The University of Illinois swim and dive team has announced its schedule for the 2025-26 season. Head coach Jeana Kempe shared details of the upcoming slate, which includes 11 regular season meets or tournaments, with three scheduled at the ARC Pool in Champaign and eight on the road.
The team’s season will open with the Orange vs. Blue intrasquad meet on October 4. The first official meet takes place away at Iowa State from October 17 to 18. The Illini’s home opener follows on October 24-25, when they host the House of Paign Invite featuring Southern Illinois and Illinois State.
After their home event, Illinois will compete in several road meets, starting with a triangular against Indiana State and Vanderbilt in Terre Haute, Indiana on November 7-8. Ten days later, they travel to Iowa City for the Hawkeye Invite running from November 18 to 21.
Conference competition begins December 6 at Wisconsin. The team then heads to Sarasota, Florida for the CSCAA Open Water Nationals on December 13.
In January, Illinois faces Purdue in West Lafayette on January 10 before returning home to host Nebraska and Iowa for a triangular meet January 16-17. They will participate in Notre Dame’s Tim Welsh Classic in South Bend on January 23-24.
The dual meet season concludes February 7 when Eastern Illinois visits Champaign. Postseason events begin with the Big Ten Championships February 18-21 in Minneapolis. Swimmers seeking NCAA qualification can attend the Notre Dame Last Chance meet February 27-28.
March brings national-level competitions: NCAA Diving Zones take place March 9-11 in Ypsilanti, Michigan; CSCAA Championships are set for March 12-14 in Ocala, Florida; and NCAA Championships are scheduled for March 18-21 in Atlanta.
“All dates and times are subject to change,” according to information released by head coach Jeana Kempe.
