Feb. 13, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
Following one of its most successful regular seasons in recent years, the Illinois State women's swimming and diving team will be put to the ultimate test at the 2008 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championships, held in Carbondale, Ill., at the Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium, Feb. 14-16. The Redbirds enter the championships with a 6-4 dual meet record for the season, and face Southern Illinois (4-2), Missouri State (6-7), Northern Iowa (5-9) and Evansville (7-6).
Under head coach Steve Paska's leadership, Illinois State currently holds six Missouri Valley Conference titles, the second-most championships won in conference history. The Redbirds first won the conference title in 1986, had a three-year winning streak from 1988-1990, a conference crown in 1992 and most recently in 1996. Last season, the `Birds came in third with 740.5 points, just behind host SIU (894) and Missouri State (807.5). SIU has won the conference title 13 times, including last season, which broke the four-year winning streak that Missouri State previously held.
Senior diver Katie Janonis, who is a five-time recipient of the Valley Diver of the Week award this year, is a possible candidate for the MVC Diver of the Year award. Since the first Valley Championship in 1983, Illinois State has won the Diver of the Year award six times, with Monica Torres (1996), Nikki Pecsi (2000) Andrea Lovelle (2001) and Krystal Featherston (2003, 04, 05) highlighting the group. ISU has also received the Valley Swimmer of the Year award twice, with Christine Sudlow in 1996 and Julie Cocks in the 2004.
Paska knows the importance of gaining point scorers in the preliminary rounds.
"This is the most important meet for us all season," said Paska. "We have had persistent discussions and strategic planning in order to put the best line up together for the weekend. The preliminary rounds are extremely important for determining the success for the season. We have to take it one session at a time, and must perform at a very high level in the prelims to gain as many point scorers as possible early on.
"It is amazing how fast the 2007-08 season has gone. The team is ready for the competition that lies ahead and understands the importance of this weekend. It will take a total team effort for us to be as successful as we all want to be."
With the season coming to a close, Paska is very proud of the senior group that will be leaving the program.
"This has been such a special senior group to coach this season," said Paska. "Each one has had a terrific season and they have been such a unique group for me to coach. I would love to see them all go out with flying colors at Southern Illinois representing the Illinois State swimming and diving program."
Head diving coach Phil Hoffmann is also looking forward for the divers showing what they have been working on all season.
"The Missouri Valley Conference is a culmination of the season," said Hoffmann. "I look for this to be a showcase of what the divers have been working on all season. I am looking forward to the strong competition from all of the Valley schools from top to bottom and I look for Katie (Janonis) to end her career on a positive note with a great performance."
The 20-event format begins with preliminary rounds starting at 11 a.m., and finals beginning at 6 p.m., on Thursday and Friday, and prelims beginning at 10 a.m., and finals at 4 p.m., on Saturday.
Thursday's order of events includes the 200-yard freestyle relay, 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle and the 400-yard medley relay. All relays are automatically advanced to the final rounds.
Results for the Valley Championships will be available after each session on the ISU athletics website at GoRedbirds.com.
