INDIANAPOLIS – The Illinois State swimming and diving team topped the field Sunday at the Butler Invitational. The Redbirds finished with 662 points, besting Southern Illinois (601), Xavier (489), IUPUI (453), Saint Louis (387) and host Butler (101).
Marissa Yontz helped the Redbirds claim the team title by winning both the 50-yard freestyle (24.56) and 100-yard freestyle (52.86), while also coming in second place in the 200-yard freestyle (1:53.45). Junior Courtney Taylor also had a solid meet, taking second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.25), 200-yard breaststroke (2:26.78) and 200-yard IM (2:11.70).
Sophomore swimmer Rachel Root was second in the 200-yard backstroke (2:05.62) and third in the 100-yard backstroke (58.43).
The 400-yard freestyle relay team, comprised of Katherine Nelson, Laura Paskoff, Kristin Verkler and Yontz, finished in second place (3:34.29).
Head Coach Steve Paska was proud of his team's effort.
"This was a total team effort from the swimmers and the divers today" Paska said. "I am happy to come out victorious at this meet. It was through the depth of our program that we won this meet. I am proud of the way the girls competed back-to-back after the emotional senior meet yesterday at Horton Pool.
"We need to pay more attention to finer detail in terms of starts, turns and finishes. There is work ahead of us before we finish out the season at the conference meet."
All-American diver Wenting Zhang had a solid performance on the boards placing second in both the 1-meter (327.85) and 3-meter (332.35) events.
"I was happy with the way the girls competed today," said head diving coach Phil Hoffmann. "I was happy to have Southern Illinois there and to compete against them."
"The weekend definitely showed me what we need to work on leading up to our final dual meet, as well as conference. I think we're in a great place. With (the conference meet) around the corner, we should have a great rest of the season."
Event Breakdown
200-yard medley relay: The ISU team of Samantha Schuckles, Taylor, Alexis Nash and Nelson finished in fourth-place (1:48.64) … Root, Rachel Holm, Katie Breger and Sarah Thomas came in ninth (1:51.82).
1650-yard freestyle: Valerie Jones came in fourth (17:51.02) … Maddie Farrell came in 11th (18:39.99).
200-yard freestyle: Yontz was second … Paskoff was eighth (1:58.11) … Yvette Kruk came in ninth (1:58.87).
100-yard backstroke: Root was third … Schuckles was ninth (1:00.34) … Karley Licking was 14th (1:01.81).
100-yard breaststroke: Taylor was second … Holm was third (1:07.38) … Allison Soper was 10th (1:09.36) … Jillena Everest was 15th (1:11.05).
200-yard butterfly: Verkler was fifth (2:11.65) … Nash was ninth (2:14.44) … Alyssa Swanson was 11th (2:15.31) … Breger was 13th (2:18.06)
50-yard freestyle: Yontz won the event … Nelson was eighth (25.05) … Schuckles was 10th (25.21) … Thomas was 13th (25.55).
1-meter diving: Zhang was second … Molly Schatz was fifth (227.45) … Kelly Sanks was sixth (206.45) … Kristen Larson came in ninth (188.35).
100-yard freestyle: Yontz claimed first … Nelson was sixth (54.28) … Verkler was seventh (54.32) … Paskoff was ninth (54.71).
200-yard backstroke: Root was second … Licking was 13th (2:13.38) … Schuckles came in 15th (2:13.64).
200-yard breaststroke: Taylor came in second … Cecilia Holmes was third (2:26.81) … Holm came in fifth (2:29.00) … Soper was sixth (2:29.55).
500-yard freestyle: Holmes was fifth (5:12.61) … Kruk was ninth (5:18.60) … Swanson came in 10th (5:19.78) … Jones came in 11th (5:19.83).
100-yard butterfly: Nash was fifth (59.71) … Verkler came in 10th (1:00.92) … Grace Soltys was 14th (1:01.60) … Emily Langlotz came in 15th (1:01.76).
3-meter diving: Zhang came in second place … Schatz was fifth (233.90) … Larson was eighth (189.40) … Sanks was ninth (181.55).
200-yard IM: Taylor was second … Holmes came in third (2:12.45) … Root was 10th (2:15.15) … Licking came in 12th (2:15.44).
400-yard freestyle relay: Nelson, Paskoff, Verkler and Yontz came in second place … Kruk, Thomas, Nash and Holmes came in seventh (3:42.19).
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