Dec. 5, 2010
AKRON, Ohio -
After a weekend of competition in Akron, Ohio, the Illinois State swimming and diving team placed second overall in the Zippy Invitational with 1146 points. The Redbirds ended the three-day meet with a number of personal and season best times and top finishes. The Redbirds finished behind Ohio, who had 1562 points overall.
Head coach Steve Paska is impressed with the Redbirds efforts and successes this weekend.
"I am very proud of the team and how we completed the third day at the Zippy Invite," Paska said. "We had multiple events with very strong swims, which were keys to the second place finish. To be successful as a team everyone needs to collectively compete up to their talent levels and the athletes did a fantastic job of doing this as a team. We are now getting ready for final exams, as we end the fall semester and look to our next competition during our winter trip."
Sophomore Danielle Schumacher continued to have a successful weekend during the final events of the weekend meet. Schumacher finished in second place in the 1650-yard freestyle with a personal best time of 17:03.07. During the first two days, Schumacher also earned personal best times in the 200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle and in the 50-yard freestyle, as she was the lead off for the Redbird 200-yard freestyle relay.
"Danielle is a smart swimmer and a brilliant student, as she sets objectives or goals for each race," Paska said. "The 1650-yard freestyle was a well swam event from start to finish, as she ended the Zippy Invitational and fall semester with four personal best times. This weekend is an example of Danielle's year-round training and dedication."
The Redbirds had three more top ten finishes in the 1650-yard freestyle Sunday night. Sophomore Tori Alland finished fifth with a time of 17.19.80, followed by junior Michele Stoeppelman in seventh (17:35.91) and senior Lauren Terzis in tenth (17.46.90).
"Having four athletes finish in the top ten during the 1650-yard freestyle scored a lot of points for the team and gave us momentum going into the 200-yard backstroke," Paska said.
Senior Molly Gomberg had two season best swims with a fourth place finish in the 200-yard backstroke (2:05.79) and a sixth place finish in the 200-yard butterfly (2:08.49), during the Sunday finals in Akron.
"Molly performed a very difficult double today," Paska said. "She is a unique backstroke and butterfly swimmer, performing very well in the 200-yard events. Today's meet ended a fantastic weekend for Molly."
The 200-yard butterfly event also included four finishes in the top twelve, stabilizing the second place finish for the team. Sophomore Sarah Rendek finished fourth with a time of 2:06.21, followed by senior Amy Schaefer in fifth (2:07.56) , Gomberg in sixth (2:08.49) and sophomore Jeanette Nolte bringing in the Redbirds in twelfth (2:11.77).
The Redbird 400-yard freestyle relay of Schaefer, Schumacher, Alland and freshman Erica Halley recorded a season best time of 3:31.71. Halley also earned a personal best time in the 100-yard freestyle (53.07)
Other personal best times for the meet include junior Jessica McGee and sophomores Emily Susmarski and Chelsea Becker. Both McGee and Susmarski both earned personal best time in the 100-yard freestyle in the preliminaries with times of 54.48 and 54.80. Becker swam a personal best in the 200-yard butterfly preliminaries with a time of 2:24.15.
The Redbirds will return to competition during the winter trip to Tempe, Ariz. Dec. 29 through Jan 7.
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Akron Day 3 Results 
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