Wisconsin DII State 500 Free Champion Dee Dee Walker Lends Verbal to Illinois State

Photo Courtesy: Dee Dee Walker

NEW COMMIT: Madison, Wis. native and current high school senior Dee Dee Walker as handed Illinois State University their first verbal commitment for the 2020-21 season and beyond.

A rangy freestyler, Walker does her club swimming with Badger Aquatic Club and gets faster as the distance gets longer. She most recently raced three events at Minneapolis Speedo Sectionals after recording a pair of best times at the Western Great Lakes Open. This past winter, she competed in five events at the Wisconsin 13&O State Championships where her highest finish was a ninth-place showing in the 500 free.

Also competing for Madison Englewood High School, Walker is a six-time Wisconsin DII State Championship finalist. She won the 500 free and was the 200 free runner-up as a junior after finishing third and second, respectively, in those events during her sophomore season.

She told Swimming World:

“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to Illinois State University! I would like to thank everyone that has helped me along the way and supported me. I would also like to thank Coach Caitlin and Coach Josh for giving me this amazing opportunity! I chose ISU because of the amazing academics and athletics that they had to offer. The coaches and team were very welcoming towards me which made this decision very easy. It was the perfect fit for me and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me at ISU! #GOREDBIRDS”

Her best times include:

50 free – 25.01
100 free – 53.55
200 free – 1:53.31
500 free – 5:04.88
1000 free – 10:42.80
1650 free – 17:56.17

Walker will make an immediate impact when she suits up for the Red Birds as a member of the class of 2024 as her best times already would rank near the top of their lineup. Even with a year to go before arriving on campus, Walker would’ve scored in the A-final of the 200 free as well as the B-final of the 500 free at the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference Championships where Illinois State took fifth overall in the team standings.

If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.

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