A big weekend awaits the Western Kentucky University swimming and diving team, as the Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers host Northwestern on Friday, October 25 at Bill Powell Natatorium.
The meet begins with diving at 2 p.m. followed by the swim events at 4:30 p.m. The pool is located inside the Raymond B. Preston Health and Activities Center. It kickoffs the team’s Alumni Weekend, as an Alumni Meet will take place shortly after the meet at approximately 7:30 p.m.
“Northwestern is very good. They are definitely in the top 25 in the country,” said WKU head coach Bruce Marchionda. “Both the men and women programs are very good with a rich history of having dynamic teams. They are bringing a rich history down here, so we are very excited about that because it is the first time in a long time that we have been able to get a major university like Northwestern to swim here at WKU. We just want to give them a run for their money, get up and race, be competitive and see what happens.”
Northwestern won’t be a stranger to the WKU men’s team, as the opponents faced each other last year in Chicago with the meet coming down to a winner-take-all relay; however, WKU came up just short and fell 1435.-133.5 to the Wildcats.
Last time out for WKU, the teams earned wins over Delta State after the team earned 23 of the 28 individual wins. Seven student-athletes won two or more events, led by freshman Cody Reul who was a triple winner in the 100 (46.56), 500 (4:41.52) and 1000 (9:35.60) free. Juniors Claire Conlon and Allie Duff each swept their respective events.
Freshman Amy Crayne won both diving events against the Lady Statesmen while sophomore Giorgi Meyer set a new school record while qualifying for NCAA Zone Championships at the end of the season with a mark of 335.10 on the one-meter board.
“That was big surprise to us,” Marchionda said. “He had a great year last year, ending in the NCAA Zone Championships and finished in the top 50 percent there in the one meter, and as a freshman, that is very good. We knew the talent was there. Chelsea Ale, our new diving coach, is doing a great job with our divers. He has really taken off under her tutelage. We are really excited about that. Hopefully he can win at least one of the boards this weekend for us, which will be very important. We are excited for him to keep developing and moving up in the zone level and eventually on to the NCAA level.”
The Wildcats’ first meet of this season saw both teams garner victories, as the women defeated Eastern Michigan and Illinois and the men win over Eastern Michigan. Freshman Lacey Locke swam a 55.48 in the 100 back, as Locke’s time was faster than any Northwestern time during the 2012-13 season. Sophomore Jordan Wilimovsky posted a career-best 9:12.51 in the 1000 free with a time of 9:12.51. The `Cats posted impressive times in the 50 yard freestyle as well. NU’s senior Chase Stephens won the race with a 20.38 time followed by Wildcats freshman Andy Jovanovic, who swam a 21.22.
“Hopefully it is going to help us swim a little bit faster with that many alumni in the stands,” Marchionda said of the team’s Alumni Weekend. “It will be interesting because a number of swimmers who hold our school or pool records will be in the stands, so if one or two of those fall this weekend, it will be kind of fun to recognize them up in the stands for holding the record and that it no longer exists. We had a meet during the Alumni Weekend four years ago, and I just remember that being a dynamic atmosphere because they obviously know what is going on, know the cheers and follow our current swimmers. It will be a great atmosphere in there, and going against a great team too, you just can’t go wrong this weekend.”
Alumni activities take place after the team’s meet with the Alumni Swim Meet scheduled to begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. A reception will take place after the meet on the second floor of the Augenstein Alumni Center at 9 p.m.
On Saturday, October 25, alums are invited to purchase tickets to the W-Club Hall of Fame Induction Breakfast, as former swimmer Brandi Beckwith Carey is being inducted into the WKU Athletics Hall of Fame. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased by contacting W-Club Secretary Paul Just at [email protected].
Following the breakfast, swim and dive will host a tailgate outside E.A. Diddle Arena by the E.A. Diddle statue with catered food.
For more information on the weekend’s events, visit the Alumni Weekend website or Facebook page.
For all the latest news and information on WKU swimming and diving, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program on Twitter via @WKUSwimDive and @WKUSwimInfo.
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