University of Illinois
NIC Championships
Illini Swim and Dive Set for Final Meets of the Season
March 13, 2024 | Swimming & Diving
Preview
| Meet: | NIC Championships // NCAA Diving Zones |
|---|---|
| When: | Thursday-Saturday, March 14-16 |
| Time (CT): | 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily // Day 1-2: 12 p.m., Day 3: 10 a.m. |
| Where: | FAST, Ocala, Fla. // Ralph Wright Natatorium, Louisville, Ky. |
| Watch: | NIC Championships // Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 |
| Meet Information: | Championships Central // Dive Meets |
| Social Media: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois swimming and diving team will complete its 2023-24 season this weekend (March 14-16) at the CSCAA NIC Championships in Ocala, Fla., and the NCAA Diving Zones in Louisville, Ky.
A total of 11 Illini swimmers will make the trip to Ocala: Gwen Bakker, Laurel Bludgen, Paloma Canos Cervera, Sara Jass, Logan Kuehne, Kalina Nikolaeva, Adelaide Reaser, Kylee Sessions, Sydney Stoll, Martina Cibulkova and Molly Yetter.
Five divers will make the shorter trip to Louisville: Brooke Michael, Dani O'Kelly, Bethany Mercer, Matilda Garcia and Taylor Michael.
Head coach Jeana Kempe coached nine school records this season, and Stoll was a part of four of them. She first set the 100 butterfly school record on Nov. 17, when she clocked a 54.24 at the Boilermaker Invite. She broke it later in the season at the Big Ten Championships on Feb. 23, swimming 54 seconds flat (54.00). Her other two school records are the 100 IM (55.68) and 200 freestyle (1:47.53).
Kuehne swam the 50 freestyle school record on Feb. 22 at the Big Ten Championships (22.79) and was a part of two 200 medley relay records. The first 200 medley record was set on Nov. 17 at the Boilermaker Invite (1:39.37), and they bested it on Feb. 21 at the Big Ten Championships (1:38.63).
The Michael twins each earned their zone cuts on the three-meter boards. Freshmen O'Kelly and Garcia will join the twins on the three-meter boards in addition to earning their cuts on the one-meter boards. Mercer is the lone diver to make her cut on the platform, and she will dive on the one-meter boards as well.
