CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois swimming and diving will open its 2015-16 regular season by hosting the Fighting Illini Dual Meet Spectacular this Friday at 2 p.m. at the ARC Pool. UI opponents include Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois and Olivet Nazarene.
The meet will be scored as dual meets with the women’s teams to earn three decisions and the men registering two.
Between the two sessions of competition, nine Illini swimmers and divers will be honored in a senior day ceremony. Honorees include: Jessica Clifford (Diving), Jennifer Coady (Breast/IM/Free), Stephanie Hein (IM/Breast, Back), Lori Lynn (Fly, Back, IM), Sloane McDermott (Back/IM), Isabella Schamber (Breast/IM/Free), Hollie Smith (Breast), Sarah Sykstus (Fly/IM/Free) and Kirsten Zborek (Free).
The Illini come into the regular season following an impressive showing in the annual Orange and Blue Intra-squad meet. Five meet records as well as a pair of pool records fell in the preseason intra-squad meet. Registering the first pool record was Samantha Stratford in the 200 IM. The Illini junior clocked a time of 2:04.09 in the event. Senior Lynn broke the 100 butterfly pool record after posting a mark of :55.44.
All three of UI’s opponents will bring both men’s and women’s squads for the meet. The meet will also serve as the season-opener for both Eastern Illinois units. Olivet competed at the Dennis Stark Relays hosted by Notre Dame last weekend as the men’s side secured a third place finish and the women finished fifth. The Western Illinois men’s team is 0-2 on the dual season with losses to St. Louis and South Dakota while the women are 0-3, falling to St. Louis, Omaha and South Dakota.
During the Fighting Illini Dual Meet Spectacular there will be a raffle and giveaways such as posters and buttons, in addition to koozies and leis for a Hawaiian themed experience.
Swimming news courtesy of Illinois Swimming & Diving.
