Feb. 15, 2014
Carbondale, Ill. -
Illinois State swimming and diving finished the Missouri Valley Conference Championships off strong earning second-place. The Redbirds held onto second-place after a day of consistent momentum and a setting sixteen new school records over the course of the weekend.
Illinois State finished with a final score of 723.50 right behind Missouri State winning the MVC Championships with a point total of 945.50.
"Illinois State had an amazing weekend breaking fourteen swimming and two diving records at Illinois State," Paska said. "That alone speaks for the entire team we have this season. We had tremendous personal bests and it was a fantastic way to end the 2013-14 season."
The Redbirds started their final day of competition with the 1650-yard freestyle. Keely Hunt (17:28.89), Maddie Farrell (17:43.86), Laura Paskoff (17:55.25) and Yvette Kruk (17:55.61) all set personal best times in 1650-yard freestyle coming in one right after another.
Illinois State continued putting points up on the score board in the 200-yard backstroke. Katelyn Kresal set a new school and personal record during the prelims with a time of 2:02.52. Sammy Schuckles also set a new personal best time (2:03.87) at the prelims. Rachel Root finished in tenth-place (2:04.62) during the finals followed by Tara Gidaszewski setting a new season best (2:09.34).
The 100-yard freestyle was won by Marissa Yontz breaking the Illinois State record and personal best time finishing at 50.44. During the prelim portion of the day Erica Halley set a new personal best time of 51.54 and Paskoff set a new season best 52.63. Halley went on to finish in sixth-places at the finals.
The meet persisted with Cecilia Holmes earning second-place in the 200-yard breaststroke setting a new personal best time and school record. Courtney Taylor finished right behind Holmes in third-place setting a new personal best time. April Livingston earned a new personal best time (2:21.13) and Allison Soper set a new season best time (2:24.008).Valerie Jones was in the mix of top finishes earning tenth-place (2:21.85).
The Redbirds pushed forward into the 200-yard butterfly where Kristin Verkler earned seventh-place and set a new personal best in the prelims (2:04.99). Lexi Nash came in right behind at seventh-place and set a new personal best in the prelims (2:08.24). Claire Haggerty placed fifteenth (2:12.74) in the 200-yard butterfly and Emily Langlotz finished in seventeenth (2:15.50) earning herself a new personal best time.
Illinois State finished the swimming portion of the meet strong setting a new school record in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Halley, Katherine Nelson, Verkler and Yontz took home first-place (3:24.55). They were followed by Taylor, Kresal, Holmes and Nash finishing in eighth (3:31.56).
Wenting Zhang led the diving portion of the meet for the Redbirds finishing in third-place (373.20) on the three-meter board breaking the Illinois State school record and setting a new personal best score. Kelly Sanks (240.35), Maggie Kopp (232.10) and Molly Schatz (226.05) all set new personal bests on the third-meter board. Diving coach Phil Hoffmann is excited with the level of competition the Redbirds brought to the boards this weekend, and is ready to head to the NCAAs next month.
"This was one of the best weekends we have had at the MVC Championships before," Hoffmann said. "All four of our divers did very well. Zhang had another record breaking performance tonight and this weekend has shown that our conference has become very strong. Just in her last three performances this weekend Zhang has set three new school records. This was a great conclusion to our season and I am proud of how each diver performed at the MVC Championships. I am looking forward to seeing the competition at the NCAAs in March."
"What a championship meet for Marissa Yontz," said Paska. "She tied for first in the 50-yard freestyle, won the 100-yard freestyle and earned second place in the 200-yard freestyle. Yontz was also part of the winning 400 and 800-yard freestyle relays and on the second-place 400-yard medley relay. Her efforts helped set many of the school records this weekend along with record breaking performances from Cecilia Holmes, Sammy Schuckles and Courtney Taylor. Today was an outstanding meet from the Redbirds. They had great work ethic from the start of the season until now. It was a bittersweet night to see our three seniors race for the last time, but it was great to see them finish so strong with passion."
Illinois State has ten student-athletes who were named to All-Conference they include Taylor, Yontz, Zhang, Holmes, Nash, Verkler, Schuckles, Paskoff, Halley and Nelson. The Redbirds also had a number of swimmers who made the honorable mention team including Valerie Jones, April Livingston, Hunt and Kresal.
Illinois State finished their 2013-14 season in second place at the MVC Championships. Zhang will continue her season for one last meet at the NCAA Diving Regional March 13-15 in Columbus, Ohio.
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