TERRE HAUTE, Ind.: The Fighting Illini swimming and diving team started their season strong out the gates with a 185.5-98.5 victory against Indiana State (0-3) on Friday night. This win marks their first victory since their dual meet win versus Nebraska on 1/23/21. Freshman Molly Yetter and sophomore Lily Olson picked up three first place finishes, with senior Abby Cabush and Junior Kaleigh Haworth earning two first place finishes of theirown.
"It is great to get the first meet under our belt. Indiana State was tough and kept up the intensity all the way through the meet," said Head Coach Sue Novitsky, "Overall, we competed strong on the boards and in the lanes. We settled down after the first couple of events and showed great energy and fight to the end. Next we get back to work and focus on making adjustments to keep moving forward."
Freshman Molly Yetter made her Illini debut one to remember by placing first in three of the four events she competed in. Yetter clocked a 1:54.51 in the 200 freestyle, a 51.95 in the 100 freestyle, and contributed to a first place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (Cabush, Bludgen, Olson). Sophomore Lily Olson also recorded three first place finishes in the four events in which she competed. She placed first in the 50 freestyle, the 200 butterfly, and also was a member of the first place finishing 400 freestyle relay with times of 23.96, 2:06.23, and a collective time of 3:29.27 in a relay.
Also contributing to the dominant win was Cabush, who placed first in the 500 freestyle (5:02.47) and was also a member of winning 400 freestyle relay team. Cabush also placed in two other events, placing third in the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle. Junior Kaleigh Haworth also placed first in two events, clocking a 1:05.86 in the 100 breaststroke and a 2:22.14 in the 200 breaststroke.
Freshmen Sydney Stoll and Jane Umhofer also had great Illini debuts, both placing in multiple events. Stoll picked up a first place finish in the 1000 freestyle (10:31.38), and placed third in contribution to a 400 freestyle relay team (Salafatinos, Guerra, Kuehne). Jane Umhofer placed second in the 200 breaststroke (2:22.93) and the 400 IM (4:33.36). Overall it was a full team effort that brought the Illini to victory.
ON THE BOARDS
The Fighting Illini divers also had a very successful first meet versus Indiana State, sweeping 1st-3rd place in both the 1 meter diving and 3 meter diving. Allison Landis placed first in the 1 meter (257.93), and Erin Young started off her senior season with a first place finish in the 3 meter (266.47). Brooke Michael had a day of her own, placing second in the 1 meter (244.05), and the 3 meter (265.43).
NEXT UP
The Fighting Illini travel to Evanston, Ill. on Saturday, October 23rd to face off in a tri-meet with Northwestern and the University of Illinois-Chicago.
