BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's and women's swimming and diving teams will open the new year against Augustana College this Saturday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. inside Fort Natatorium. It will be the first dual between IWU and AC in over a decade. 
 
The men's swimming and diving team returns All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin swimmers Mason McCauley (Deerfield, Ill.-Deerfield) and Dillon Cherwin (Huntley, Ill.-Huntley). During McCauley's 2019-20 season he clinched CCIW titles in the 500 freestyle (4:36.85) and the 1650 free (15:59.74). Both times put McCauley atop the IWU record book, where he holds three individual school records to date. Cherwin, the league's Rookie of the Meet at the CCIW Championships, was a two-time conference swimmer of the week selection. He earned All-CCIW honors with runner-up finishes in the 400 individual medley and the 200 backstroke.

Four other letterwinners return for the Titans, including sophomore Shannon Pinto (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) and junior Jackson Rapala (Roselle, Ill.-Lake Park) who were part of IWU's record-setting relays along with Cherwin and McCauley. Bolstering the roster are freshmen Jake Kalenowski (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles North), Ethan Lowder (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community), Henry Moore (Champaign, Ill.-Centennial), Jack Troyer (Arlington Heights, Ill.-John Hersey), and Jake Harrison (Bloomington, Ill.-University).
 
On the women's side, IWU welcomes back CCIW Swimmer of the Year Ellen Gilbert (Northbrook, Ill.-Glenbrook North). Gilbert won three individual CCIW Championship titles her sophomore year, including the 500 free (5:03.42), 100 butterfly (55.77), and the 200 fly (2:02.71). Not only did Gilbert get awarded All-CCIW honors, but she also earned College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America Third Team accolades last June. Gilbert was one out of two sophomores in the nation to receive this award and only the fourth IWU swimmer. 
 
Sophomore Lauren Feddersen (Champaign, Ill.-Centennial) and junior Megan Wong (Gurnee, Ill.-Warren Township), return alongside Gilbert following record-breaking seasons. 
 
At the CCIW Championships, Feddersen earned first place in the 200 breaststroke as a freshman, where she recorded a time of 2:20.48. Feddersen will enter this season with two individual IWU records, including the 100 breast with a time of 1:06.11 and the 200 breast that won her the championship title. 
 
Gurnee, Ill. native, Wong earned her place in the IWU record book. At the CCIW Championships she broke the IWU record and won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:07.95. 
 
Sophomore Donna Kurek (Roselle, Ill.-Lake Park) returns for the Green and White having earned All-CCIW honors in the 500 free and 1650 free. Kurek joined Gilbert, Wong, and Feddersen in the 800 free relay. The four Titans finished first collectively breaking the IWU record with a time of 7:41.53. Also returning for the Titans is lone senior Laurin Ebert (Big Lake, Minn.-Big Lake). Ebert will lead the young Titans team this season after earning All-CCIW honors in the 400 individual medley at the CCIW Championships.
 
With plenty of successful upperclassmen leading the way, the Titans will also benefit from the addition of freshmen Bella Calcagno (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont Township), Sami Curtis (Pekin, Ill.-Pekin Community), Sydney Dunlap (Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton Warrenville South), Jackie Rae Kelch (Peoria, Ill.-Notre Dame), Hannah Murray (West Chicago, Ill.-St.Charles East), Emma Taylor (Naperville, Ill.-Waubonsie Valley), and Natalie Wajda (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South). 
 
To follow along with Wesleyan men's and women's swimming and diving teams follow IWU sports Twitter and Instagram accounts at @iwusports. The event will be livestreamed on Facebook Live via the IWU Swimming & Diving page. To tune in and cheer on the Titans click here.