Illinois Swim and Dive Begins 2026-27 Season with Purdue

Meet:	vs. Purdue
When:	Friday, Oct. 2
Time (CT):	5 p.m.
Where:	ARC Pool, Champaign, Ill.
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois swim and dive team hosts Purdue at the ARC Pool to begin the 2026-27 season on Friday Oct 2, at 5 p.m. CT.

The Orange and Blue return with their leading individual scorer at the Big Ten Championships from last season in junior Chloe Diner who scored 20 points. She placed 10th in the 100 breaststroke (1:00:26) and 22nd in the 200 IM (2:00:30). Also returning is senior Michelle Kaner who scored in both backstroke events, junior Kayla Duran who scored in 100 breaststroke and senior Kalina Nikolaeva who scored in the 200 backstroke. Illinois ended up finishing 14th at the championships with 195.5 points.

Diner set new school records in both the 100 butterfly (53.50) and the 100 breaststroke (1:00:26) at the Big Ten Championships and she also holds the 200 IM record (1:58.32). Another returning school record holder is junior Sophia Paduano in the 50 backstroke (24.68) and Duran owns the 50 breaststroke program record (28.22).

Scouting the Opponent

Purdue finished eighth at the 2026 Big Ten Championships with 497 points. Junior Avery Worobel won the 3-meter dive title (364.60) and also took third on 1-meter and 10th on platform. In the pool, the Boilermakers placed ninth in the 200 medley, 400 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Senior Keira Kask and junior Campbell Scofield placed eighth and 10th, respectively, in the 200 butterfly. Junior Lara Phipps also scored in the 100 freestyle.

Schedule