CHICAGO – Ellie Willging, an incoming sophomore transfer from University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) and a graduate of Freeport High School in Freeport, Ill., recently signed a letter of intent to continue both her athletic and academic career at Saint Xavier University as a member of the Cougar cross country and track & field programs. The Freeport native was productive in her only season with the UIC Flames last fall finishing eighth overall at the UIC Home Opener with a time of 16:32.8 over the 4K (4,000 meters) event and 52nd overall at the 2014 Horizon League Cross Country Championships with a time of 23:57 in the 6K (6,000 meters) race.  She is the daughter of Pete and Lori Willging of Freeport.