Oregon standout girls swimmer commits to Big Ten program
Oregon's Olivia Sina has dreamed of becoming a Division I athlete since attending University of Wisconsin football and basketball games during her childhood.
The junior said seeing the Badgers athletes perform in environments like Camp Randall Stadium and the Kohl Center was inspiring.
She realized her dream was coming true when she woke up June 15, the first day she could speak with colleges, to several texts and emails from Division I girls swimming and diving programs.
"Waking up that morning, I wasn't expecting as many schools to reach out, and I was definitely grateful for it all," Sina said.
Sina narrowed her college decision to Minnesota, UCLA, Arizona and Iowa before taking visits to all four this fall.
Her last recruiting trip was to UCLA in late September, where "I absolutely fell in love with it and knew it was the right place," she said. She spent the majority of the visit with her future teammates, who made her "feel like I had a family there."
Sina also met with the coaching staff, which includes former Wisconsin swimmer Karissa Kruszewski, who swam for the Badgers from 2010 to 2012 and started her swimming and diving coaching career at Oregon High School. Kruszewski coached Oregon from 2013 to 2015 while also leading Stoughton's boys team.
"I was looking for a coach that saw the potential in me," Sina said. "I want to see where I can go with the right coaching and college training."
Sina verbally committed to UCLA on Oct. 2.
Bruins coaches gave Sina goal times for the 100- and 200-yard backstroke, along with the 100 butterfly, which they want to become her third event.
"They were looking at my backstroke this summer at the NCSA meet , and after seeing my time, they felt they made the right decision bringing me out on a recruiting trip," Sina said.
Sina helped Oregon accumulate 412 points at the Badger Small Conference meet Saturday to finish as runner-up behind champion Monona Grove (450). The Panthers (31.5) also fell behind the Silver Eagles (32) in the combined final conference standings.
Sina said bringing Oregon its first conference title in school history is a goal before heading to UCLA. She now will focus on the Sun Prairie West WIAA Division 1 sectional Friday, where she can qualify for her third consecutive state meet. She claimed third place in the 100 backstroke last season.
"It's not that often Oregon has a Division I commit, but in the past few years we've had some on the girls and boys teams," Sina said. "Being a part of that and helping the team is really special."
Scene from Thursday's state boys volleyball semifinals between Middleton, MarquetteA collection of photos from Middleton boys volleyball's state semifinal victory over Milwaukee Marquette on Thursday at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
