CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini swimming and diving program wrapped up their final home meet at the ARC for the 2022-23 season on Saturday, Jan. 7. Today was senior day for the Illini in which nine were honored: Hannah Aegerter, Jeanri Buys, Lizzie Gile, Isabelle Guerra, Kaleigh Haworth, Divya Kale, Mariclaire Lynch, Athena Salafatinos and Erin Young.
Senior Isabelle Packard was not in attendance today for personal reasons.
"It was a great day to celebrate the seniors," said head coach Jeana Kempe. "Those 10 women are phenomenal leaders in the pool and on the boards. They've done a great job, so it was exciting to send them off in the way that we did. It was a hard-fought meet. The outcome wasn't what we thought it could be, we thought we could get the win. However, that is the toughest that Purdue has been raced by us and we are excited about the future."
BETWEEN THE LANES
The Illini started out the meet on top when the 200-medley relay team of Athena Salafatinos, Kaleigh Haworth, Isabelle Guerra and Lily Olson took first (1:45.16). Junior Cara Bognar earned a gold medal in the 200 butterfly (2:02.75) and a silver medal in the 1000 freestyle (10:13.06) In the same event freshman Liv Dorshorst finished third (10:14.04). Junior Lauren Beard (10:39.02) set new personal-bests in the 1000 freestyle.
Sophomore Sydney Stoll won the 200 freestyle (1:52.95) and fellow sophomore Paloma Canos-Cervera took third (1:54.55). Athene Salafatinos took second in the 100 backstroke (57.42). Hannah Aegerter claimed third in the 200 backstroke (2:06.87). Freshman Sara Jass took bronze in the 200 IM (2:05.21).
Junior Laurel Bludgen notched two wins at today's dual in the 50 (23.60) and the 100 freestyle (51.75). Isabelle Guerra took third in the 50 freestyle (23.92) and junior Lily Olson did the same in the 100 freestyle (52.62). Sophomore Sydney Stoll won the 200 backstroke (2:03.5) and placed second in the 200 IM.
Kaleigh Haworth earned silver in the 200 breaststroke (2:19.84). Freshman Alexis Wendel won the 100 butterfly (56.85). The Illini ended the meet with a 200 freestyle relay win: Isabelle Guerra, Lily Olson, Athena Salafatinos, Logan Kuehne (1:34.88).
ON THE BOARDS
Erin Young dove a new personal-best one-meter today with a 266.70 and she placed fifth. Junior Brooke Michael also recorded a new personal-best one-meter with a 264.00, she placed sixth. Sophomore Hannah Hong dove two new personal-bests today. First in the three-meter with a 243.38 (eighth) and a 262.20 (seventh) in the one-meter.
UP NEXT
The Illini swim and dive team is back in action next week with a road trip to Iowa for a two-day meet. Friday, Jan. 13 at 5 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 14 at 11 a.m. CT.
