recieved the SCN Leadership Award in 2000 and again in 2001.

"Lindsay (Kraus) is a talent that will get even better over the next four years," said Hoffer. "She's tall (6'0") and strong, we feel that she's only going to get stronger and improve once she gets here. Her drive to improve day-in and day-out in and out of the pool will make coaching her alot of fun."