Feb. 19, 2003

Illini Update - The Illini swimming and diving team posted a record of 5-7 during the 2002-03 regular season, including a 2-6 record against conference oponents. Highlights of the season included winning the Miami Invite and second place finishes at both the Northwestern Invite and Irvine (Calif.) Invitational.

Head Coach Sue Novitsky - Sue Novitsky is in her third year as head coach of the Fighting Illini Swimming and Diving program. Novitsky is the fifth head coach in the Illinois history and the first to coach an All-Big Ten performener (Anna Christiansen, 2001) and a member of the United States World Championships team (Jessica Aveyard, 2001).

Illinois at the Big Ten Championships - As a team, Illinois has never finished higher than fifth at the Big Ten Championships, which the team did in 1987. More recently, Illinois finished sixth for three-straight years from 1997-99. At last year's Big Ten Championships the Illini scored in 18 of 21 events, improving on their previous year's score by more than 60 points. Illinois also set 13 school records at the conference meet, including one in each of the five relay events. Since the Big Ten began to officially recognize women's swimming and diving in 1982, Illinois has one Big Ten Champion (Laurie Pederson, 100 free, 1982) and one All-Big Ten performer (Anna Christensen, 2001).

NCAA Hopefuls - Illinois has a number of athletes hoping to qualify for the NCAA National Championships this weekend. Junior Ilkay Dikmen, an honorable mention All-American last year, has already posted 'B' qualifying times in both the 100 and 200 breast. Dikmen is also a member of the 200 medley, 400 medley and 200 free relay teams. Other Illini who competed at NCAA's last year and are hoping to return include junior Crystal McAdam, who swam the 200 IM, 200 free and 1650 free last year, and senior Alison Czmarko, who is gunning for her third year at the championships in the 100 back. Czmarko is also a member of the 200 and 400 medley relay teams.

Freshmen Continue to Produce Right Away -Freshman Christina Brunka has delivered some impressive swims in her first year at Illinois, giving the Illini a threat in the freestyle sprints after the graduation of Ashley Braun. Brunka posted the seventh fastest time in school history (23.80) and the fastest time of the year in the 50 free on Dec. 6 at the Miami Invite. She also moved into the Illinois top 10 in the 100 free on Nov. 24, with a time of 52.15. Brunka has also been a valued member of four relay teams as a freshman, including the 200 and 400 medley and 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Britta Jannson has also made an impact right away, swimming middle and distance free events. She also holds top three season times in 200, 500 and 1000 freestyles.

Sophomores Continue to Contribute - Sophomores Trisha Lakatos and Kristen Koepcke have continued to improve in the pool for the Illini, remaining important pieces of the puzzle for Novitsky's program. Lakatos has proven to be a solid performer in the breaststroke events, holding the season's second best times behind Dikmen in the 100 (1:05.48) and 200 (2:21.01). Lakatos is in Illinois' top 10 in both events.

Koepcke, meanwhile, has been a leader for Illinois' distance corps. She holds the season best in three events - the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyles. Additionally, she is in the top 10 in all three of the aformentioned events. Koepcke is also a valuable member of the 400 and 800 free relay teams.

Foreign Flavor - Illinois has three foreign athletes on this year's squad, including Ilkay Dikmen of Turkey, Trisha Lakatos of Canada and Astrid Matthias of Germany. Each one ranks among the top on the team in her specialty, Dikmen and Lakatos in the breaststrokes and Matthias in the butterfly.

Illini Divers Headed to Zones Again - For the second year in a row, Illinois will be represented at the NCAA Diving Zones by multiple student-athletes. Junior Lisa Fish heads to Zones for her second straight year after qualifying on the 1-meter board Jan. 17 at IMPE Pool and then on the 3-meter the next day as well. Fish also set a school record in the platform event with a mark of 292.65 on Feb. 1.

Sophomore Allison Prather qualified in the 1-meter six dive optional competition at IMPE Pool on Jan. 17. Prather mark of 285.90 that day not only qualified her for Zones but was a new school record as well.