May 10, 2001
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Kentucky University head swimming coach Bill Powell announced Thursday that Alexis Rieck, a native of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete for the Lady Toppers beginning with the 2001-02 season. She is the first swimmer to commit to WKU during the spring signing period, which began April 11.
Rieck, who qualified for the 2000 Canadian Olympic Trials, placed in the top 10 in Canada in the 100- and 200-meter butterfly, and claimed provincial championships in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke. She also set club records in the 100 and 200 backstroke and was a member of a relay squad which finished third in Canada.
"Alexis is an outstanding young lady both in and out of the pool," Powell said. "She will make an immediate impact on our program and we are looking for big things from her."
Rieck began swimming competitively at age 11 and has been trained by two-time Canadian Olympic coach Dean Boles. Recently, she was selected to compete for a pair of Ontario touring squads. And, she has been a novice swimming coach for the last four years, working at the Waterloo Collegiate Institute.
Western Kentucky posted a sparkling 12-1 record last season, winning the inaugural Sun Belt Conference championship and placing fourth at the National Independent Championships. The Lady Toppers are expected to have 16 letterwinners back in the water next year, led by Sun Belt Swimmer of the Year Sydney Mountford and four-time conference champion Brandi Carey.
