Jan. 19, 2008
Final Stats
MUNCIE, Ind. -
Competition was intense as Middle American Conference foe, Ball State and the Illinois State swimming and diving team battled for the win at the Lewellen Aquatic Center in Munci, Ind. Saturday afternoon. Although the `Birds fell to the Cardinals with a final score of 192-to-106, senior captain Tracy Deyell and sophomore Lindsay Dinkelman walked away with first-place finishes in their respective events.
Deyell took first in the 100-yard butterfly event with a final time of 1:00.54. She also placed third in the 200-yard butterfly, was the second leg in the 400-yard freestyle relay team that won the race and was the third leg of the 200-yard medley relay that took third. Dinkelman finished first in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:28.48), fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke and was the second leg of the 200-yard medley relay.
Head swimming and diving coach Steve Paska was pleased with his team's performance.
"I am happy with the way the team responded," said Paska. "They stood up to the challenge of facing a team with a very solid program. There were a lot of close races early on in the meet. As the meet went on, we adjusted to competing and gained back the confidence we needed to finish strong."
Also leading the way for the Redbirds were senior captain Valerie Zaleski who placed second in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, third in the 200-yard freestyle, setting a personal-best time and led the 400-yard freestyle relay that won the race, junior Allison Fishbein who finished second in the 200-yard individual medley, third in the 100-yard butterfly and fourth in the 200-yard butterfly events and freshman Christine Byron who finished second in the 200-yard backstroke, third in the 200-yard medley relay and was the third leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay that placed second.
"It was so good for us to get back in the competitive environment," said Paska. "We will be facing another talented team, the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay in our finale at Horton pool next Saturday (Jan. 26) and it will be a fitting way to finalize the dual-meet portion of the season."
Other top finishers for the Redbirds were sophomore Caitlin Falconer who had a personal best time in the 200-yard breaststroke and freshman Ashley Bachler who beat her personal-best score in the 500-yard freestyle finishing fifth and fourth respectively.
In the diving events senior Katie Janonis walked away with second place on both the 1- and 3-meter boards. Sophomore Liza Perrino and freshman Corrie Heine also had noteworthy performances placing sixth and fifth in the 1-meter diving competition and fourth and fifth in the 3-meter competition.
Head diving coach Phil Hoffmann was pleased with how the divers responded to the challenge.
"I am very happy with how the divers performed this afternoon (Saturday)," said Hoffmann. "Ball State has a good group of divers and it was a good competition. I was please with how the divers performed overall and Katie (Janonis) had two solid and consistent performances on both boards."
The `Birds bring the competition back home to take on the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay for the final home meet of the season Saturday Jan. 26. The first event will begin at Horton Pool at noon.
