CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois swim and dive program earned their first win of the 2022-23 season, 165-135, on Saturday October 8th at the ARC Pool. The orange and blue had swimmers place first in 9 of the 16 events.
"I'm happy with the win today the girls fought hard. Indiana State is a great program, this was going to be a hard-fought battle," said Head Coach Jeana Kempe. "I thought Liv Dorshorst and Sara Jass on the freshman side really stepped up. Our core swimmers like Cara Bognar, Sidney Stoll and Isabelle Guerra also performed well. It was exciting to see them all handle this level of competition."
IN THE LANES
Freshman Liv Dorshorst made her Illini debut. First in the 1000 freestyle and won the event clocking in at 10:24.15. She also swam in the 500 freestyle (5:03.06) and placed second.
Senior Jeanri Buys set a new personal-best 1000 freestyle (10:38.19) and finished second. Junior Lauren Beard set a new personal-best in the 200 freestyle (1:55.87) while sophomore Sydney Stoll won the event (1:52.94). Â
Plenty other Illini took the top spot in their discipline: Senior Kaleigh Haworth in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.63), junior Cara Bognar in the 200 butterfly (2:02.60) and 500 freestyle (5:01.47), senior Isabelle Guerra in the 50 freestyle (24) and 100 butterfly (56.27), freshman Sara Jass in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.33) and Sydney Stoll in the 200 IM (2:05.28).
Freshman Alexis Wendel made her debut for the Illini in the 100 butterfly, she placed fourth (57.91).
ON THE BOARDS
Junior Taylor Michael led the Illini in the three-meter dive (244.73) and place third, followed directly by her twin Brooke Michael (239.85). Freshman Abby Manos made her Illini debut, she placed fifth in the three-meter (234.98) and third, led the Illini, in the one-meter (242.48). Brooke and Taylor placed fourth (233.03) and fifth (232.58) respectively in the one-meter. Senior Erin Young placed sixth in both the three (228.30) and one-meter dives (211.28).
"I was excited to see them trust their process and working through some mental challenges on dives that they've never thrown before," said Head Diving Coach Tricia Grant. "I think by January and February time they will be breaking records and killing it, I am very excited."
UP NEXT
Fighting Illini swim is back in action next Friday October 14th at 3:00 p.m. in the ARC Pool. They will be welcoming Illinois State and Southern Illinois.
