MT. VERNON, Ill. — Isabel Heitmeyer inked her national letter of intent Thursday to swim for Butler University in the fall. Heitmeyer, a senior at Mt. Vernon Township High School, started her swimming career a decade ago with Coach Laura Johnston and the Rend Lake Aquatic Youth Otters swim team at Rend Lake College. Heitmeyer brought swimming success to RLAY from a very young age and is the program’s first product to sign with a NCAA DI school.
Johnston said Heitmeyer started swimming for RLAY at seven years old. The daughter of Troy and Trinda Heitmeyer of Mt. Vernon, Isabel finished third overall in the 2009 Candy Cane Classic (Mt Vernon, Ind.) and won the 2012 IL/MO YMCA State Championships (Joliet, Ill.) in the 200 Individual Medley. She was also a finalist in the 200 freestyle and as a member of the 200 medley relay team at that meet. Heitmeyer was a YMCA national qualifier in the 200 IM at the age of 13.
She follows in the footsteps of other former Otters who have received scholarships to swim at the collegiate level — Leagh Haeubery (McLeansboro), Aaron Holt (Mt. Vernon) and David Bunting (Christopher).
“I’m extremely proud of Isabel for her hard work in and out of the pool,” said Johnston. “It makes me so happy to see that effort recognized by Butler University. I can’t wait to watch her continue to succeed in college both in and out of the water.”
For more information about the RLAY Otters program, contact Johnston at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1207.
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