By: The Blueboys battled to a 104-67 win over the Panthers on Saturday afternoon at Coultas Natatorium. The Lady Blues lost a 97-82 decision on the day.
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College men's and women's swimming and diving teams celebrated Senior Day at Coultas Natatorium on Saturday with a dual meet against Principia College. On a day where
Jojo Comstock,
Michael Hoefert, and
Matthew Woodson of the men's team and
Renata Gray of the women's team bid farewell to their home pool, the Blueboys produced a 104-67 win over the Panthers. On the women's side, Principia was able to sneak out a 97-82 win.
For Woodson, the competition for the weekend would happen elsewhere. The lone diver on the IC squad traveled to Principia for the weekend to take part in the Principia Diving Invitational. In 11 dives on the 1-meter boards, the senior ended with a score of 407.65, which was his fifth-best score ever and good for second overall at the event.
There were plenty of highlights for both the Lady Blues and Blueboys back at home. The women's 400 Medley Relay team of
Kaitlyn Flachs,
Jackie Riggs,
Marcella Jacquemain and
Brooke Bauer began the meet with a second-place showing, finishing in 5:05.99. Following them, the men's 400 Medley Relay produced its best time of the season, a blazing 3:53.80 from
Ben Allen,
Oak Wattanasirakul,
Elijah Rhoad and
Mike Weisenfelder that was good for fourth all-time at Illinois College.
In the individual events,
Maddie Headtke set a PR in the 1000 Freestyle, finishing second in 12:46.35. Jacquemain then re-set her own record in the 100 IM, taking six-tenths off of her previous time with a 1:07.99. Bauer claimed victory in the 200 Freestyle, finishing more than six seconds ahead of second place with a time of 2:18.06.
Lanie Thompson got involved with a 5:55.57 in the 500 Freestyle, finishing second by less than a half-second and ending with the third-best time ever for the Lady Blues in the event.
On the men's side, Rhoad clocked a 1:00.71 in the 100 IM and a 58.78 in the 100 Butterfly, winning both events. Allen also won two races, setting the pace in the 200 IM (2:09.78) and 100 Backstroke (1:00.55).
Weisenfelder set a new PR in the 100 Freestyle, winning the event in 50.28, the third-best time in Blueboy history.
Brady Burden added one more win for IC, touching in 5:48.55 for a victory in the 500 Freestyle. The men's team ended the day with a 200 Freestyle Relay triumph as
Christopher Morton, Burden, Rhoad and Weisenfelder swam a 1:37.79.
The Blueboys and Lady Blues will take the next two weekends off from competition, returning in three weeks' time for the Midwest Conference Championships, hosted by Grinnell College. The three-day event will begin on Feb. 19 and end on Feb. 21. Prelims and finals will be held during morning and evening sessions each day.
