Dec. 2, 2007
Final Stats
AKRON, Ohio -
With several personal and season-best times shattered, the Illinois State swimming and diving team held onto third place in the Zippy Invitational in Akron, Ohio, after three days of competition. With 1161 points, the Redbirds finished behind Ohio (1588.5) and Buffalo (1289). Trailing the Redbirds were Xavier (1073), Clarion (926.5), host Akron (919), Duquesne (851), Shippensburg (456), Bloomsburg (344), Niagara (210) and Alma (33).
"We had another solid day of performances," Illinois State head coach Steve Paska said. "The weekend was a tremendous success overall and the majority of the swims were season-best and personal-best times. It was a very exciting day (Sunday). Ohio and Buffalo are both outstanding teams, and it was fitting to end with a third-place finish. We have a lot to be proud of for the fall semester."
After placing first and second in the preliminary rounds, sophomore Lindsay Dinkelman and senior captain Tracy Deyell had another outstanding night as they placed third (2:24.17) and second (2:24.08) in the 200-yard breaststroke finals. Also participating in the 200-yard breaststroke finals was sophomore Caitlin Falconer, who finished among the top-24, setting a season-best time.
Senior captain Christine Steinbach started the final rounds of the weekend off, placing tenth in the1650-yard freestyle event, setting a season-best time of 17:49.64. Not far behind was junior Erin Woodruff who placed 12th for the Redbirds, setting a personal-best time of 17:58.19. Also setting season-best times were sophomore Amy Werkema, who placed 13th (18:02.66), and freshman Caitlin Costa, who placed 17th (18:28.08).
Freshman Christine Byron led the Redbirds in the 200-yard backstroke with a fifth-place finish, setting a personal-best finals time of 207.79. Not far behind was freshman Molly Gomberg, who placed seventh in the event, also setting a personal-best finals time of 208.76. Junior Emily Richardson and senior Brittany Byrd also made it to the final rounds, setting season-best times and placing among the top-24 finishers.
Senior captains Valerie Zaleski and Kathleen Borkovec swam in the final rounds of the 100-yard freestyle event, setting season-best times and placing ninth and 23rd, respectively.
After placing third in the preliminary rounds, freshman Amy Schaefer held onto her spot in the final rounds of the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:08.19. Junior Allison Fishbein (10th), sophomore Catharine Danenhower (17th) and juniors Tiffany Rentner (21st) and Alison Wippermann (22nd) also participated in the final rounds for the Redbirds setting personal-best times.
The evening ended with the 400-yard freestyle relay, which consisted of Borkovec, senior Jena Allie, Deyell, and Schaefer. The Redbirds finished with a season-best time of 3:34.02 placing sixth overall in the event. Junior Jessica Santi, freshman Ashley Bachler, Steinbach and Rentner swam the event for the Redbird B team and placed 15th overall (3:41.96).
"Overall it was a great weekend of competition," said Paska. "It was well worth the eight and a half hour drive. We will now be focusing on final exams next week and preparing for the championship segment of our season, as we gear up for the (State Farm) Missouri Valley Conference Championships (Feb. 14-16).
After a few weeks off, the Redbirds will be on the road again, swimming in the Copa Coqui Swim Meet held on Jan. 6. in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
