NIL Opportunities

Illinois Record - 200 and 400 Freestyle Relay

2024-25

• Achieved multiple personal bests at the Big Ten Championships, including the 50 freestyle (23.12), ranking as the ninth-fastest in program history, and the 200 freestyle (1:51.21)
• Contributed to record-breaking relay performances, including first place in the 200 freestyle relay (1:30.91) and a 12th-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:20.56), breaking a nine-year-old school record at the Big Ten Championships
• Swam the eighth-fastest 200 medley relay time in program history (1:40.67) at Southern Illinois
• Recorded personal bests in the 100 IM (59.57) and 100 freestyle (50.77) against Eastern Illinois
• Won the 200 freestyle relay (1:33.97) at Hawkeye Invite
•  Academic All-Big Ten

2023-24

• Part of the school record 400 medley relay (3:40.78) at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship
• Part of the program's second-fastest 200 freestyle relay (1:31.05) at the Big Ten Championships
• Swam a personal best in the 200 freestyle (1:51.68) at the Boilermaker Invite
• Academic All-Big Ten

2022-23

• Part of the 200 medley relay team that swam the tenth fastest program time (1:41.67) at Nebraska
• Swam a personal-best 100 freestyle (50.80) at the Big Ten Championships
• Academic All-Big Ten

2021-22

• Recorded three lifetime bests at the House of Champions Invite in the 50 freestyle (23.50), 100 freestyle (51.36), and the 200 freestyle (1:51.81)
• Placed third in the 100 freestyle (52.98) at Indiana State
• Contributed to a first place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (Cabush, Olson, Yetter) at Indiana State.
• Placed first in the 50 freestyle (23.91) at SIU, versus Iowa (23.81), and versus Nebraska (23.88)
• Clocked a lifetime-best 23.16 in the 50 freestyle at the Big Ten Championships
• Academic All-Big Ten

2020-21

• Participated in the winning 400 Free Relay versus Nebraska 
• Recorded three personal bests at the Big Ten Championships in the 50 Freestyle (23.55), 100 Freestyle (51.76) and 200 Freestyle (1:52.67)

High School

• Attended Metea Valley High School
• Two-time All-Conference member (2018 & 2019)
• Three-time All-Academic Conference member (2017, '18, & '19)
• Three-time All-American (2017, '18, & '19)
• Four year varsity letterwinner

Personal

• Born December 26, 2001
• Hometown: Aurora, Ill. 
• Parents are Brian and Tracy Bludgen
• Has two sisters, Emma and Addison
• Chose Illinois because "each time I visited Illinois I felt connected to the team and school. I knew that this is where I wanted to continue my academic and swimming career."