Nov. 5, 2011
Complete Results
CHICAGO, Ill. - The Fighting Illini swimming and diving team defeated both Illinois-Chicago (181.5-60.50) and Wisconsin-Milwaukee (146.5-95.50) to improve to 3-2 on the season Saturday afternoon in Chicago. The Illini earned victories in six events, including four individual races and both diving events.
"We were able to pull together some energy, focus on what we were doing and put the races together to execute as well as we could and win the meet," Illini head coach Sue Novitsky said. "On the swimming side, we were able to pick up momentum throughout the meet, and overall the divers really helped us out. They got us the momentum back and got us back on track in the middle of the meet. We were really able to finish the meet out well."
Leading the Illini were sophomore Courtney Pope, who finished first in the 1000 free (10:41.37) and third in the 100 free (53.10), and sophomore Jessica Holz, who earned the top finish in the 200 back (2:03.72) for the fourth meet in a row. Senior Kelly Kunkel also posted a first-place finish, winning the 500 free (5:11.19), while sophomore Emma Williams won the first event of her collegiate career, capturing first in the 200 fly (2:09.48).
"On the swimming side, our four event winners really did a great job," Novitsky said. "And we had two different divers, Tessa Adams and Britni Fisher, really step up and do a great job for us. Again, it was a collective effort. It wasn't just one person doing well for us. It's good to see the team motivating each other to do well. Nobody cares what you swam yesterday unless you can turn around and do it again today, so it was great to see us be able to have this meet and get this experience. We were able to regroup, focus ourselves and get it done."
A pair of Illini swam to multiple top-three finishes, including junior Erin Lamb, who came in second in the 200 free (1:53.06) and third in the 500 free (5:11.76), and sophomore Erica Lynn, who finished second in the 200 breast (2:23.73) and third in the 200 fly (2:11.01).
Three additional Illini posted second-place finishes. Senior Kristen Manias earned second in the 50 free (23.77), while junior Kathleen Knight finished second in the 1000 free (10:42.92), and sophomore Alyssa Toland claimed second in the 500 free (5:11.58).
Two Orange and Blue swimmers finished third in their races, including senior April McKee, who came in third in the 200 IM (2:09.05), and freshman Alison Meng, who captured third in the 200 back (2:06.52).
The Illini relay teams captured second place in the 400 medley relay (3:54.92) and earned the second and third finishes in the 400 free relay (3:30.64, 3:32.80).
On the boards, senior Britni Fisher and junior Tessa Adams led the Illini, finishing with the top diving scores in the one- and three-meter events, respectively. Fisher won the one-meter diving event with a score of 269.70, while Adams had the top three-meter dive with a score of 272.90.
"We have to work on not panicking when the pressure is on," Novitsky said. "We have to be able to put races together and put those details together. We want to make sure that we don't get sloppy in meets because we make it so much harder on ourselves. We just need to be able to compete well and stay calm. We'll keep working on everything in practice this week and focus on the details with our training, and hopefully we can carry that into our meet next Friday."
The Orange and Blue return home on Friday, Nov. 11 to face Illinois State for Senior Night at 6 p.m. CT at the ARC Pool.
