Illini Swim and Dive Dominate Pepperdine

Thursday, October 26

Malibu, Calif.

6 PM CT

University of Illinois

164

Pepperdine

October 26, 2023 | Swimming & Diving

Results

Recap

MALIBU, Calif. – The Illinois swim and dive team completed action against Pepperdine on Thursday, Oct. 26. The Illini left Malibu with a 164-75 victory over the Waves. Sophomore Sara Jass won the 200 breaststroke (2:18.21) and earned silver in the 100 IM with the program's third-fastest time (58.33).

"I'm really happy to get our first win this year," said head coach Jeana Kempe. "Our team handled the travel to California well and I was proud of how they competed today. Adelaide Reaser continues her dominance in the distance events for us. We also had a lot of other ladies get victories and swim season-best times. The divers continue to show huge improvements from last year and we are really excited about their energy and competitive spirit."

BETWEEN THE LANES

The 400 medley relay team of: junior Sydney Stoll, Jass, senior Sophia Burwitz and senior Laurel Bludgen started the winning from the first event and clocked a 3:55.42. Stoll would later earn the 100 IM (58.13) and 200 backstroke crowns (2:05.42).

Freshman Adelaide Reaser won the 500 (5:05.41) and 1000 freestyle (10:20.17). Junior Paloma Canos Cervera touched second (10:25.43) in the 1000 freestyle. Freshman Maggie Adler claimed the 100 freestyle crown (53.01).

Freshman Kylee Sessions won the 200 freestyle (1:54.39), fellow freshman Martina Cibulkova placed second (1:54.50) and Bludgen finished third (1:56.45). Senior Lily Olson claimed gold in the 50 freestyle (23.77) and 200 butterfly (2:07.02). Freshman Abby Ninan placed second in the 200 butterfly (2:07.40).

ON THE BOARDS

It was a 1-2-3-4 finish on the one-meter boards for the Illini. Freshman Matilda Garcia led the way with an NCAA Zone cut score of 271.20, fellow freshman Bethany Mercer placed second with a NCAA Zone cut (270.23) and freshman Dani O'Kelly placed third (260.18), senior Taylor Michael rounded out the quartet (258.90).

The Illini divers replicated the result on the three-meter boards; led by Michael with a NCAA Zone cut score of 290.70, O'Kelly in second (266.85) and freshman Elle Crisostomo in third (266.40). Mercer (258.98) and Elleka Boeres (255.00) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.