NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State swimming and diving team opened the 2017-18 season with its annual Red and White Intrasquad Meet Saturday at Horton Pool with the White team narrowly edging the Red team, 109-107.
Rachel Holm, Mary Katherine Tillotson and Abi Shewchuk propelled the White team to victory, as each won an individual event. Morgan Rosser led the Red team, finishing first in two individual events at Saturday's meet.
"I was really happy with how the meet went today," said head swimming coach Scott Cameron. "It was our first chance to see the team race this year. There are a lot of things we can work on moving forward, but they swam really well and had a good time doing it."
Emily Aument topped the Redbird divers, winning the 1-meter (2:49.37) event for the White team.
"I was quite pleased with the way we competed from top to bottom," said head diving coach Phil Hoffmann. "I am pleasantly surprised with the progress we've made in our preseason training. I think that we have a strong group of divers that I know are excited to keep improving week to week, and I think this was a great start for us as we prepare for the first part of our season."
Holm touched the wall first in the 100-yard butterfly (59.51), while Tillotson took first in the 100-yard freestyle (54.93). Shewchuk finished first in the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.85). Rosser won both the 200-(1:59.30) and 500-yard (5:13.68) freestyles.
Other events winners Saturday were Morgan Clark (50-yard freestyle, 24.97), Jensen Keck (100-yard breaststroke, 1:06.06) and Karley Licking (200-yard IM, 2:10.21).
The relay team of Kari Balson, Jessica Nichols, Savannah Rubocki and Tillotson won the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:41.29) for the White team. The Red team won both the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:40.72) and the 200-yard medley relay (1:48.04). Clark, Jillena Everest, Molly Hill and Licking formed the winning 200-yard freestyle relay, while the team of Clark, Keck, Licking and Alyssa Swanson formed the winning 200-yard medley relay team.
The Redbirds next meet will be a return to Horton Pool, to face off against Indiana State on Sept. 30.
Fans can receive live updates and more by following @RedbirdSwim on Twitter.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
