Swimming and Diving Sets Sight on Division II Lewis for Season Opener

Titans to compete at 5:30 p.m. in Romeoville

10/13/2022 11:00:00 AM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's and women's swimming and diving teams embark on the 2022-23 season Friday, Oct. 14 at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. The Titans' duel against the Division II Flyers is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start time.

At the helm for IWU is head coach Teresa Fish, entering her 28th season. Alongside her is assistant coach Tommy Gilbert and assistant diving coach Kevin McCarthy. Fish returns 15 Titans on the women's side and welcomes four, while the men return eight student-athletes and are joined by three newcomers.

In total the Green and White have seven additions to the program, including freshmen Julianna Boyle (Carol Stream, Ill. - Glenbard North), Kayleigh Kuschewski (Batavia, Ill. - Batavia), Natalie Porter (Danville, Ill. - Danville), and Cally Tate (Monmouth, Ill. - Monmouth-Roseville) for the women and freshmen Sam Fogarty (Pontiac, Ill. - Pontiac Township) and Jay Jenkins (Aurora, Ill. - West Aurora), and senior Alex Johnson join the men's program.

Returning for the Titans are reigning College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championships Newcomers of the Meet Hadley Fudge (Stanford, Ill.-University) for the women and now transfer-junior Lane Wagner (Danville, Ill. - Danville) on the men's side.

Fudge had a stellar CCIW Championship showing in her inaugural year as a Titan. The Stanford, Ill. native earned All-CCIW honors in the 200 yard individual medley (1st - 2:07.18), 100 yard breaststroke (1st - 1:04.60), 200 yard backstroke (1st - 2:05.97), 400 yard medley relay (1st - 3:54.30), and 400 yard freestyle relay (1st - 3:32.62). Fudge also broke the school record in the 200 yard IM with a time of 2:07.18 and in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:04.60 at the CCIW Championships, Feb. 15-18. In addition, Fudge is the only returner that was tabbed a College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American. Alumni, Ellen Gilbert and Mason McCauley also earned Scholar All-American nods from last season.

Wagner, a Danville, Ill native, earned All-CCIW in the 400 yard individual medley (1st - 4:05.84), 200 yard backstroke (1st - 1:53.52), 200 yard butterfly (2nd - 1:53.61), and in the 800 yard freestyle relay (1st - 6:56.55). Wagner was also a member of a relay team that broke the school record in the 400 yard freestyle relay (3:08.53), and 800 yard freestyle relay (6:56.55) at the CCIW Championships, Feb. 15-18.

For both the men's and women's teams, IWU has faced Lewis a total of five times dating back to the 2016-17 season. The Titans have yet to come out on top against the DII Flyers, as Lewis holds the all-time series advantage, 5-0.

IWU will open its season in Romeoville, while the Flyers have already kicked off their season against Quincy University, Oct. 1. The men's and women's teams both defeated QU, and hold a 1-0 record in duals.

Results from the meet will be posted to iwusports.com following the completion of the meet.

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