Swim and dive coach reacts to Iowa’s program cuts
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
September 17, 2020
On Aug. 21, the University of Iowa’s President, Bruce Herald, and Director of Athletics, Gary Barta, announced in an open letter to the university that four varsity sports programs would be cut due to financial exigency. “With the Big Ten Conference’s postponement of fall competition on Aug. 11, ...
Alumni catch-up: Kuhn looks back at historic career
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
May 4, 2020
Former swim and dive athlete Ling Kuhn became the first Illini to make it to the NCAA Championships for platform diving. Kuhn is now one year out of college and is settling into her life as an event caterer. Currently, she works for Michael's Catering located in Champaign. Her title is Event...
Heimes finds success in, out of pool
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
April 17, 2020
Illinois swim and dive sophomore Kaylee Heimes used to be scared of tornadoes when she was younger. Instead of continuing to be afraid of them, Heimes turned her fear into research to learn why tornadoes are the way they are. “When I was in middle school, I found out that I could make a career out...
Travel advisories affects international student-athlete
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
April 2, 2020
Amidst the cancellations of in-person school and sports, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker placed the state under a shelter-in-place order. Getting home wasn’t so easy for freshman Jeanri Buys who is from Johannesburg, South Africa. “I had to change my flights back home four times,” Buys said. Be...
Illini of the season: Shegos, Salafatinos lead Illini next year
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
March 29, 2020
The Illinois swim and dive team finished their almost-complete season with a 4-6-1 record, including a 3-0 record at home. The Illini had 11 swimmers advance to the CSCAA National Invitational Championship and two divers advance to the NCAA Zone C Diving Championship, but both events were cut short. D...
Coronavirus cancels last meet of season
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
March 17, 2020
Before the Big Ten made the decision to cancel all sports for the remainder of the semester, the swim and dive team was able to compete in at least one day of the three-day CSCAA National Invitational Championship and NCAA Zone C Diving Championship. Eleven swimmers competed in Cleveland, Ohio, while div...
Illinois finishes 13th at Big Ten Championships
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
February 24, 2020
The Illinois swim and dive team swam to a 13th-place finish at the four-day Big Ten Championships this weekend at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. Illinois earned 33 lifetime-, 10 season- and four all-time personal bests at the meet. On day one of the Championships, the Illini competed in th...
Freshman quickly acclimates to college swim
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
February 8, 2020
Freshman Athena Salafatinos has been swimming competitively ever since she was five years old. And, all her hard work paid off her senior year of high school when her swim team won the state finals, helping to earn her a spot on Illinois' swim and dive team. Salafatinos started off swimming at a sum...
Illini take on Toyota U.S. Open, Rutgers Diving Invitational
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
December 9, 2019
The Illinois swim and dive team sent three Illini swimmers to the Toyota U.S. Open Championships in Atlanta and three divers to the Rutgers Diving Invitational from Thursday-Saturday. Illinois redshirt senior Aby Olson, alongside seniors Kristin Anderson and Jamie Kolar, competed at the Georgia Tech...
Divers head to Texas Hall of Fame Diving Invitational
By Monze Hernandez, Contributing Writer
November 16, 2019
Head coach Sue Novitsky and her swimmers will head to Indianapolis for the House of Champions Invitational, while diving coach, Manny Pollard and his divers head to Austin, Texas, for the Texas Hall of Fame Diving Invitational. The swimmers will be competing Friday-Nov. 24. Meanwhile, the divers will ...
Illinois falls in dual meet
By Monze Hernandez, Staff Writer
November 6, 2019
Illinois flew to Miami, Florida, for a two-day dual meet against Florida International University and the University of Miami at the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Center on Friday and Saturday. The team ended the first day of competition trailing FIU 151-92 and Miami 126-114. There was some fatigue toward the e...
Illinois swim and dive team begins road swing in Miami Friday
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
October 31, 2019
After two weeks without competition, the Illinois swim and dive team is ready to compete in an away meet this weekend against Miami and Florida International University in Miami. With an overall record of 4-1-1, Illinois is starting its season off strongly, exemplified by the team’s flawless rec...
