SIU vs Illinois vs Illinois State
Courtesy: Illinois Athletics
Carbondale, Ill. – The University of Illinois swimming and diving team defeated both Southern Illinois and Illinois State on Friday night. The victory puts the Illini record up 4-1 on the season. Sophomore Cara Bognar picked up two individual first place finishes and a personal best in the 200 IM, with Sydney Stoll and Laurel Bludgen getting a first place finish apiece.
“We knew going in to the meet that this was going to be a barn burner,” said Head Coach Sue Novitsky, “The whole team stepped up and competed with energy and enthusiasm. This was a terrific test for the whole team and to come out with two wins is very satisfying. We have another big test tomorrow and are looking forward to keep trying to take it to the next level.”
Bognar led the way for the Illini winning two of her three events and recording a personal best in the other. Bognar placed first in the 1000 freestyle (10:16.65) and the 200 butterfly (2:02.56), and getting her personal best time of 2:06.20 in the 200 IM, placing third in the event. Sydney Stoll placed in all three of her events, placing first in the 500 free (5:01.79), second in the 200 IM (2:04.76), and third in the 200 freestyle (1:53.64). Laurel Bludgen placed first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.91, and placed second in the 100 freestyle with a time of 52.80.
Illinois (4-1) had a great day for relays, with their four teams all placing in the top three for th two relay events. The 400 free relay team composed of Olson, Yetter, Bludgen, and Cabush took first place in the event (3:27.85), with Guerra, Kuehne, Gingras, and Salafatinos coming right behind them in third with a time of 3:33.52. In the 200 medley relay, the Fighting Illini took second (Salafatinos, Kale, Cabush, Yetter) and third (Kuehne, Haworth, Guerra, Bludgen).
ON THE BOARDS
The Illini divers had a successful day on the boards as well, having two divers place in the top three in each event. Allison Landis qualified for the NCAA Zone meet in the 1 meter diving, scoring 268.05, also marking a personal best. Taylor Michael had a good day as well recording personal bests in both diving events, placing first in the 3 meter (262.35), and second in the 1 meter (264.10).
NEXT UP
Illinois will travel to Nashville, Tennessee to face off with Vanderbilt on Saturday at 1pm ET.
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Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest information on Fighting Illini Swimming and Diving. Follow the Orange and Blue on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for even more coverage.
Courtesy: Illinois State Athletics
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Illinois State swimming and diving team faced tough in-state opponents Illinois and Southern Illinois both in the pool and on the boards on Saturday evening, falling to both teams in the tri-meet hosted by the Salukis.
In the pool the Redbirds were once again led by junior Makenna Licking, who recorded a season-best time of 10:30.36 to nab a second-place finish in the 1,000-yard freestyle. Joining Licking with a top-three finish in the pool was sophomore Kenzie Weber, finishing third in the 100-yard backstroke with a season-best time of 58.17 seconds.
Freshman Eva Reyes, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Diver of the Week, led the Redbirds on the boards, scoring 258.50 in the 1-meter dive to place third overall.
The Redbirds will look to bounce back tomorrow morning when they compete at McKendree, facing both McKendree and Maryville. Diving will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by swimming at 12 p.m.
Courtesy: SIU Athletics
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Hosting the first tri-meet of the 2021-22 season for the Salukis, SIU finished in a split series against in-state opponents, the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Illinois State Redbirds. With just the women’s team competing Friday evening, the Salukis knocked off the Redbirds, 204-95, while they battled neck and neck to the Big Ten foe, but capitulated, 155-144.
TOP PERFORMERS FROM THE SALUKIS
Romero, Robertson, Rau, Pulido
- 200-Medley Relay (1:44.17)
- 200-free (1:52.38)
- 100-free (52.33)
- 100-back (54.19)
- 200-back (1:57.63)
- 200-IM (2:04.18)
- 100-breast (1:04.36)
- 200-breast (2:20.75)
- 100-fly (56:67)
MEET HIGHLIGHTS
Kicking off the evening on a high note, the quartet of Lucia Romero, Ali Robertson, Jasmine Rau, and Celia Pulido garnered a first place finish against the Illini and Redbirds in the 200-medley relay, clocking in at 1:44.17.
Freshman standout Celia Pulido marked her third career three-peat in meet action. The Mexico-native recorded a first place finish in the 200-IM (2:04.18) and 200-back (1:57.63), while earning the pool record inside Shea Natatorium in the women’s 100-back (54.19).
Canadian diver Laura Mircea stood out on the board for the Maroon and White. Mircea garnered a second-place spot, behind Illinois’ Taylor Michael, on the three-meter tallying 247.20 — only three points below her lifetime best.
Sophomore Ella Kerr found the top spot for the first time in her Saluki career. The Youngstown State transfer outswam the rest in the 200-breast, clocking in at 2:20.75, following closely behind was teammate Melanie Scheiblein in third (2:22.23).
Back in action and in the freestyle, fifth-year senior Sierra Forbord took home a two-peat in tight races in the 100- (52.33) and 200-free (1:52.38).
Ending the meet was the final relay event, in a tight battle back and forth with each member were the Illini and Salukis rallying. The Dawgs came close to the Orange and Blue, inches away from their 3:27.85 finale was the Saluki relay A squad of Abbey Desmet, Romero, Meesha Montgomery, and Forbord — hitting the wall at 3:29.97.
NEXT UP
Southern Illinois is set to host the A3 Performance Invitational inside Shea Natatorium, Thursday, November 11 through Saturday, November 23.
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