Nov. 1, 2013
Complete Results | Printable Results (PDF)
Post-Meet Interviews: Coach Novitsky | Alison Meng | Amelia Schilling
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois swimming and diving team opened its home season Friday night defeating Illinois State 206-94. The Illini started strong claiming the victory in the first event - the 200 medley - and didn't look back claiming first in every race in the ARC pool.
"Claiming a victory in every race was one of our goals," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "We wanted to make sure that we stayed focus for this meet and swim a complete meet from start to finish."
Freshmen Amelia Schilling highlighted the night as she claimed her first collegiate victory in Orange and Blue. Schilling, who claimed first in the 1000 free (10:20:22) and 500 free (5:03.46), was one of five Illini swimmers to capture two individual first place finishes.
The Illini also saw two first-place finishers post new top times for the season in Jessica Holz in the 200 back (2:03.01) and Sarah Sykstus in the 400 IM (4:31.65).
Holz also took first in the 100 back (58.01), while Sykstus finished first in the 200 fly (2:05.90)
The other swimmers with multiple event victories included Alison Meng in the 100 fly (56.79) and 50 free (24.00) and Erica Lynn in the 100 breast (1:06.66) and 200 breast (2:22.34).
Other event winners included Courtney Pope in the 100 free (52.07), good for her fifth event victory this season, and Megan Marchuk in the 200 free (1:52:55).
In the 200 medley relay, Meng, Schamber, L. Lynn and Pope took first with at time of 1:45.51. The Illini also claimed the 200 free relay, where Pope, Meng, Marchuk and Mary Beth Howard swam a time 1:36.08.
The Illini fell short of an event sweep finishing second in both diving events. On the boards Emily Fung took second in the 1-meter (231.97), while Olivia Kassouni took second in the 3-meter (242.84).
Other second place finishers for the Illini included Cara Chuang in the 100 back (58.09), Gabbie Stecker in the 200 free (1:52.85), Lori Lynn in the 200 fly (2:06.71), Pope in the 50 free (24.29) and Marchuk in the 100 free (52.83).
UP NEXT: The Orange and Blue will look to carry momentum into their home meet next weekend against Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. CT in the ARC Pool.
