Nov. 20, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri women's swimming and diving squad got three big commitments for the 2010 squad during the early signing period this week, including one of the top springboard divers in the country.
"I couldn't be more pleased to have these three outstanding women join our family here at Mizzou," head coach Brian Hoffer said. "They all possess athletics qualities that are going to make an impact on our program in their first year."
The three newest Tigers are Alexis Spivak from Darlen, Ill., Andrea Marko from New Alexandria, Pa. and Loren Figueroa from Kingwood, Texas.
A member of the Conroe Diving Club, Figueroa is the top diver in the country, winning four major junior and senior championships by the age of 17, including the Senior National 3-meter synchronized diving title, Junior National 1-meter diving title, Junior Pan-Am 1-meter dive title and Junior National 1-meter dive title.
"Loren is one of our country's leading Junior Olympic springboard divers and top senior diver," diving coach James Sweeney said. "We are privileged that she and Charlie chose Mizzou to be the place to continue her diving career."
A two-time all-state and all-American selection out of Illinois, Spivak will look to continue her growth in the fly, where in high school she set numerous school and conference records, including being named a four-time all-conference selection during her career. Spivak has qualified for every Illinois Senior Championship in every year since 2006 and has been a finalist in those events every year since 2007.
"She is extremely hard working, which is exactly what we look for when we recruit student athletes," Hoffer said. "Our goal will be to make her the complete flyer we know she is."
The last addition to the group is also the first recruit to the swim team that has posted a sub .55 second time in the 100 fly. Marko participates in both fly and freestyle events where she is a two time Pennsylvania state champion and a five-time Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Association League champion. Marko is also a top scholastic athlete inducted into two national honor societies, a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and has been on her school's honor roll every semester in high school.
"With us making a move to improve our relays and continuing to make strides to be competitive nationally, Andrea is the perfect fit for us," associate head coach Chris Peters said.
The Tiger squads will return to the pool in two weeks for the start of the Missouri Invite at the Mizzou Aquatics Center Dec. 4.