Swimming & Diving Signs Pair To National Letters Of Intent
Apr 16, 2005 | Women's Swimming and Diving
April 16, 2005
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The 2005 Conference USA Champion Tulane University women's swimming and diving program added a pair of newcomers as Iana Boneva and Mallory Hoekstra signed National Letters of Intent with the Green Wave, head coach Daniella Irle announced Saturday.
Boneva (Flower Mound, Texas) and Hoekstra (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) will both be eligible to compete for the Green Wave as freshmen during the 2005-06 season. The duo will compose a six-member freshman class next season, joining swimmers Victoria Givens and Chritina Herubin, and divers Samantha Poyta and Pat Vining, who all signed during the NCAA's Early Signing Period in November.
"With a team composed almost entirely of freshmen and sophomores, we're lucky in the fact that we will not lose very much next year," Irle said. "To be able to add the talents of swimmers like Iana and Mallory, along with the foursome we signed during the Early Signing Period, is truly a blessing."
A sprinter, Boneva set school records in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay at Flower Mound High School. She earned prep All-America honors in the 200 medley relay in 2003, 50 free in 2004, and the 50 free, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay in 2005.
Her top times are 23.98 in the 50 free, 52.24 in the 100 free, 59.66 in the 100 fly and 1:00.63 in the 100 back, and was named Rookie of the Year at Flower Mound in 2002.
Away from the pool, Boneva is a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, earned Tulane's Academic Merit Scholarship. She chose Tulane over Pitt, Villanova and Pacific.
"Iana will add some solid depth to our sprint freestyle events," Irle said. "This is one of the finest groups of sprinters in the conference, and she will make us that much stronger. She will be able to contribute on relays immediately and should progress into one of the Top 50-100 swinners in the conference in the next couple of years."
Hoekstra, meanwhile, was the Alberta Provincial record holder in the backstroke, individual medley and butterfly. She was a Canadian National Qualifier every year since 2001, a Canadian Finalist in 2004 and 2005, and attended the Canadian Olympic Trials in 2004.
Her top short course meter times (all times converted from meters to yards) are 57.37 in the 100 back, 2:00.83 in the 200 back, 2:08.13 in the 200 IM and 4:27.46 in the 400 IM. In the long course meter, her top times are (all times converted to yards) 58.45 in the 100 back, and 2:04.51 in the 200 back.
Away from the pool, Hoekstra was the recipient of the English Merit Award in 2002, earned honors in math and science in 2002-03, and claimed honors in French language arts from 2000-05. She chose Tulane over Utah, Washington and North Florida.
"Mallory is a tremendous addition to the team," Irle said. "She is an elite level swimmer in both backstroke and IM events. We have a deep and dominant backstroke group, and she could be at the head of that group on any given day. In addition, she will add some fast fire power to our IM events.
"Mallory will have an immediate impact on our success next season and she is ready to be a strong and supportive teammate as well."
