2026 Illinois-Indiana-Gulf Duel in the Pool
- May 30-31
- Westmont, IL
- LCM
- Results
Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski was among the swimmers making moves up the national rankings (LCM) at the 2026 Illinois-Indiana-Gulf Duel in the Pool, an annual meet pitting three LSC all-star squads against one another.
Swimming for the Illinois Zone Team, Liu-Tchorbadjiyski, a member of New Trier Aquatics, turned in a personal best time of 24.67 to win the 50 free, topping his previous best time of 24.75 and moving to 2nd in the boys’ 13-14 age group this season.
Liu-Tchorbadjiyski, 14, also swam personal bests to claim the 100 fly (57.97) and 200 fly (2:13.70), and won the 100 back in 1:00.39.
Other notable swims came from:
- In the girls’ competition, 13-year-old Grace Gannon moved up to 11th in the girls’ 13-14 group this season in the 400 free, winning that event in a personal-best time of 4:27.78. Gannon, who swam for the Indiana Zone Team, also won the 200 fly (2:20.19), 200 IM (2:21.44) and 400 IM (4:58.64). Gannon already ranks 2nd in the 400 IM, 4th in the 200 fly and 7th in the 200 IM this season in the girls’ 13-14 age group.
- Owen Stalnaker, 13-year-old for Gulf LSC Swimming, clocked a personal -best time of 2:13.73 to claim the 200 back and move into 1st in that event among 13-year-old boys this season. He also swam a personal -best time of 1:01.47 in the 100 back to move up to 3rd place in that event among 13-year-old boys.
- Helan Manak, a 14-year-old, claimed the 50 free in a time of 27.18 and the 100 fly with a time of 1:03.77, and was 2nd in the 100 free in a time of 59.85 during the girls’ competition. All were personal best times. Manak moved up to 13th in the 100 fly and 15th in the 50 free in the girls’ 13-14 age group this season.
- Also in the girls’ event, 12-year-old Shelby Bigby of Gulf LSC Swimming won the 50 fly (29.29) and 200 IM (2:29.40) in personal best times. Bigby also won the 100 fly in 1:07.60. In the girls’ 11-12 age group this season, Bigby ranks 3rd in the 50 fly, 5th in the 200 IM and 11th in the 100 fly.
- Cullen Kahl, a 15-year-old for Gulf LSC, won the boys’ 100 breast (1:05.52), the 200 breast (2:25.42), the 200 IM (2:05.65) and the 400 IM (4:28.59), establishing a new season-best in the latter.
