By: The talented freshman took nearly seven seconds off her previous record in the distance event. Behind her effort, the Lady Blues were able to split a double-dual with Principia and Maryville.
ELSAH, Ill. – The Illinois College men's and women's swimming teams got their final tune-ups before the Midwest Conference Championships on Saturday, traveling to Principia College. The men's team was defeated by Principia by a score of 95-55, but the Lady Blues were able to secure a narrow 97-94 win over the hosts. In a matchup with Maryville, the IC women fell by a score of 103-80.
The top story to come out of the day was the performance of
Eve Gonzales in the 1000 Freestyle. The freshman showed she was ready for the conference stage by setting a new standard in the distance event. Her time of 12:39.44 was nearly seven seconds better than the time that she had previously swam to hold the record.
The Lady Blues also got a first place finish from
Audrey Brauer in the 100 Butterfly, winning by more than six seconds with a time of 1:04.99, the third-best time in school history and the best time of the season for the senior.
IC also had second-place finishes on the day from Brauer in the 50 Freestyle (27.40),
Taylor Brien in the 200 IM (2:38.68),
Renata Gray in the 1000 Freestyle (13:47.95),
Kelsey Tucker in the 500 Freestyle (6:05.50) and
Jordyn Perry in 1-meter diving (141.80). The Lady Blues added a second-place showing in the 200 Freestyle Relay as Tucker, Gonzales, Brien and Brauer combined for a 1:55.23.
The Blueboys had two event wins on the afternoon.
Elijah Rhoad touched the wall in 58.61 to claim the 100 Butterfly. IC also had its "A" 200 medley relay team of Rhoad,
Oak Wattanasirakul,
Christopher Morton and
Braedon Sheppard claim a victory with a time of 1:51.54.
Coming up with second place finishes for the Blueboys were Morton in the100 Freestyle (58.26) and 200 Freestyle (2:22.26), Rhoad in the 50 Freestyle (24.06), Wattanasirakul in the 200 IM (2:14.15) and 100 Breaststroke (1:03.04) and
Wilson Webel in the 1-meter diving (110.85). The 200 Freestyle Relay team of Sheppard, Morton, Wattanasirakul and Rhoad also managed a time of 1:38.86 to finish second.
Illinois College will now begin final preparations for the MWC Championships. The Blueboys and Lady Blues will have next weekend off before traveling to Grinnell College for the three-day event from Feb. 13-15.
