CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois swim and dive program is set for its final home meet of the season on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m. CT. It will be senior day at the ARC Pool, where the Orange and Blue will take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Seven Illini have earned NCAA B cuts this season. Sophomore Sara Jass owns a B cut in the 200 breaststroke (2:13.12) and the 400 IM (4:15.46). Junior Suvana Baskar made the cut in the 100 backstroke with her school record, 53.66. Freshman Matilda Garcia has hers on both the one-meter (271.20) and three-meter boards (287.35). She is the only Illini diver to have B cuts on both boards.
Seniors Taylor Michael (293.55) and Brooke Michael (283.70) both have made the cut on the three-meter boards. Freshman Bethany Mercer's 270.23 makes the cut on the one-meter boards. Freshman Dani O'Kelly rounds out the Illini divers in B cuts with a 284.93 on the three-meter boards.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Cornhuskers enter Champaign with a 5-2 overall dual record and sit 0-2 in conference duals. There have been two common opponents between Nebraska and Illinois. Nebraska defeated Kansas, 187-113, and fell to Iowa, 160-141. Illinois lost to Kansas, 169-131, and Iowa, 166.5-133.5. The last meeting between these two squads was Jan. 21, 2023, and the Fighting Illini fell, 168-132.
