Illinois (2-0) took two easy victories over Iowa State (0-3) in its dual meet this weekend. The Illini took down the Cyclones 121-65 Friday evening, and 123-82 Saturday morning at Iowa State’s Beyer Pool.
Garcia leads way Friday
Junior diver Matilda Garcia made school history with the program’s eighth-best score on the three-meter dive (305.20) in Friday’s meet. She took home a silver medal and is the first of her team this year to set a program top-10 mark.
Garcia sparked the fire for the team’s success: the Illini crushed the Cyclones Friday, winning eight of 10 events.
The night’s events began with the 200 medley relay; Illini sophomores Sophia Paduano, Kayla Duran, Chloe Diner and Isabella Wilhelm (1:43.02) dominated their competition, winning by over three seconds.
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The medley swimmers thrived in their individual events, too. Paduano took first in the 100 backstroke (56.46), Wilhelm won the 50 freestyle (23.79) and Diner was champion in the 100 butterfly (56.37).
Senior Sara Jass collected gold medals in the 200 IM (2:02.10) and the 200 freestyle (1:52.35). The final two first-place finishes Friday came from senior Liv Dorshorst in the 1000 (10:22.09) and junior Maggie Adler, Wilhelm, sophomore Sophia Yousuf and freshman Audrey Cavaliere in the 400 freestyle relay (3:31.64).
While the divers struggled to reach the podium, they posted strong personal performances. Junior Elleka Boeres scored a new personal best (264.60) and placed seventh in the three-meter dive. Junior Bethany Mercer placed fifth (273.50) and sophomore Carlie Rose placed 10th (237.80).
Saturday success
On Saturday morning, the Illini wrapped up the weekend successfully. The team won eight of the 11 events.
The first win of the morning came courtesy of the 400 medley relay team of Paduano, Duran, Diner and sophomore Eva Allan (3:47.89).
Illinois continued to have success throughout the day, winning several individual events. Diner won the 100 breaststroke (1:03.49), Paduano placed first in the 200 backstroke (2:05.06) and Allan took gold in the 200 freestyle (1:54.01).
Jass placed first in the 100 freestyle (51.92) and 400 IM (4:22.44) to bring her gold medal count to four for the weekend.
Dorshorst shone once more in long-distance, triumphing in the 500 freestyle (5:03.53).
The final victory of the weekend came from the 200 freestyle relay team of Wilhelm, Yousuf, Cavaliere and Allan (1:36.29).
Among divers, Mercer reached the podium, finishing third in the one-meter dive with a new personal best (277.15). Boeres landed fourth (273.60), Garcia placed fifth (270.55) and Rose took 10th (242.70) in the one-meter dive. In the platform dive, Rose placed fifth (196.10).
Up next
Illinois returns to the water next weekend for the House of Paign Invite, its first home meet of the season. It will face Illinois State (1-2) and Southern Illinois (2-1) in a three-way matchup in another two-day meet.
