Eastern Illinois women's swimming head coach Scott Teeters has announced the addition of ten new swimmers that will join the women's program from the 2026-27 season.

Set to join the Panthers roster this fall are Emelia D'Alessio, Ava Gombosi, Kara Anne Hofmann, Margo Maddaloni, Aubrey Faith McLaughlin, Maris Miller, Summer Pfeiffer, Emma Popp, Emily Sang and Gabby Schmidt.

The Panthers will open the 2026-27 on October 3 at the Butler Invite with the first home meet at Padovan Pool on October 9 hosting Olivet Nazarene.

Listed below are bios are the incoming class.
 
Emelia D'Alessio (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) swam at Land O'Lakes High School and clue for Florida Elite Swimming for coaches Heber, JB and Gaete… earned four varsity letters in swimming and one in weightlifting… helped team win district titles twice… was a four-time medalist during prep career in the Sunshine Athletic Conference… reached the Florida Class 3A State Championships as a sophomore in the 50 freestyle… National Honor Society…

Ava Gombosi (Joliet, Ill.) swam at Joliet West High School and at the club level for Joliet Blue Tides for coaches Nick Koenig and Cameron Barnish… was a four-time IHSA Sectional qualifier finishing second in the 200 IM and third in the 100 backstroke at the Homewood Sectional as a senior… team captain… graduated Summa Cum Laude… Honor Roll… earned All-Southwest Prairie Conference honors… primary events were freestyle and backstroke… brother Trent Wallace played golf at Illinois State…

Kara Anne Hofmann (Peoria, Ill.) swam at both Peoria Richwoods High School and club for Peoria Area Water Wizards under the direction of coaches Allison Hammerson, Mike Connors and Chris Lingenfelter… was a four-year varsity letterwinner in swimming… team captain… Big 12 Scholar Athlete… National Honor Society… National Thespian Award… finished second place at the Big 12 Conference Championships in the 500 freestyle… went undefeated in regular season in individual events as a senior… advanced to the IHSA Pekin Sectional as a senior placing third in the 200 free and fourth in the 500 free…

Margo Maddaloni (Appleton, Wis.) helped lead Appleton North High School to four straight Fox Valley Association championships swimming at both the high school and club level for coaches Parker Sonnabend, Jamie Schnurer and Scott Dillon… swam at the club level for Fox Valley Wave Swim Team… helped lead high school team to sectional championships as a freshman and as a senior… was first team All-Conference in the 400 free relay as a senior earning honorable mention honors in the 100 fly and 200 medley relay… earned honorable mention in the 500 free as a freshman…

Aubrey Faith McLaughlin (Spicewood, Texas) finished high school as a home school student… competed for coach Randy Teeters with Austin Swim Club… was a sectional finalist all four years as well as sectional relay swimmer all four years… championship swimmer all four years at the ST AAAA Senior Champs… earned the Nitro Award for Team Leadership… primary events were backstroke and IM… relative Beverly Trombley danced at Cal State Fullerton…

Maris Miller (Cary, NC) earned four varsity letters swimming at Athens Drive Magnet High School competing for coach Paul Elasia… swam club for the New Wave Swim Team… honor roll student… helped lead team to Regional Runner-Up finish as a senior… was a member of the bronze medal winning 200 medley relay team at the NCHSAA 4A Eastern Regional as a senior… primary swim events were backstroke and free…

Summer Pfeiffer (Owasso, Okla.) was an All-State swimmer competing for coach Kim Ward at Claremore High School… finished eighth in the state in the 200 freestyle as a senior at the Oklahoma Class 6A State Championships… was a three-time State Medalist… four-time varsity letterwinner in swimming… National Honor Society… Class Salutatorian… swam club for Trident Aquatics Club…

Emma Popp (Adel, Iowa) attended Adel DeSoto Minburn High School but swam for Waukee Northwest High School co-op for coach Emma Ashman reaching the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union State Championship in the 100 back and 200 IM as an individual while swimming in three state relay championship events… was a four-year varsity letterwinner and two time team captain… was a three-time All-Academic selection… helped lead team to 2025 regional championship… advanced to 2024 state championships and was a state finalist in the 100 backstroke…

Emily Sang (Arlington Heights, Ill.) swam at Rolling Meadows High School for coach Monika Chiappetta while swimming club for Reach Aquatics… earned varsity letters in both soccer and swimming… reached IHSA State Championships as a senior in the 100 backstroke after finishing second in that event at the Downers Grove Sectional… competed at the state meet during career in the 200 medley, team placing 12th and in the 400 free relay, team placing 16th… set both pool and school records in relays… was the conference champion in the 100 fly… helped win conference championships in both the medley relay and 400 free relay… relative Melissa Sang played soccer at Loyola Chicago…

Gabby Schmidt (St. Charles, Ill.) began collegiate career swimming at the University of the Pacific in California for freshman season in 2023-24… competed in two meets with a pair of Top 5 event finishes… missed part of 2024-25 season due to injury and finished associate's degree at Elgin CC over the next two years while not competing in college swimming… attended high school in San Diego, Calif., swimming at La Jolla Country Day High School… lettered all four years… Academic All-Conference as a sophomore… team captain… team MVP as a senior… helped team break school record in all relay events… main event was breaststroke…