Laura DeFord Class: Sophomore Hometown: Bay City, Mich. High School: John Glenn Position: Breast Birthdate: 04/13/1988

Freshman Season: Won team's Most Improved Swimmer award ... Notched 10 top-three finishes in three different events ... Opened the season by winning the 200 breast (2:24.82) in MSU's win over Akron (10/20) ... Registered second place swims in the 100 breast (1:06.82) and 200 breast (2:25.62) against Illinois (10/21) ... Scored in two other Big Ten meets, posting a third-place performance in the 100 breast against Iowa (10/28) and a second-place 200 breast swim against Purdue (1/13) ... Closed the regular season by finishing third in the 200 breast (2:24.80) and 200 IM (2:10.99) versus Oakland (1/19).

High School: Four-year letterwinner for coach Tony Bachigalupo ... Earned all-state and Independent Swim Conference Swimmer of the Meet honors twice ... Participated in the YMCA Nationals for two years ... Named team captain and team MVP her senior year ... Swam for the Flint Falcons club team for two years.

Personal: Born April 13, 1988 in Bay City, Mich. ... Daughter of Michael and Rose Ann Deford ... Zoology major.