CHICAGO (March 7, 2024) – Three members of the UIC women's swimming and diving team were among the 66 selected to the 2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete Team, as announced by the league Wednesday afternoon.
 
Senior Izabella Del Rosario (South Elgin, Ill./Saint Charles North), junior Kendra Preski (Springfield, Ill./Glenview) and sophomore Kerry-Leigh Morrison (Gauteng, South Africa/St. Mary's) were among the names recognized for their work in the classroom.
 
"I'm so proud of Kerry-Leigh Morrison, Izabella Del Rosario, and Kendra Preski for being named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team," said head coach Ashley Dell. "We take pride in prioritizing academics while excelling in the pool and these girls are the true definition of high-class student athletes."
 
To be selected to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team, student-athletes must be at least sophomores in eligibility and have been at their schools at least one year. They must also maintain a 3.5 grade-point average and obtain all-conference honors, achieve a 3.7 GPA, and receive all-conference honorable mention status or earn a 3.9 GPA and participate in the MVC Championships.
 
Del Rosario completed her final season for the Flames finishing fourth in the consolation heat of the 100 butterfly (55.77). She also played a role on two different relay teams that placed in the top eight in both the 200 and 400 Medley Relay. Del Rosario has maintained a 3.82 GPA and will be graduating in May with her degree in psychology.
 
Morrison had a strong showing at the MVC Championships, placing seventh in the one-meter diving event with 243.05 points. She then placed fifth on the three-meter diving board, scoring 258.15 points. Her efforts earned the sophomore All-MVC Honorable Mention recognition for the second consecutive year.  This is also the second time Morrison is being recognized for her academics this school year, following her selection to the College Swimming & Diving Coaches of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Second Team. She has maintained a 3.93 GPA, majoring in mathematics.
 
Preski had a stellar performance at the MVC Championships last month, earning three top-three finishes and first-team All-MVC honors. She placed second in the 200 butterfly (2:01.23) and third in the 200 backstroke in 1:59.11, breaking a school record set by Clair Martin in 2011. Preski also had a third-place finish in the 200 freestyle (1:48.11) and was a member of the school record-breaking 800 freestyle relay with sophomore Madison Helmick (Bingham Farms, Mich./Birmingham Farms), freshman Molly Kroeger (Easton, Md./Easton) and junior Kalie Landrum (Keller, Texas/Keller) that finished in 7:18.95, shaving four seconds off the previous record set in 2018. Preski has compiled a 3.79 GPA while studying finance and real estate.
 
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_SwimDive and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_swimdive and @uicflames).


#ChicagosCollegeTeam | #FireUpFlames