USC, Kansas and Illinois each made their first annoucements of commitments landed in the fall signing period.

For USC, Katie Houston of Reno, Nev., Kristen Lahey of Boulder, Colo., Melissa McIntyre of Oak Harbor, Wash., Sarah Rockwell of Anchorage, Ala., Rebecca Soni of Plainsboro, N.J., Rachael Waller of Liberty, Mo., and Megan Wheeler of Yakima, Wash., have all signed national letters of intent.

"We're extremely excited to have these talented freshman come in," Head Coach Mark Schubert said. "It's one of our best classes ever. We have a lot of enthusiasm and excitement on the current team among these seven girls."

Kansas swimming and diving head coach Clark Campbell announced the signing of five swimmers. Molly Brammer (Blue Springs, Mo.), Jessica Brozek (Great Bend, Kan.), Ashley Leidigh (Merriam, Kan.), Rhynn Malloy (Holden, Mass.) and Kendall Matous (Overland Park, Kan.) will join the team next fall.

Says Campbell, "Our fall signees represent another chapter in our progression as a team shooting for the top 25. They all can come to KU and be a part of that goal immediately. Our recruiting coordinator and assistant coach, Jen Fox, must be credited with this effort," Campbell added. "She worked tirelessly on our fall recruiting phase and put together a great class. These five not only will help KU towards our collegiate goals, but have the opportunity to compete at the '08 Olympic Trials."

Finally Illinois added Beverly Halloran (Aurora, Ill./ Academy Bullets), Lindsey Shirley, (Decatur, Ill.) and Katie Theissen (Kent, Ken.).

Kansas Brammer swims distance freestyle and the individual medley. She is also a member of the Team Dolphins club team and is coached by Robert Sturman.

"Molly has a great background developed by her coach and former KU standout, Robert Sturman," Campbell said. "She is also a dynamite student and will really contribute to our program's academic goals as well."

Brozek joins the team from Great Bend High School and is a member of the Western Kansas Swim Club team. She is currently coached by Karen Copeland and Steve Beaumont. Brozek will swim middle distance freestyle races at Kansas.

"Jessica is a true 'diamond-in-the-rough' and we feel very fortunate to have her stay in-state," Campbell said. "Her best swimming is still in front of her and we feel she will really develop in college. Her work ethic is second-to-none and in our environment, she will greatly improve. She is extraordinarily gifted at her academics as well."

Leidigh attends Shawnee Mission North where she swims the butterfly and sprint freestyle races. She is a member of the Kansas City Dolphins club team and is coached by Josh Keehn.

"Ashley was one of the most improved swimmers in our region last year. Her coach, Josh Keehn, did a tremendous job of getting Ashley to the next level," Campbell said. "It is going to be exciting watching Ashley develop into one of the top swimmers in the Big 12."

Malloy is currently a swimmer at Wachusett Regional where she swims the breaststroke and individual medley events. She is a member of the Magnus Aquatic Group club team and is coached by Don Lemieux.

"Rhynn is simply one of the most gifted breaststrokers I have ever recruited. She is still relatively new to the sport and has only begun year-around training," Campbell said. "She could be one of the top 200 breaststrokers in the country as she has all the necessary tools. We're also very excited about her potential in the individual medley events."

Matous, a butterfly and freestyle swimmer from Blue Valley North, rounds out the recruiting class. She is a member of the Kansas City Blazers club team and is coached by Pete Malone.

"Kendall is another `diamond-in-the-rough' we feel very lucky to have in our program," Campbell said. "She comes to us from the KC Blazers and Pete Malone has really helped her improve in a short amount of time. Kendall should come in and contend right away. She has a lot of natural ability and is a very good underwater dolphin kicker, which will become a weapon for her."

Southern Cal Houston of McQueen High in Reno, Nev., is a 2003-04 U.S. Swimming Scholastic All-American with senior national experience. A breaststroker and medley swimmer, she holds numerous Nevada state records and was the state swimmer of the year in 2003. She was also a national junior team member in 2003-2004.

