Jerod Simek Director of Operations | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Jerod Simek Director of Operations | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
The Illinois swim and dive team is preparing to compete in the Big Ten Championships at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, from February 21 to 24. This will be the third time this season that the team competes at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatics Center.
Under the guidance of second-year head coach Jeana Kempe, the Illini have achieved 18 top-10 program marks this year. Junior Sydney Stoll recently broke her own school record in the 100 IM with a time of 55.68 seconds at the Louisville Invite. Freshmen Gwen Bakker and Kylee Sessions also delivered strong performances, securing top-10 times in their respective events. Bakker is now ranked third in the 50 breaststroke with a time of 29.14 seconds, while Sessions holds third place in the 100 IM with a time of 57.81 seconds.
Stoll has had an impressive season, setting a new school record in the 100 butterfly earlier this year with a time of 54.24 seconds and achieving high rankings in several other events including the 50 backstroke (25.89), 100 backstroke (54.86), and 200 freestyle (1:48.72).
Junior Suvana Baskar set a school record and achieved an NCAA B cut time in the 100 backstroke with a time of 53.66 seconds. Sophomore Sara Jass also made notable contributions by scoring top-10 program marks in multiple events such as the 200 breaststroke (2:13.12), which ranks second, as well as NCAA B cuts for both her performance there and in the 400 IM (4:15.46).
The team's relay achievements include breaking a school record with their performance in the 200 medley relay, clocking a time of 1:39.37 thanks to contributions from Baskar, Sessions, junior Logan Kuehne, and senior Lily Olson.
In diving, freshman Elle Crisostomo recorded one of Illinois' highest platform dive scores with her total of 215.35 points, while freshman Matilda Garcia achieved NCAA B cuts on both one-meter (271.20) and three-meter boards (287.35). Seniors Taylor Michael and Brooke Michael secured their own B cuts on three-meter boards with scores of 293.55 and 283.70 respectively.
Freshman Bethany Mercer reached an NCAA B cut on one-meter boards scoring at least 270 points while freshman Dani O'Kelly completed it for three meters posting over 284 points.
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