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 swimming and diving team is set to conclude its 2023-24 season with two significant events. The CSCAA NIC Championships will take place in Ocala, Florida, while the NCAA Diving Zones are scheduled for Louisville, Kentucky. These events will run from March 14 to March 16.
Eleven swimmers from Illinois are traveling to Ocala for the championships. They include Gwen Bakker, Laurel Bludgen, Paloma Canos Cervera, Sara Jass, Logan Kuehne, Kalina Nikolaeva, Adelaide Reaser, Kylee Sessions, Sydney Stoll, Martina Cibulkova, and Molly Yetter.
In Louisville, five divers will compete: Brooke Michael, Dani O'Kelly, Bethany Mercer, Matilda Garcia, and Taylor Michael.
Jeana Kempe has led the team as head coach this season. Under her guidance, nine school records have been broken. Sydney Stoll contributed to four of these records. She initially set a record in the 100 butterfly on November 17 at the Boilermaker Invite with a time of 54.24 seconds and later improved it to 54 seconds flat at the Big Ten Championships on February 23. Stoll also holds records in the 100 IM (55.68) and 200 freestyle (1:47.53).
Logan Kuehne achieved a new school record in the 50 freestyle on February 22 at the Big Ten Championships with a time of 22.79 seconds and was part of setting two records in the 200 medley relay events.
The Michael twins have qualified for zone cuts on three-meter boards. Freshmen Dani O'Kelly and Matilda Garcia will join them on these boards after qualifying both there and on one-meter boards. Bethany Mercer is set to dive from the platform and will also compete on one-meter boards.
Alerts Sign-up