By: Freshmen Lorraine Thompson and Oak Wattanasirakul were the top performers for IC on Saturday afternoon in Coultas Natatorium.
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Competing in their first meet of the 2014-15 season, the Illinois College men's and women's swim teams faced some tough opposition from the Grizzlies of Franklin College. Having only been back in the pool for a scant three weeks, the Blueboys and the Lady Blues put up a strong fight, but it was to no avail. Franklin's men outscored IC, 154-38, and Franklin's women outscored IC, 165-37.
In his college debut,
Oak Wattanasirakul won the men's 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:03.64. He was also second in the men's 50-yard freestyle coming in at 23.88. On the women's side, freshman
Lorraine Thompson was second in the women's 50 free with a time of 27.02.
Despite the loss, several swimmers swam into IC's top five, and two school records were almost broken. Senior
Katia Swane-Barzowski was a 2:11.79 in the 200-yard freestyle, putting her only .32 seconds from her own school record of 2:11.47. Thompson was a 59.53 in the 100-yard freestyle, earning herself a spot in the top five. On the men's side, freshman
Elijah Rhoad swam a 2:15.64 in the 200-yard Individual Medley (IM) leaving him only a second and a half away from IC's school record of 2:14.10.
The men and women will be back in action Oct. 31 as they head to Decatur to take on the Big Blue of Millikin. The meet will begin at 6 p.m.
