Brittany Byrd - Class of 2004

HIGH SCHOOL:  Vandalia Butler
RAIDER CAREER: 1997-2004
BEST YARD EVENTS:  200 Free (2:02.47), 100 Back (1:01.96), 200 Back (2:13.21), 100 Fly (1:02.86), 200 IM (2:16.89)
BEST METER EVENTS: 200 Free (2:20.78), 100 Back (1:13.12), 200 Back 2:38.06), 100 Fly (1:12.87), 200 Fly (2:37.70)
HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS: District qualifier, state qualifier
USA-SWIMMING HIGHLIGHTS: National Age Group T16, AA finalist, senior meet finalist, Raider record holder, 4-State QUAD All-Star Meet finalist
COLLEGE: Illinois State University Bloomington-Normal (IL)   Illinois State Redbirds Athletic Department   Women's Swimming & Diving
MAJOR: Business - Marketing

Dayton Daily News article 1-20-04

Illinois State Swimming Signs Three Recruits
[November 20, 2003] -- Head coach Steve Paska announced the signing of three student-athletes to the Illinois State swimming program. Brittany Byrd, Stephanie Houk and Christine Steinbach have all signed national letters of intent to swim for the Redbirds.

NORMAL, Ill.-- Head coach Steve Paska announced the signing of three student-athletes to the Illinois State swimming program. Brittany Byrd, Stephanie Houk and Christine Steinbach have all signed national letters of intent to swim for the Redbirds.

Brittany Byrd, a Dayton, Ohio native and senior at Vandalia-Butler, will contribute in the backstroke and IM events. She currently holds Butler school records in nine events, and has been a district and state qualifier. Byrd has been a member of the Dayton Raider USS swim club program since 1997. Her club swimming highlights include AA finalist, senior meet finalist and Raider record holder.

Illinois State head coach Steve Paska is excited about the versatility and work ethic Byrd will provide to the Redbird team.

“Brittany has the versatility that is one of the key ingredients that I’m looking for to build this 2004-2005 class,” said Paska. “She can swim the backstroke, the IM, the butterfly and even the sprint and middle distance free for us. Her work ethic is outstanding, and those are the types of kids that I truly enjoy having.”

Byrd plans to pursue a marketing degree from the school of business.