The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Sterkel to coach, McGregory and Wanezek to compete at World University Games
04.07.2005 | Women's Swimming and Diving
AUSTIN, Texas -- Senior Sarah Wanezek (Brookfield, Wis.) and freshman Hayley McGregory (Houston, Texas) punched their respective tickets to the 2005 World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, Aug. 12-17, by virtue of their performances at the 2005 World Championship Trials in Indianapolis this past week. Both Texas swimmers will compete for Team USA at the World University Games and the USA team will be led by Texas co-head coach Jill Sterkel, who was named head coach by USA swimming this past November.
"I'm very excited and honored with the opportunity to coach this excellent team at an excellent competition," Sterkel said. "To have Sarah [Wanezek] and Hayley [McGregory] is a special thing for all three of us."
Wanezek, a 24-time All-American, qualified in two individual events - the 50- and 100-meter freestyle. Wanezek took home third place in 25.53 seconds in the 50 free during the third night of the trials, then finished seventh in the 100 free with a time of 56.05 two days later. The top two finishers in each event are guaranteed spots on the World Championship team traveling to Montreal, Canada, July 17-31, while the next two University-enrolled athletes that touch the wall qualify for the World University Games. The meet will mark the first international competition of Wanezek's career.
"Sarah's nationals were bittersweet because she is so close to making the World Championship team," Sterkel continued. "Over the past four years, she has blossomed into one of the best athletes in the country. This will be her first time representing the national team and I think this will be a valuable experience for her. Sarah has a chance to represent her country in two individual events and two relays and that will season her if she plans to continue swimming after college."
McGregory posted a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:04.42 at U.S. nationals to qualify for the games. Last summer, at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials, McGregory placed third in the 100- and 200-meter backstrokes. In her first season of college swimming, McGregory earned All-America honors in both backstroke events as well as the 200- and 400-yard medley relays at the NCAA Championships.
"This is a great stage for Hayley," Sterkel said. "It gives her the summer to put in a lot of work and I think she is going to have a great chance to go and compete really well at an international level."
Extending her coaching experience to international team competition is nothing new for Sterkel. Sterkel will be serving as women's head coach for the second time in the last three years. In 2003, Sterkel served as the head coach for the World University Games in Daegu, Korea.
Sterkel has also served in an assistant coach's role at the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, and at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada. Sterkel's role as assistant coach at the 2001 World Championships marked the first time a female served an assistant coach's capacity for Team USA.
