• Roster
• ▪
• Schedule / Results
• ▪
• News
• ▪
• Archives

May 20, 2009

Cedar Falls, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa women's swimming and diving team has added two athletes to the roster for the 2009-2010 season, head coach Stacey Simmer announced today. Lauren Nelson and Sarah Heeden will join the Panthers for next season.

Lauren Nelson (West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling)

Nelson, a diver, is a four-year varsity letter winner and has competed in the state meet three years. In the past two years at state, she has finished in the top six in her events. Nelson holds the Dowling school record in both the 11-meter and six-meter dives. As a senior, she was the captain of the swimming and diving team.

Besides swimming, Nelson was active in cheerleading and tennis throughout high school. She has a 3.8 cumulative GPA and will graduate in the top 25 percent of her class.

"Lauren will be a terrific addition to our team," Simmer said. "Adding another top diver from the state will help our diving program start out well. She is a very hard worker and will only get better with additional coaching and training. Her best diving will come in college."

Sarah Heeden (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock)

Heeden attended school in Waverly, but competed with the Cedar Falls High School swimmers. She lettered all four years and has competed in the state meet. She was the team captain for the swim team at Cedar Falls and currently holds several records at the school.

Heeden is active in speech, orchestra, piano, art club and environmental club outside of swimming. She was on the A Honor-roll throughout high school and was a member of the National Honor Society.

"We are very excited about the addition of Sarah," Simmer said. "Not only is she another Cedar Falls swimmer who works really hard, but she has an amazing breaststroke. With a longer swim season and some great training partners she is going to develop into one of the top breaststrokers in our conference. She is also very talented in art, and the art department here at UNI is lucky to get such an awesome student. UNI athletics is lucky to get this outstanding student-athlete."