Illinois Cruises to Victory Over Iowa State

Saturday, October 17

ARC Pool

11:00 a.m.

University of Illinois

195

Iowa State

October 17, 2026 | Swimming & Diving

RECAP

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois swim and dive team earned its first win of the 2026-27 season over Iowa State, 195-98, on Saturday afternoon from the ARC Pool. The Illini had an event champion in 14 out of 16 events on Senior Day.

BETWEEN THE LANES

The 400 medley relay team of Kate Farrell, Kayla Duran, Chloe Diner and Maggie Adler started the meet off with a gold medal for the Illini on a time of 3:44.38. This team went on to dominate in their individual races the rest of the meet.

Farrell has yet to lose an individual race in her freshman season as she won the 100 backstroke on a time of 56.05 and the 200 backstroke (2:02.44) today.

Adler won the 100 freestyle (51.84) while Diner won the 200 freestyle (1:52.48) and 400 IM (4:25.79). Duran touched second in the 100 backstroke (1:03.07). Katie Gresik touched first in both the 500 freestyle (5:04.42) and the 1000 freestyle (10:42.18) while Virág Zámbó won the 200 butterfly (2:05.46).

In the 50 freestyle it was an Illini sweep as they took the top four spots led by Isabella Wilhelm (23.71), followed by Maggie Adler (24.29), Audrey Cavaliere (25.08) and Marin McAndrew (25.09). Wilhelm later went on to win the 100 butterfly as well (57.08).

The 200 freestyle relay team of Wilhelm, Adler, Kalina Nikolaeva and Hailey Vlcek closed out the meet with one final win for Illinois on a time of 1:36.23.

ON THE BOARDS

Amelia Semple led the way in first for the Illini on the three-meter boards scoring 302.10 just narrowly missing the program's top-10 list by a couple of points. Bethany Mercer (260.25), Hanna Ekdahl (259.80) and Elleka Boeres (235.80) were the next three Illini finishers in sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

Ekdahl led the way on the 1-meter dive for Illinois winning the event on the program's fifth-highest score of 294.75. Mercer placed fifth (264.15) and Boeres placed seventh (246.23).

UP NEXT

The Illinois aquatics crew returns to action in a couple weeks on Saturday (Nov. 7) for a triangular meet with Arkansas and Texas A&M in Fayetteville, Ark.

TOP-10 PROGRAM MARKS

Fifth – 1-meter dive: Hanna Ekdahl (294.75)

EVENT CHAMPIONS

50 freestyle: Isabella Wilhelm (23.71)
100 backstroke: Kate Farrell (56.05)
100 butterfly: Isabella Wilhelm (57.08)
100 freestyle: Maggie Adler (51.84)
200 backstroke: Kate Farrell (2:02.44)
200 butterfly: Virág Zámbó (2:05.46)
200 freestyle: Chloe Diner (1:52.48)
200 freestyle relay: Isabella Wilhelm, Maggie Adler, Kalina Nikolaeva, Hailey Vlcek (1:36.23)
400 medley relay: Kate Farrell, Kayla Duran, Chloe Diner, Maggie Adler (3:44.38)
400 IM: Chloe Diner (4:25.79)
500 freestyle: Katie Gresik (5:04.42)
1000 freestyle: Katie Gresik (10:42.18)
1-meter dive: Hanna Ekdahl (294.75)
3-meter dive: Amelia Semple (302.10)