By: Freshman Marcella Jacquemain made a splash in her first appearance for the Lady Blues, setting a new school record in the 1000 Freestyle.
FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Illinois College swimming & diving teams opened their 2015-16 season on Saturday afternoon in a tri-meet hosted by Franklin College. The Illinois Institute of Technology also competed at the event. With eight newcomers among the 18 members of the Blueboys and Lady Blues, there were a lot of new faces making their first college appearances and some impressive performances among the new crop.
In the day's third event, freshman
Marcella Jacquemain set a new Illinois College women's record in the 1000 Freestyle with her time of 12:34.48, breaking the record that was set last season by nearly five full seconds.
Minutes later,
Elijah Rhoad checked in with the fourth-fastest 1000 Freestyle in IC history on the men's side with an 11:40.14 to place fifth in the event.
Later in the afternoon, freshman
Mike Weisenfelder recorded third-place finishes in both the 50 and 100 Freestyle events. His time of 23.08 in the 50 Freestyle just missed a top-five time in IC men's history and he then clocked in at 52.16 in the 100.
Another debutant for Illinois College was freshman
Ben Allen. Allen showed his versatility by placing fourth in the 200 IM in 2:09.97, a time that is fifth all-time for the Blueboys.
As the afternoon progressed, Rhoad notched a fifth-place finish in the 100 Butterfly (59.65) and
Lanie Thompson added a fifth-place showing in the 100 Freestyle (1:00.24).
Oak Wattanasirakul quickly got back his normal habits in the 100 Breaststroke with a second-place finish (1:04.50), and
Matthew Woodson started his senior season off in second place on the 1-meter boards, accumulating 243.70 points.
In the final races of the day, the women's 400 Freestyle Relay team of
Maddie Headtke,
Brooke Bauer, Jacquemain and Thompson placed third in 4:10.94. The men's team of Weisenfelder, Allen,
Brady Burden and Rhoad followed with a fourth-place finish, touching in 3:38.44
After a week off, Illinois College will welcome in Knox, Millikin and Principia for a quad-meet at the Coultas Natatorium on Nov. 7. Competition is set to begin at 1 p.m.
