UIC vs Valparaiso
- January 31, 2025
- Valparaiso, Ind.
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
Courtesy: UIC Athletics
VALPARAISO, Ind. (Jan. 31, 2025) – The UIC Swimming programs swept Valparaiso with the women winning every event and the men winning all but one event. The women’s team defeated the Beacons, 209.5-52.5 and the men won 195-67.
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH ASHLEY DELL
“Tonight was a great way to end our dual meet season. It has been an extremely busy month of competing mixed with hard training and I’m proud of the way they’ve pushed through. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish at MVC champs in a few weeks!”
NOTABLE PERFORMERS
Men’s
Rafe Dolan Peterson (Austin, Minn./Austin)
100 Backstroke– 1st place | 1:45.08*
100 Butterfly – 1st place | 1:51.16
Contributed to the 1st place team in the 400-freestyle relay – 3:06.22
Note: Winning the 100 backstroke with a time of 49.03, Dolan Peterson set a new record at Valparaiso Aquatic Center, surpassing Valparaiso’s Jackson Olstman (Olstman’s time of 50.40 was set earlier this season).
Patton Shaar (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central)
200 Freestyle – 1st place | 1:45.08
200 Backstroke – 1st place | 1:51.16
Contributed to the 3rd place team in the 200-medley relay – 1:35.74
Daniel Galinski (Elmwood Park, Ill./Elmwood Park)
100 Breaststroke – 1st place | 57.16
200 Breaststroke – 1st place | 2:05.74
200 Individual Medley – 1st place | 1:56.29
Contributed to the 1st place team in the 200-medley relay – 1:32.62
Women’s
Zoe Shields (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem)
200 Freestyle – 1st place | 1:53.46
50 Freestyle – 1st place | 24.03
Contributed to the 2nd place team in the 200-medley relay – 1:47.29
Taira Juronis (Palos Hills, Ill./Amos Alonzo Stagg)
100 Breaststroke – 1st place | 1:06.54
200 Breaststroke – 1st place | 2:23.48
200 Individual Medley – 2nd place | 2:12.44
Contributed to the 2nd place team in the 200-medley relay – 1:47.29
UP NEXT
Each of the Flames swimming programs will be setting their sights on their respective Missouri Valley Conference Championship Meet. The men’s team will travel to Miami of Ohio’s Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center to compete Feb. 19-22. The women’s team will head to Waukee, Ia. to compete at the Waukee CSD Natatorium from Feb. 26- Mar. 1.
Courtesy: Valpo Athletics
How It Happened
- On the women’s side, Courtney Ledbetter (Wentzville, Mo./Timberland [Notre Dame College]) and Sara Strauss (Spring Lake, Mich./Spring Lake) posted top-10 times in program history Friday. Strauss moved up to third in program history with a second-place finish in the 200 breast, touching the wall in 2:24.35, while Ledbetter cracked the top-10 chart in the 50 free, placing second with a time of 24.59 to move into a tie for ninth.
- Strauss also paced the Beacons Friday in the 200 free (1:59.53) and the 200 IM (2:15.96), while Ledbetter also led the way for Valpo in the 100 free (54.10).
- Three other Valpo women led the team in two individual events apiece. Ally Unruh (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) was the Beacons’ top swimmer in the distance events, covering the 1000 free in 11:11.28 and the 500 free in 5:26.03.
- Sophie Schoch (Medina, Ohio/Medina) placed second in the 200 back with a time of 2:11.12 and also paced Valpo in the 100 back (1:00.05).
- Kailyn Benoit (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) led the way for Valpo in the fly events, posting times of 1:02.08 in the 100 fly and 2:14.64 in the 200 fly.
- On the men’s side, Parker swam a season-best time of 21.86 in the 50 free to claim top honors by two-tenths of a second.
- Garrett Hoppman (Midland, Texas/Midland) took second place in the 200 fly with a time of 1:57.71 and also paced the Beacons in the 100 fly with a time of 51.69.
- Jackson Oostman (Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy) led the Valpo contingent in a trio of individual events — the 100 back (53.21), the 200 back (2:01.00) and the 200 IM (2:01.76).
- Nate Bolinger (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) was the Beacons’ top swimmers in the 100 free (49.42) and the 200 free (1:47.77).
- UIC earned a 195-67 win on the men’s side and a 209.5-52.5 win on the women’s side.
Next Up
The men’s and women’s squads split up for their respective Missouri Valley Conference Championships to close out the 2024-25 campaign. The men head to Oxford, Ohio for the MVC meet Feb. 19-22, while the women will go to Waukee, Iowa Feb. 26-March 1.
