University of Illinois
Iowa Invitational
Illini Divers to Compete at Hawkeye Invitational
December 3, 2015 | Swimming & Diving
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini divers will be back in action this weekend as they compete in the Iowa Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa, on Dec. 4. The Illini (7-1) will face divers from Iowa, Nebraska, Iowa State, Denver, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Northern Iowa, North Dakota and D-II Drury.
"The divers are doing pretty well in spite of the layoff [from competition]," said diving coach Chris Waters. "The girls have been able to get some more repetitions under their belts, gain some confidence, enjoy a short holiday break and seem to be feeling good heading into Iowa City this weekend."
Last time out, the Illinois swimmers competed in the Big Challenge in Topeka, Kansas, from Nov. 20-22. The Illini finished third in team scoring, while helping the Big Ten defeat the Big 12 and the Mid-Major schools in conference scoring. The meet was highlighted by junior Gabbie Stecker, who set meet record in both the 500 free (4:48.76) and 200 free (1:48.70).
Illini divers to compete in the event include Olivia Kassouni, Jessica Clifford and Madeline Kuhn. Kassouni set her season bests in both the one-meter and the three-meter events at Michigan State with scores of 251.02 and 299.03, respectively. Clifford claimed a team-best score of 263.25 in one-meter competition at Florida International, while posting her top three-meter score of the season at Michigan state (251.70). Kuhn, a freshman, has made an immediate impact for the Illini and had her top score in the one-meter competition come at Florida International (237.60). Kuhn also is the only Illini diver to have competed in platform competition so far this season.
"The format will in some way, combine the formats of our two biggest meets of the second semester, the Big Ten Championships & NCAA Regionals, so this will afford the girls an opportunity to gain valuable insight in what it will be like at those meets so they may evaluate how they prepare themselves, manage their nerves and learn to enjoy the competition," shared Waters.
Following the Iowa Invitational, the Illini will split up again, as both the divers and the swimming squad will head for separate training trips on opposite sides of the country.
