Marie-Claire Schillinger from Miramonte High School in Orinda and the Aquabears Viking Club in Walnut Creek, California gave her verbal commitment to Rice University.
“I chose Rice University because I liked the professors and small class sizes, as well as the residential colleges. The team is really welcoming. I am excited to be joining the team next year.”
Schillinger is a newcomer to year-round swimming. She started with the Aquabears Viking Club as a sophomore in high school. She also swims for Miramonte High School under Donnie Heidary.
And yet Schillinger didn’t waste a lot of time; she is already a Summer Juniors-level breaststroker with the following times:
| 100y breast: 1:01.91 | 100m breast: 1:12.82 |
| 200y breast: 2:12.99 | 200m breast: 2:38.02 |
| 200y IM: 2:05.76 | 200m IM: 2:25.52 |
| 50y free: 24.30 | 50m free: 28.54 |
| 100y free: 53.01 | 100m free: 1:01.28 |
Schillinger is a big get for the Owls. Both her breaststrokes as well as her IM time would have scored at Conference-USA Championships. What’s more, Rice will have graduated its top scorers in the breast events by the time Schillinger begins. Not only is she an excellent replacement, but she has the opportunity to be a two-time conference champion as a freshman.
Schillinger joins free/fly/IMer Hanna Huston who has already committed to Rice’s class of 2019.