NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State Swimming and Diving will spread athletes across a pair of postseason meets this week in the state of Indiana. Sophomore diver Eva Reyes is set to travel to Bloomington for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, while eight swimmers will compete in Elkhart at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship.
NCAA ZONE DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 9-11 | Bloomington, IN | Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center
LIVE RESULTS
CSCAA NATIONAL INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 9-11 | Elkhart IN | Beacon Health Aquatic Center
Live results available via MeetMobile app.
A LOOK BACK AT MVCs
Illinois State wrapped up a stellar showing at the 2023 Valley Championships in Iowa City, IA last month. The Redbirds earned five gold medals, five silver medals and one bronze medal while Madyson Morse was named Valley Swimmer of the Year and Reyes earned Valley Diver of the Year honors. It marked the first time since 2010 that a single Valley school swept Swimmer and Diver of the Year awards.
In the pool Morse took home the 200-yard IM, 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard breaststroke titles for Illinois State while sophomore Emma Feltzer earned gold in the 200-yard freestyle and silver in the 50-yard freestyle. The Redbirds earned four relay silver medals at the Valley Championships.
Reyes earned a second consecutive 1M title on the boards, becoming the first diver in league history to win consecutive 1M golds as a freshman and sophomore. She also earned a bronze medal in 3M.
CSCAA NIC LINEUP
The Redbirds the are set to compete in four relays as well as a wealth of individual events this week at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships.
Individuals and relays qualified for the CSCAA National Invitational Championship by winning their respective event(s) at an eligible conference championship. In addition, any individual or relay team who equaled or surpassed the CSCAA 'A' standard during the qualifying period were eligible to compete at the Championship.
Swimmers who qualify for the meet automatically (individually or on a relay, via conference championship or time standard) may also enter individual events if they have achieved the CSCAA 'B' standard during the qualifying period.
EVENT ENTRIES
BIRDS AT THE NCAA ZONE DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Reyes, who is set to compete in 1M and 3M this week, extends a five-year streak of Redbird divers at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships. Since 2018, at least one Redbird diver has qualified for Zones, including last season, when Reyes and Kamryn Blake both earned appearances.
Redbird Divers at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships (Since 2018)
2018 // Caroline Lecoeur (1M)
2019 // Caroline Lecoeur (1M & 3M)
2020 // Caroline Lecoeur (1M & 3M), Kamryn Blake (1M)
2021 // Caroline Lecoeur (1M & 3M)
2022 // Eva Reyes (1M & 3M), Kamryn Blake (1M)
2023 // Eva Reyes (1M & 3M)
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFICATIONS
In total, Zone C is allotted nine spots on one-meter and ten spots on three-meter. Any diver that qualifies for the NCAA Championships will be allowed to optionally enter any other event(s) at the championships, provided that the diver finished in the top 12 at the same zone meet and has achieved the zone qualifying score for that event prior to the NCAA Championships. The NCAA Championships will be held March 15-18 in Knoxville, Tennesee.
ALL-AROUND ATHLETES
The Redbirds have raked in several notable academic awards as 2023 championship season has unfolded.
Morse earned a second consecutive nod as Valley Scholar Athlete of the Year following the Valley Championships. She is the first Swim and Dive Athlete to win Valley Scholar Athlete of the Year in consecutive seasons since the award was introduced in 2019-2020.
Including Morse, 11 Redbirds were named to the MVC Scholar Athlete team last month, a mark that was tied to lead the league. Morse, Cassidy Carey, Ella Glaspie, Emily Keebler, Lauren Naeger, Gaby Russell, Feltzer, Isabel Veliz, Lauren Wisdom, Blake, and Olivia Gonder were all selected.
Morse, Feltzer and Carey were also selected to the College Sports Communicators All-District Team, which puts the trio on the ballot for 2023 CSC Academic All-America honors.
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