NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State swimming and diving team will begin the 2014-15 season with its annual Red and White Intrasquad Meet on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., as the Redbirds open their season at home for the first time since 2009.
Head swimming coach Steve Paska is excited to begin the season with the annual intrasquad meet.
"I am excited about the red and white meet being our home opener and that all of our student-athletes are competing," Paska said. "This meet is an extremely meaningful one, as our coaching staff and team gets to see where we stand as we begin the 2014-15 season. I am tremendously impressed with the work ethic and intensity I have seen from all 28 swimmers and five divers during these past six weeks of training."
Illinois State diver Wenting Zhang is looking to build on an impressive 2013-14 campaign, during which she became the first diver in school history to advance to the NCAA Championships. Zhang secured a sixth-place finish in the 3-meter competition (363.90), and a 15th-place finish in the 1-meter competition (290.60) at the NCAA Championships.
Diving Coach Phil Hoffmann is looking forward to see where this season takes Zhang and the rest of his divers.
"I am excited to get the season rolling and what better place to start than at home?" Hoffmann said. "We are planning on using this meet to measure our early season training and gauge where we are. The competitive environment Saturday will shine some light on how we will approach the first half of the season."
Also in action Saturday will be team captains Keely Hunt, Alexis Nash and Marissa Yontz, as well as nine returning all-conference swimmers and divers, and nine newcomers.
Saturday's meet marks the first of four home meets at Horton Pool this season. Admission is free to all home meets.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.Â
