Illinois Falls to Purdue in Season Opener

Friday, October 2

ARC Pool

5:00 p.m.

University of Illinois

132.5

167.5

Purdue

October 2, 2026 | Swimming & Diving

RECAP

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois swim and dive team completed the home opener against Purdue on Friday (Oct. 2) from the ARC Pool. Illinois fell in a narrow battle, 167.5-132.5.

BETWEEN THE LANES

The meet started out strong for Illinois with the 200 medley relay team of Sophia Paduano, Kayla Duran, Chloe Diner and Isabella Wilhelm taking first place on a time of 1:42.28. Diner later went on to take gold in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.59), 200 IM (2:02.78) and silver in the 100 butterfly (54.82). Wilhelm topped the podium in the 50 freestyle (23.52).

Freshman Kate Farrell won her first race as an Illini in the 200 freestyle (1:50.83) and would again top the podium later in her second race of the 500 freestyle (4:57.22). Kalina Nikolaeva earned gold in the 200 backstroke (2:03.07).

Kaite Gresik captured the silver medal in the 1000 freestyle (10:22.04) while teammate Taylor Judas took third (10:26.36). Adler touched second in the 100 freestyle (51.57), Duran did so in 200 breaststroke (2:19.69) and Virag Zambo as well in the 200 IM (2:08.19).

Nikolaeva earned bronze in the 100 backstroke (57.74) and Zambo did so as well in the 200 butterfly (2:03.85). The 400 freestyle relay team of Maggie Adler, Ferrell, Wilhelm and Eva Allan closed out the meet with a second-place finish (3:27.52).

ON THE BOARDS

Hanna Ekdahl led the way for the Illini divers on the three-meter boards finishing in third place with a score of 274.58. Bethany Mercer placed fifth (236.25), Matilda Garcia placed sixth (207.90) and Elleka Boeres placed seventh (202.05).

Ekdahl led the way again later in the night on the one-meter dive taking third again with 265.80 points. Garcia placed fourth (234.90), Mercer in fifth (215.70) and Boeres in sixth (209.10).