Lawrence High's Melissa Little wanted to swim for a school in the Missouri Valley Conference so she could cross paths with her older sister, Megan, a sophomore at Northern Iowa.
In the end, Little decided to be her sister's teammate instead.
"We're really close," Little said Tuesday at LHS after signing her letter of intent. "She's really excited. She didn't think I was going to come."
Neither did their parents. Little already had visited Illinois-Chicago, had recruiting trips lined up with Nebraska-Omaha and Western Illinois and was receiving interest from other schools, including Southwest Missouri State of the Missouri Valley. The latter two trips were canceled after Little visited UNI two weeks ago.
"It has its pluses as far as the family schedule," said Brenda Little, the girls' mother. "We were worried we were going to have to be in two places at once. ... They're best friends and have been since birth. They're never jealous of each other. I'm lucky."
Little is a three-time state qualifier who earned medals with a sixth-place finish in the 500 freestyle as a freshman and a fifth-place finish as a sophomore. The senior, who fell to ninth at state last season, hopes for even better things this year.
"I really want to train hard and do well because it's my last year," she said.
LHS coach Ryan Adams expects a strong senior season from Little.
Lawrence High swimmer Melissa Little signs her letter of intent with Northern Iowa. Little was joined Tuesday at LHS by, from left, her mother, Brenda Little; LHS coach Ryan Adams; Aquahawks coach Mike Soderling; her father, Jerry Little; and athletic director Ron Commons.
"I think she'll be a great leader for us," Adams said. "She's a senior. It's her team now. I expect her to do well in the 200 and 500, and she'll anchor one of the relays."
6Sports video: Two swimmers sign letters of intent
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