Final Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois swimming and diving team fell to Arkansas on Saturday, 179-118. With the loss, the Fighting Illini fall to 6-2 on the season.
"We knew we were probably going to have a lot of ups and downs, which we did, coming off our training trip," said head coach Sue Novitsky. "We haven't had a day off in 10 days or so. We know they are pretty tired. The big focus was their attitude coming in, and seeing who would step up and race."
Senior Amelia Schilling won the first event for the Illini, placing first in the 200 free with a time of 1:52.47. In the 50 free, junior Gabrielle Bethke won the event with a time of 24.43. Senior Audrey Rodawig added a victory in the 100 free, and freshman Monica Guyett won the 500 free.
Illinois closed out the meet in style, with the 400 free relay team of senior Gabbie Stecker, Rodawig, Bethke and Schilling winning the last event with a time of 3:29.18.
"We are pretty tired, but we still have a lot of work to do," Novitsky said. "Now it's about working with our younger swimmers, trying to keep them cool when the pressure is on a little bit more. With our upperclassmen, just keep working those details. They have been in this situation before; they know these next few weeks are going to be really tiring. We have just got to accept it, stay in the moment, and take it day-by-day."
Up Next
The Illini will head to South Bend, Indiana, to take on Iowa and Notre Dame over the course of Thursday and Friday, January 12-13. The Orange and Blue will then head home to host Iowa State on Saturday, January 14.