Lahey from Fairview High in Boulder, Colo., swam the 100m back at the 2004 Olympic Trials. The 2004 state champ in the 100y fly and 100y back, she holds five state records and was the third-fastest backstroker in the country this year in her age group.

McIntyre of Oak Harbor (Wash.) High competed in the 100m breast at the 2004 Olympic Trials and has made five U.S. senior national appearances. A seven-time state champ, she won the 100y breast four times and the 50y free three times in her prep career. She is a two-time Everett Herald Sportswoman of the Year finalist (2003-04).

Rockwell, from Robert Service High in Anchorage, Ala., currently owns the top times in eight different events in Alaska and is the state record holder in the 100y and 200y free. She led her high school to its second consecutive state title in 2004 and won the state title in the 200y free.

Soni of West Windsor High in Plainsboro, N.J., was a 2004 Olympic Trials semifinalist in the 200m breast and also finished second in that event at the 2004 U.S. Summer Nationals and was a two-time finalist at the 2003 Summer Nationals. She is the New Jersey state record holder in the 100y and 200y breast and ranks among the fastest prep breaststrokers in the country.

Waller of Liberty (Mo.) High is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic and Missouri Valley Academic All-American. A 2003 and 2004 U.S. Spring and Summer National participant, she was a two-time 200m free Region VIII Section winner.

Wheeler, who preps at West Valley High in Yakima, Wash., swam the 100m back at this year's Olympic Trials and also swam at the 2004 U.S. Spring Nationals. Wheeler is a state backstroke and sprint relay champion and a two-time 2004 junior national champ.

Beverly Halloran currently swims for the Academy Bullets club team along with her varsity team ... Holds a top time of 1:00.04 in the 100 back ... Recorded a career best time of 2:10.64 in the 200 back ... Plans to major in journalism.

Novitsky on Halloran: "Beverly is going to add more depth to our backstroke group. She has been branching out into different events and this is something that we will continue to explore at Illinois. Beverly is energetic and enthusiastic about swimming and academics. We expect her to continue to develop while at Illinois."

Lindsey Shirley qualified for the Illinois High School State meet in the 200 and 500 free ... Was the 2004 Sectional Champion in the 500 free ... Earned WAND Athlete of the Week this season ... Currently swims for the Decatur Swim club team along with her varsity team ... Top time in the 200 free was 1:155.47 ... Touched the wall in career best 5:05.73 in the 500 free.

Novitsky on Shirley: "Lindsey will be an excellent addition to our distance freestyle group. She has a very strong work ethic and is able to push herself in practice and competitions. One of the main things that attracted us to Lindsey was her desire to find out how good she can be and to constantly keep finding ways to get faster. Coming in and training with a solid group around her is only going to make her better. Lindsey is following many in her family that are Illinois graduates and current Illinois students, and can't wait to wear the Orange and Blue."

Katie Theissen is Kentucky High School State Champion in the 50 free and was runner-up in the 100 free ... Named a High School All-American ... NISCA Top 16 - 50 free, 100 back, 100 free, 400 Notre Dame Academy school record holder - 50 free, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay ... Member of the USA Swimming Senior National relay teams - 400 medley relay, 800 free relay, 400 free relay ... Kentucky Enquirer Swimmer of the Year ... Her top time in the 100 free (51.70) was good enough for the US Open standard.

Novitsky on Theissen: "We are excited to have Katie join the Fighting Illini family. Katie is a dynamic and powerful athlete who has performed well in championship situations. She will primarily be swimming sprint freestyle, but is versatile and can branch out into the backstroke and individual medley events. Her time in the 100 freestyle would currently rank her 10th on the all-time list at Illinois. Besides her swimming talents, Katie is a very enthusiastic and motivated person who is driven to meet her goals."