The Illinois State swimming and diving team earned second place at the Dennis Stark Relays, lead by divers Krystal Featherston and Terra Whisman. The Birds took second place in nine of the meets events and did not place less than third in what head coach
Steve Paska calls a balanced team effort.
Featherston and Whisman won the three-meter diving competition together, while Kyle Pullman and Monique Witkowski lit the fire on the swimming side. Pullman competed in the 200 yard free relay, 400 medley relay, 500 free relay and 400 free relay, contributing to second place finishes in each. Witkowski did the same in three of the four events she participated in, including the 800 free relay, 500 free relay and 400 free relay .
Head coach
Steve Paska was pleased with the overall effort the team put forth, and views this meet as a stepping stone to build from for the rest of the season.
We swam consistently from last week (at the Red/White intrasquad meet), there was nothing out of the ordinary today, said Paska. I was very pleased with the outcome, and how we swam. The effort was certainly there, we just need to get everybody as healthy as possible and keep up the level of enthusiasm heading into the season.
Meet host Notre Dame took the team title, scoring 257 points. The Birds posted 187 in their second place effort, while Wisconsin-Milwaukee scored 136 to finish third. Valparaiso earned fourth with 108, followed by St. Marys in fifth with 88 and Marquette in sixth scoring 56.
Illinois State returns to the water when it hosts Ball State for a 6 p.m. meet on October17 at Horton Pool.
