CHAMPAIGN — Petra Holesinska speaks four languages and had a 3.82 grade-point average in her first semester at Illinois. A model student-athlete.
But the freshman from the Czech Republic had a difficult time getting admitted because of her English score.
“Taking a test in another language is really hard,” Illinois coach Matt Bollant said.
“We had to fight to get her in. I said, ‘This is a kid who is going to stay up all night to get her assignment done. She’s going to do whatever she has to do.’ ”
Ultimately, the school said “Yes.