Chambana Sun

The Illinois swim and dive team secured a victory over Eastern Illinois with a score of 108-73. This win on senior day at the ARC Pool concluded their regular season with a record of 6-3 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten Conference.

Head coach Jeana Kempe expressed her appreciation for the seniors, stating, "I am so grateful for this group of seniors. They are incredible women, they're leaders in and out the pool, and have raised the standard in the Illinois program. Their legacy goes beyond the pool! It was a perfect day to celebrate them and head into the championship season!"

The meet began with a win by the 200 medley relay team consisting of Suvana Baskar, Gwen Bakker, Abby Ninan, and Marin McAndrew, who finished with a time of 1:43.84. Baskar also claimed victory in the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.01.

Sara Jass achieved the program's second-fastest time in the 100 IM at 56.44 during her second-place finish, while Kalina Nikolaeva swam the sixth-fastest time in an exhibition at 58.40.

Adelaide Reaser excelled in distance events, winning both the 1000 freestyle with a season-best time of 10:09.14 and later taking first place in the 100 butterfly at 56.42.

Sydney Stoll set a pool record in the 100 IM with a time of 55.51 and achieved another personal best as she led off the winning 200 free relay team with her seventh-fastest program mark in the 50 freestyle (23.08). She also won the event crown in the 500 freestyle clocking at 4:53.52.

Other notable performances included Sophia Yousuf's win in the 200 freestyle (1:50.71), Laurel Bludgen's victory in the 100 freestyle (50.77), and Jane Umhofer taking first place in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.10).

The senior athletes wrapped up their meet triumphantly as Stoll, Logan Kuehne, Umhofer, and Molly Yetter clinched first place in their final event together—the all-senior team took home gold in the 200 freestyle relay finishing at (1:33.51).

The team's upcoming schedule sees them preparing for participation from February 19-22 at Columbus, Ohio during which they will compete at Big Ten Championships.