April 25, 2005

Chicago, Ill.- University of Illinois at Chicago head swimming and diving coach Paul Moniak officially announced the signings of Courtney Eck (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska H.S.) and Heather Mennecke (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa Township H.S.) to National Letters of Intent on Monday afternoon.

Both Eck and Mennecke will swim for the Flames beginning in the 2005-06 season.

Eck specializes in the individual medley and middle-distance freestyle events. Her best times as a prep included a 2:13.58 in the 200-yard IM, a 4:41.88 in the 400-yard IM and a 5:13.04 in the 500-yard freestyle.

"Courtney will make an immediate impact in the middle distance events," said Moniak.

Eck hails from the same high school that current UIC standout Jessica Darud attended.

Mennecke continues the tradition of outstanding sprint-freestyle specialists at UIC while also giving the Flames some strong depth in the butterfly events. Mennecke has swam a career-best 24.77 in the 50-yard freestyle, a 53.75 in the 100 free and a 1:01.18 in the 100-yard butterfly.

"Heather will add to an already-strong sprint group," said Moniak.

The UIC women's swimming and diving team is coming off a solid 2004 campaign as the Flames finished fourth at the 2005 Horizon League Championships while breaking six school records, boasting seven top three individual event finishers in the league and qualifying four swimmers to the U.S. Open.