Jeff Birdsley is the head coach of Urbana Park District's Nadiators swim team and an assistant coach in the Urbana High School swimming and diving program.
Four-time News-Gazette All-Area girls' swimming and diving Athlete of the Year will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke and 50 freestyle at the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Our Athlete of the Year posted a pair of times that ranked inside the state's top 12 at the end of the condensed season.
Her Tigers made significant strides during the shortened 2021 season, becoming more competitive individually and as a team.
Get to know a little bit more about the area's top 10 boys' swimming and diving athletes of 2021.
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Check out our 2021 All-Area boys' swimming and diving first team, second team and honorable mention team.
The senior swimmer underwent complete cranial reconstruction at 9 months old but never let associated challenges prevent him from getting where he wanted to be.
Paxton-Buckley-Loda girls' basketball player and Judah Christian boys' soccer player honored for their athletic excellence.
Centennial's boys and Danville's girls finished runner-up at their respective Big 12 basketball tournaments.
Balanced scoring also allows Champaign Central girls' basketball to move on
Lundstrom, Henrichs net hat tricks for Bulldogs
Watseka, PBL and Iroquois West girls all advance to Sangamon Valley Conference tournament semifinals.
Villa Grove/Heritage girls' basketball player and Mahomet-Seymour boys' swimmer honored for their athletic excellence.
Tuscola's boys rallied against Unity to secure a co-ed sweep.
Watseka girls extend SVC winning streak
Jalen Quinn's herculean effort pushed Tuscola past Sullivan in overtime.
Tri-County girls' basketball wins a state-ranked battle with Tuscola.
Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin's girls grabbed their first win of the season.
Champaign Central girls' basketball picked up its first victory of the season.
Clinton girls' basketball player and Fisher boys' basketball player honored for their athletic excellence.
Danville's Erin Houpt put up another huge point total during a Vikings win.
Finally, high school freshmen in Champaign get a taste of the classroom experience.
Centennial swimming routs Danville
Ryan Aikman is in his sixth year working at Sullivan High School. Throughout that entire time, the athletic director can recall information technology director Mark Waelde streaming home varsity sporting events via Sullivan’s YouTube channel.
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls' basketball player and Champaign Central boys' swimmer honored for their athletic excellence.
In boys’ basketball
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