Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Swimming Adds Five More To Recruiting Class
06/07/2002 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
June 7, 2002
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
Saluki men's swimming and diving head coach Rick Walker announced the signing of five student-athletes to national letters of intent. Among the spring signees are four high school swimmers and one Junior College transfer who will all contribute to sprint events after the graduations of All-Conference swimmers Corne Prozesky and Chrysanthos Papachrysanthou.
Mitchell Richards, from Pekin Illinois, is a four-year varsity letterwinner while at Pekin Community High School. He was an All-American and First Team All-State his senior year after setting five school records and five pool records.
"Mitchell will be a great addition. He hasn't even begun to reach his full potential. His sprint events, especially his freestyles, will only get better. Technically he is going to improve on his backstroke. He's good enough that we'll give him a look at the individual medley," commented Walker.
Richards was a three-time state qualifier, placing as high as second in the 100 back his senior year. His junior year he qualified for state in four events, the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and the 50 and 100 freestyle. He placed eleventh in both his individual events leading to a Second Team All-State selection.
The son of Jeffery and Debra Richards, he plans on majoring in administration of justice. He is a two-time National Honor Society member as well as the recipient of the IHSA Academic Athlete Award his senior year.
Bryan Rickena, from Canton Illinois, joins Richards and earlier signee Jason Sigler as recruits from within Illinois. He attended Canton High School and with his size (6'6", 190 lbs) will help out in the SIU sprint events.
"He's going to help us out tremendously in the breaststroke, where we needed some help. He'll help out in the freestyle events as well as the medleys. His size combined with Richards (6'4", 180 lbs) size makes our team stronger for next year, " said Walker.
The son of Ray and Joyce Rickena, he plans on majoring in pharmacy.
The lone transfer is Matthew Ryther, who joins the Salukis after transferring from Lincoln College. While at Lincoln College he broke the school record in the 400 individual medley.
"I know Matthew and his family very well, his dad coached my age group and I had the chance to coach Matt's sister on the USA National Team. He has a very good bloodline and I feel his best swimming is still ahead of him," commented Walker.
Ryther is the son of Dennis and Babette Ryther, and attended Thomas Clark High School in San Antonio, Texas. He plans on continuing with his marketing major while at SIU.
Also joining the team are two recruits from Mexico, Christian Tinajero and Miguel King. Both are former teammates on the Mexican National Team.
King, from Guadalajara, attended Tec De Monterrey High School and will provide depth to the breaststroke and middle-distance freestyle events. Tinajero, hails from Mexico City and was a member of the nationally known Mission Viejo High School swim club. He will swim in the individual medley events.
"Both swimmers come in replacing Corne (Prozesky) in the events that he swam in. Christian and Miguel have the potential to be as good if not better than Corne. Both are already better than Corne when he came in, so the potential is there," said Walker.
