Birds Win all But One Event, Roll Eastern Illinois in Season Opener

NORMAL, Ill. – Three Redbirds earned multiple wins as Illinois State Swim and Dive earned a 188-86 over in-state rival Eastern Illinois Friday at Horton Pool. The victory over the Panthers earned Interim head coach Sean Sullivan the first dual win of his coaching career.  

HIGHLIGHTS 

• Illinois State won 15 of 16 events in the season opener including both relays and both diving events. Ten different Redbirds took home an event win in the dual.

• On the boards, reigning Valley Diver of the Year Eva Reyes posted a 269.18 in 1M and 258.75 in 3M to lead Illinois State in the season opener. 

• The Redbirds opened swimming events going 1-2 in the 200y Medley Relay. Chloe Tyler, Madyson Morse, Giulia Basco and Ella Turken earned first with a time of 1:45.26 while Kenzie Weber, Sydney Hoff, Cassidy Carey and Olivia Gonder's time of 1:49.71 took home second.  

• Junior Diana Walker earned a pair of victories Friday as she turned in times of 10:41.71 and 53.34 in the 1000y Freestyle and 100y Freestyle.  

• Morse, the defending 100y Breaststroke MVC champion, kicked off her fifth season of eligibility with a win in that event. She went 1:05.08 for first in the 100y Breaststroke.  

• Sophomore Giulia Basco won the 200y Butterfly in the Redbirds season opener for the second straight season. She went 2:05.30 Friday for the first-place finish. 

• Senior Cassidy Carey also took home two wins at Horton Pool, posting a mark of 57.94 in the 100y Backstroke and 2:04.26 in the 200y Backstroke.  

• Freshman Sylvia Admire earned her first collegiate win, going 1:57.60 for first in the 200y Freestyle. Fellow freshman Michelle Fernandez also appeared in her first collegiate meet, competing in the 50y Freestyle, 200y Breaststroke and 100y IM for the Redbirds. 

• Rounding out the Redbird wins Friday were Sydney Hoff in the 200y Breaststroke (2:25.00), Lauren Wisdom in the 500y Freestyle (5:16.27), Mia Snow in the 100y Butterfly (59.00) and Olivia Gonder in the 100y IM (1:00.86)  

• In Friday's finale, Turken, Snow, Walker and Admire dominated for a mark of 1:38.72 to take a win for Illinois State in the 200y Freestyle Relay.  

UP NEXT 

The Redbirds head east to battle Ohio Oct. 13 and 14 in a meet split into short course races Friday and long course competition Sunday in preparation for an Olympic year in 2024.

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