Ryleigh Poe, Hamilton Heights’ senior, has signed a letter of intent to swim for the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) Panthers in Charleston, Illinois this fall. EIU is a Division I athletic institution and a member of the Summit League. She is the daughter of Gail Poe.
Poe said it was her visit to the EIU campus that sealed the deal. “EIU has a very high academic standard and the overall atmosphere that the team gave off when we met felt like a perfect fit,” recalled Poe, of her instant connection during this college visit not to mention EIU offers her the pre-med and Spanish classes she needs and the opportunity to swim at the collegiate level.
EIU is ranked the highest independent public regional university in Illinois, according to new data released by U.S. News & World Report. The magazine’s annual 2019 college rankings also list EIU as the third-highest independent public university in the Midwest, which encompasses a 12-state territory including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Rankings are based on schools’ academic reputations, student selectivity, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources and alumni giving.
Poe, who has been swimming since the age of 7, has been a member of the Hamilton Heights varsity girls swim team since her freshman year. She has participated in several swim clubs to build her skill and help give her a more rounded perspective of the sport. She has earned several All-Conference honors, winning the Most Improved Swimmer her freshman year. She credits her family and the many individuals who comprise her swim family for providing the support and encouragement to help her reach her goals inside and outside the classroom.
“Ryleigh has been and will continue to be a very important member of this team,” said Sue Beale, Hamilton Heights Girls Varsity Swim Coach. “Her contributions in the 100 Fly, 500 Free, Medley, 200 and 400 Free relays helped the team win the Husky Invite three consecutive years and earn three conference championships. She is a hard worker at practice and leads by example. She has become and will continue to be a great leader for our girls’ team. We are very proud of her and all that she has accomplished.”
Kurt Ogden, Hamilton Heights Athletic Director, added, “Ryleigh is one of our athletes who has dedicated practically her whole life to the sport she loves. It’s exciting to see that through her hard work, she gets to continue swimming competitively for another four years. We wish her well as she pursues both her athletic and academic goals at Eastern Illinois University.”
Poe, who has set her sights on becoming an ER physician, is a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers for school and community projects whenever possible.
Hamilton Heights senior Ryleigh Poe has signed a letter of intent to swim for the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) Panthers in Charleston, Illinois this fall. Poe (seated) is pictured with (left to right) Wes Chaudion (brother-in-law), Nicole Chaudion (sister),Gail Poe (mother), and Gloria Svendsen (aunt). (Photo courtesy Hamilton Heights High School)