Illinois swim and dive started their 2024-25 season with a blowout 191-109 win against the Kansas Jayhawks. The Illini brought their best at the Activities and Recreational Center pool during the home opener on Oct. 10 to start the season 1-0.
Illinois dominated almost every category with 17 wins on the day. Multiple personal bests also highlighted the event. Freshmen Sophia Paduano and sophomore Marin McAndrew set individual records in 50 backstroke (26.49 seconds) and 100 butterfly (57.95) respectively.
The Illinois swimmers started out with a massive lead in the 200 medley relay, occupying the top two spots on the podium, with team B finishing above team A.
“I think the first event is really important to get momentum going,” said junior Alexis Wendel. “The entire team did a really good job at getting behind everybody at every single swim to really encourage people to get excited. Taking that momentum and moving it forward. I think we carried it through the meet really well.”
The early lead only grew as sophomore Liv Dorshorst, junior Adelaide Reaser and freshman Taylor Judas completed the podium in the 1000 freestyle. Other wins included a 200 butterfly win for Wendel, who set a time of 2:08.16.
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“Yeah, I think the most important part was winning an event and getting your hand on the wall first,” said Wendel. “So, the fact that I could do that and carry that momentum really meant a lot for me and hopefully a lot for the team.”
For her wins in the 200 medley relay and 500 freestyle, freshman Chloe Diner was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. This makes her the first Illinois freshman since Megan Vuong back in October 2015 to win this award. The 500 freestyle win also marked the first win of her career.
“Yeah, she deserved it so well. She’s been working so hard in practice. Especially being part of the middle-distance group,” said Wendel, talking about Diner’s award. “Obviously, she deserves all the congratulations in the world. That’s a super big award. It was really exciting to see all of her hard work, both in practice and the meet, really pay off and get recognized.”
Freshman Kayla Duran also earned the first win of her career in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.12). She nearly missed out on a shot at a top-10 program. Going on to earn a third-place finish later on in the 200 breaststroke.
“I think they did really well. I feel the first college meets can be a little bit scary since it’s coming into a different atmosphere,” said Wendel of Duran and Diner. “But all of their training really paid off and they really showed up and showed out. I think that’s really important.”
Alongside first wins, freshman Carlie Rose made her debut for the Illini. She finished sixth (224.55) and seventh (221.55) in the three-meter and one-meter, respectively.
Sophomore Dani O’Kelly secured an NCAA diving zone qualification with her performance in the three-meter dive, scoring 285.30 to finish second.
The Illini not only won games but also dominated podium finishes. Fifth-year Laurel Bludgen (52.54) and freshman Isabella Wilhelm (52.84) finished first and second in the 100 freestyle. Sophomore Kalina Nikolaeva (2:03.68) and Sophia Paduano (2:04.33) grabbed the gold and the silver in the 200 backstroke.
With wins, podium finishes and NCAA qualifications, the Illini couldn’t have wished for a better start. They hope to carry this momentum forward into the House of Paign invitation events. Vanderbilt and Indiana State will visit Champaign Oct. 25 to 26.
“We learned a lot about what we can do and what we can take moving forward,” Wendel said. “I think the best saying is ‘happy swimmers are fast swimmers’ and really just getting excited and having fun is probably the best momentum.”
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