BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's and women's swim and dive team had a strong showing against Illinois College and Millikin University Friday, Jan. 17. The women's team was able to pick up two wins, defeating Millikin, 131-55, and IC, 141-50. On the men's side, the Titans bested the Big Blue, 90-77, but fell to Illinois College, 141-50.

The women started the meet off with a win in the 200-yard medley relay, as senior Emily Marks (Cary, Ill.-Cary Grove), junior Kayleigh Kuschewski (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia), sophomore Sam Borre (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-James B. Conant), and freshman Isabella Cano (River Grove, Ill.-East Leyden) finished with a time of 1:57.22, nearly 10 seconds ahead of the next fastest relay.

Junior Julianna Boyle (Carol Stream, Ill.-Glenbard North) saw her first event win of the season in the women's 1650-yard freestyle, timing in with a 19:19.73. Kuschewski won two individual events along with her relay, with a winning time of 2:21.87 in the 200-yard individual medley and a 1:03.51 in the 100-yard backstroke. Senior Alexa Starkey (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community West) turned in a first-place time of 1:00.02 in the 100-yard freestyle for her first crown of the season. Sophomore Claire Paule (Godfrey, Ill.-Alton) was able to earn her first win of the year in the 500-yard freestyle (5:31.27) to round out the women's first place finishes on the day. 

Freshman Sarah Worsley (Shorewood, Ill.-Joliet West) set a new personal-best this season on the one meter dive with a score of 170.10. Fellow freshman diver David Ren (Chicago, Ill.-Hinsdale Central) placed second in the one meter dive with a 167.70. 

The men's side saw a second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay with seniors Colin McKibben (Green Oaks, Ill.-Libertyville) and Carter Dilger (Sellersburg, Ind.-Jeffersonville), along with freshmen Ben Huk (Des Plaines, Ill.-Maine West) and Jacob Nacional (Bolingbrook, Ill.-Bolingbrook). The four clocked in at 1:45.16. 

Freshman Tate Thomas (Joliet, Ill.-Joliet West) finished first in the men's 1650-yard freestyle with a 17:49.18, smoking his competition by a full 47 seconds. Following Tate's performance, Dilger took two top spots in both the 200-yard freestyle (1:50.66) and the 100-yard butterfly (53.70). Nacional took the top slot in the 200-yard individual medley clocking a 2:06.06 with McKibben nabbing his first medal of the season in the 500-yard freestyle with a 5:19.71. Huk claimed first place in the 100-yard breaststroke to end the meet with a 1:04.79. 

The Titans take on Carthage College and Illinois Institute of Technology Saturday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. IWU will be celebrating its three seniors 10 minutes prior to competition.



IWU Individual Results

Women's 1650-yard Free
1. Julianna Boyle 19:19.73
3. Caroline Stenger 20:58.51

Men's 1650-yard Free 
1. Tate Thomas 17:49.18

Women's 200-yard Free
1. Natalie Porter 2:04.66
3. Sam Borre 2:05.00
4. Alexa Starkey 2:07.12

Men's 200-yard Free
1. Carter Dilger 1:50.66

Women's 50-yard Free
2. Emily Marks 26.32
4. Claire Paule 27.39
5. Julia Jozwiak 27.71

Men's 50-yard Free
5. Ben Huk 24.35 

Women's 200-yard IM
1. Kayleigh Kuschewski 2:21.87

Men's 200-yard IM 
1. Jacob Nacional 2:06.06

Women's 1 meter diving 
1. Sarah Worsley 170.10

Men's 1 meter diving 
2. David Ren 167.70

Women's 100-yard Fly
2. Isabella Cano 1:03.48

Men's 100-yard Fly
1. Carter Dilger 53.70

Women's 100-yard Free
1. Alexa Starkey 1:00.02
2. Julia Jozwiak 1:00.20
5. Julianna Boyle 1:04.10
6. Caroline Stenger 1:05.67

Men's 100-yard Free
3. David Ren 55.97

Women's 100-yard Back
1. Kayleigh Kuschewski 1:03.51
3. Natalie Porter 1:07.87

Men's 100-yard Back
3. Tate Thomas 58.38

Women's 500-yard Free
1. Claire Paule 5:31.27
2. Sam Borre 5:35.63

Men's 500-yard Free 
1. Colin McKibben 5:19.71

Women's 100-yard Breast
3. Alexa Starkey 1:18.84
4. Caroline Stenger 1:19.98
5. Julianna Boyle 1:35.66

Men's 100-yard Breast 
1. Ben Huk 1:04.79