Craig Nisgor, head coach of the Seattle University women’s swimming program, has announced that Madison Lydig (Spokane, Wash.) and Alexis Martinez (Granite Bay, Calif.) signed National Letters of Intent during the November signing period to attend the university and join the Redhawk swim program starting in the 2014-15 academic year.
“We are excited to have Madi and Alexis joining us next year here at Seattle University. They will make an immediate impact, as both already have times that would rank in our current all-time top five. On their visits they fit right in with the team and that is very important to our program,” Nisgor said.
Lydig is currently a senior at Mead High School, where she is president of the German club and a member of the National Honor Society along with being a four-year participant on the varsity swim team. She has been a member of the Spokane Waves Aquatic Team since 2001, reaching the finals of the Western Zone championships in five of the past six years as well as appearances at the NSCA Junior Nationals and the Speedo Winter Junior Nationals in 2012.
“Competing in the backstroke and freestyle, Madi has done times that would currently be faster than our school record in the 1000 free, 2nd in the 200 back and 4th in the 100 back,” Nisgor said. “She is a very strong swimmer with a great background, and we know that she will only continue to improve.”
Martinez has been a top swimmer at Saint Francis High School, starting when she earned team rookie of the year honors in her freshman season. A three-time all-league honoree, she advanced to the CIF finals in both the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle in 2013 and helped her relay squad win the league title in both the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay, setting a new league record in the 400 freestyle relay in the process.
“With her current times, Alexis would have the fourth fastest 100 butterfly and fifth fastest 50 freestyle marks here at Seattle U. She has been developing over the past two years and has really made some tremendous time improvements. In addition to the freestyle and butterfly, she has also recently started to swim backstroke and has done a time that would be 10th all time in the 100 back,” added Nisgor.
The Seattle University women’s swim team next competes in a pair of meets at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Friday, Jan. 17, and Saturday, Jan. 18. The Redhawks’ final home meet of the 2013-14 season takes place Saturday, Jan. 25, against Simon Fraser beginning at 1 p.m., with Senior Day ceremonies taking place before the meet.