The Fighting Illini sent their seniors out in style by beating the Michigan State Spartans 190-110. The Illini won 12 of the 16 events to dominate Michigan State.
Alison Meng tallied two wins for the Illini, touching first in the 100 backstroke with a 55.48 and in the 100 butterfly with a 56.15. Michigan State’s Maddie Nowak took second in the 100 backstroke with a 58.36 while Illinois’ Lori Lynn finished in 56.26 for second in the 100 butterfly.
Amelia Schilling also had two wins on the day. The first, in the 1000, came by a narrow margin of 10:21.17 to Becca Berman’s 10:21.42. Schilling survived a late charge from Berman of Michigan State, who brought the 1000 home with a 28.08 to Schilling’s 29.02.
The 500 freestyle was even closer, with Schilling again outlasting a late charge, this time from teammate Nelly Casas. Schilling finished with a 5:03.46 to Casas’ 5:03.50. Schilling was out split over the last 200, but had built enough of an early lead to hold on.
Gabbie Stecker was part of two Illini sweeps on the day. In the first, she won the 200 freestyle with a 1:52.76. Hailey Booth and Megan Marchuk finished second and third in 1:53.48 and 1:53.58, respectively.
Later in the meet, Stecker took second in the 200 backstroke with a 2:05.76 as part of a sweep. Sloane McDermott and Callan McDermott touched in first and third in 2:05.38 and 2:06.28, respectively.
The Illini also swept the 50 freestyle. Gabby Bethke led the way with a 24. 20. Sabrinne Gibson took second in 24.38, and Kirsten Zborek completed the sweep with a 24.47.
The same trio swept the 100 freestyle in the same finishing order. Bethke hit the wall in 51.98, Zborek in 52.33, and Gibson in 52.65.
The Illini won both relays on the day. They cruised to a victory in the 400 medley relay with the team of Meng, Sam Stratford, Lynn, and Zborek touching the wall in 3:48.39. Michigan State’s team of Nowak, Shelby Lacy, Elizabeth Brown, and Emily Parsons finished second in 3:52.07.
To end the meet, Zborek, Meng, Sarah Sykstus, and Marchuk combined to win the 200 free relay in 1:35.43. Meng posted the fastest split with a 23.58. The Illini B relay took second with a 1:35.90.
