On Tuesday, February 8, 2011, Council Rock North seniors Kate Dillione and Bizzy Millen were recognized at a special news conference for signing letters of intent to swim at the collegiate level.
“Both Bizzy and Kate have established themselves as two of maybe the top six or eight girls out of Council Rock over all the years,” Rock North coach Ted Schueller said. “When you talk about the greats out of Council Rock, Trish Harm, Sharon Leary, Lindsey DeForrest, Alison Nemuth and Beth Wallace are names that will pop up right away.
“Bizzy and Kate have put themselves right in that company as some of the greats. What they have established and accomplished over their four years between league champs, district medalists and district champs - both of them were a big part of winning the district title last year and also what they have done at states the last two years.”
Bizzy Millen – University of Chicago (Swimming)
Major: Undecided but leaning towards Economics and Mandarin
Final list of colleges: Chicago, Emory, Washington University (St. Louis, MO)
Reasons for choosing Chicago: “They’re all in the UAA Conference, which is the epitome of student-athletes. They take sports seriously and you improve, but academics are first and foremost, and they’re all strong in academics. They all had the right balance for me.
“When I visited Chicago, I liked the team, and the campus was beautiful. I liked that it was right near a city – I really liked Chicago as well, and the academics were stronger there too.”
What was the progression that led you to continue your swimming career at the collegiate level? “I think I always wanted to, but I wasn’t sure if I was fast enough until last year. At the end of my sophomore year, I started dropping time and my junior year when I was still dropping large amounts of time, I saw that I could compete in college swimming.
“When I finally got to where I am, I was like ‘I think I’m recruitable. I can be more than a walk-on.’ I always knew I wanted to swim, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to.”
Council Rock North coach Ted Schueller says: “Over her four years, she has been very versatile and swam anywhere in the lineup I needed her - it didn’t matter which event - in the dual meets. Come championship time for leagues, I actually asked her during her first three years to swim where I needed her to score. This year I let her pick what she wanted to swim.
“We sit down and discuss what their best chances are, and for Bizzy, every year it’s been different. Her first year she swam the 200 and 500. The second year she swam the 500 and 100 fly. The last two years she swam the 200 and 500 at districts and states. She’s just been very versatile, and this year she really came into her own, breaking the school record in the 200 and 500 and was part of the record-setting 200 and 400 free relays. She’s established herself as one of the top swimmers ever to come out of Council Rock.”
Kate Dillione – Brown University (Swimming)
Major: Undecided but possibly something with Spanish and Chinese and perhaps Physics
Final list of colleges: Brown, Rutgers
Reasons for choosing Brown: “I love the open curriculum at Brown where I can pretty much decide my own class schedule, and the swim team pulled it all together. It’s a competitive enough team but strong enough academically where I can get things in both of my loves. I love learning, and I love swimming. I think Rutgers was more focused on the swimming, but I wanted more of a balance. Plus Brown is getting a new pool that’s in the process of being constructed now, so that made it a little more fun.”
With your shoulder surgery and intense rehab in the offseason, you made a commitment to swim at the collegiate level. How long has that been a goal? “When I was little probably up until the age of 13, I think I was just doing swimming (for fun). I loved it, but I never really thought about swimming in college until I got to high school and then I realized this is something I want to continue, this is something I love doing.
“I had shoulder surgery about 11 months ago so I could continue in college and be better than before. I think my whole goal has always been getting better with times. The rehab was tough, but bouncing back from it and doing as well as I did this season – I was proud of myself. If I wouldn’t have gone through all that hard rehab and the hard mental aspects of taking time off without the goal of swimming in college, It wouldn’t have made any sense to do that, but it’s awesome.”
Council Rock North coach Ted Schueller says: “Kate is another swimmer who has had a great four years. She started out as a distance swimmer and swam the 200 and 500. She switched events to the IM and fly, and she ends up medaling in fly in states last year and making All-American in her event plus she was in both the 200 and 400 free relays. She’s very versatile, she’s very team oriented and did whatever she needed to do for the team.
“Basically, last year when she made the decision to have surgery, she had it done early enough so she could be back in the water for the team and help the team. It was a long road between all the physical therapy and getting back in the water and not rushing it. She ended up peaking at the right time and doing well enough in districts to get back to states. She made (the consolation finals) in the fly and was part of both relays, medaling and breaking the school record.”
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