List of Illinois State Swimmers Competing 
The Illinois State swim team is looking to outperform and add momentum to the start of the season at the 1650 Free Invitational Friday, against Southern Illinois at the Student Recreation Center Pool in Carbondale, Ill. On Saturday, the Redbirds will also compete in the 5k Open Water Invite will follow Saturday, Oct. 3, at 10 a.m., at Little Grassy Lake in Carbondale, Ill. In Saturday's event, Illinois State will be competing against SIU, Missouri and Evansville.
Head coach Steve Paska is excited for the team to experience the weekend of distance swimming.
"The main focus of this weekend is to test and evaluate the distance group", Paska said. "We have had an unforeseen mix of sickness and minor injuries, so there have been some spots on the team for this weekend that had to be filled."
Senior Caitlin Falconer will not be able to compete this weekend due to a minor shoulder injury. She is expected to return within the next couple of meets.
There are 15 swimmers who will be attending the two meets this weekend, including senior Amy Werkema, juniors Ashley Bachler and Caitlin Costa, sophomore Michelle Stoeppelman and freshman Danielle Schumacher.
"This weekend will lend valuable experience, as these swimmers progress through the season and continue to train for the 1650," Paska said. "It will be interesting to see how we match up tomorrow since it is just Illinois State and Southern (Illinois) competing against each other."
The swimmers that are competing at SIU this weekend plan to compete in distance events in future events and look to this weekend's back-to-back distance competitions to further prepare them for the rest of the season.
"If we perform the way that we are capable, we'll be in great shape for this meet," Paska said.
Paska feels that by performing well in these two meets, the team will be prepared for the upcoming indoor meets that follow next weekend.
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