Nov. 12, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
A number of season and personal best times for the Illinois State swimming and diving team did not match up to the success of the University of Illinois. The Redbirds lost to the Fighting Illini 175-123, Friday night at Horton Pool. The Redbirds placed first in three events during the meet, as the Fighting Illini broke two Horton pool records.
Head coach Steve Paska was very impressed with the success the Redbirds had at Friday's meet.
"Despite the loss, our team had a number of great performances," Paska said. "There were a many season best swims and it was our best dual meet of the season. This was a fantastic competition to end our fall dual meet season on, as we prepare for the Zippy Invitational."
Senior Amy Schaefer and sophomores Tori Alland and Jeanette Nolte contributed greatly to the team's performance against Illinois. Schaefer recorded a first place finish and season best time in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:07.86. Alland earned a first place finish and season best time in the 500-yard freestyle (5:06.03) and a second place finish and season best time in the 200-yard freestyle (1:554.78). Nolte swam for the first time this season and earned a first place finish in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.55. She also placed second in the 200-yard butterfly and earned a personal best time of 2:08.80.
"This was Jeanette's first meet of the season after coming off of a torn ACL in June," Paska said. "Jeanette trained diligently throughout the recovery process both in and out of the pool, and this was a great way to begin her sophomore season."
Other outstanding performances for the Redbirds included senior Molly Gomberg, juniors Jillian Olson and Jessica McGee and sophomores Sarah Rendek and Arica Woolbright. Gomberg earned season best times in both the 100-yard backstroke (59.46) and the 200-yard backstroke (2:07.58). Olson earned a personal best time in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:40.41. McGee recorded two season best times in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.90) and 50-yard freestyle (54.69). Rendek also earned two season best times in the 200-yard butterfly (2:10.83) and 100-yard butterfly (59.10). Woolbright's season best times in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:09.51) and 200-yard breaststroke (1:07.90) added to the list of Redbird successes throughout the meet.
"A large number of the swimmers had a great meet and we are defiantly heading in the right direction," Paska said.
Along with the Redbird personal and season bests, Illinois swimmers Cara Chuang, Rachel Japp- Joyce, April McKee, and Kristen Manias broke the Horton Pool record for the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:47.78.
Diving coach Phil Hoffmann believes the divers dove incredibly well throughout the meet.
"It was great to dive against Illinois at this point in the season," Hoffmann said. "Illinois's diver Lauren Wismer broke the 10-year old Horton Pool record for the 3-meter dive with a score of 303.75.
Senior Liza Perrino placed second and earned a personal best in the 3-meter dive with a score of 255.23. Junior Brittany Tazzioli placed second in the 1-meter dive and earned a season best score of 257.78.
The Redbirds next meet will be the Zippy Invitational in Akron, Ohio, December 3-5.
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ISU vs. Illinois Results 
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