Natalie Porter swimming at Halloween Invite Oct. 25, 2025

Swim & Dive Wins 16 Events, Drops Duals with Rose-Hulman

Titans host Millikin and Illinois College Friday, Jan. 16

1/10/2026 5:40:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's and women's swimming and diving teams began the 2026 portion of their seasons hosting Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for a dual Saturday, Jan. 10. The Titans fell on both sides, as the women's team dropped a 149-131 decision, while the men's team fell 117-73. Despite the losses, the Green and White claimed first in 16 events on the day.

"I am extremely proud of our team and it was great to compete back at home," Director of Swim & Dive Dan Lloyd stated. "They have trained extremely well during our winter break and it showed today with our toughness in competition."

The women's team cracked open the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay. Composed of junior Sam Borre (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-James B. Conant), senior Kayleigh Kuschewski (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia), and freshmen Ellen Hoover (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville Central) and Abby Schnittker (Lombard, Ill.-Willowbrook), IWU took the crown with a time of 1:57.89, nearly two seconds ahead of the field.

Senior Natalie Porter (Danville, Ill.-Danville) hauled in three victories on the day. Porter began her strong performance with the top time in the 200-yard freestyle, clocking in at 2:03.48. The senior displayed her versatility, as she took first in the 200-yard breaststroke behind a time of 2:43.75. The mark was 12 seconds ahead of the next finisher, and 1.35 seconds better than her seed time. The Danville, Ill. native added to her stellar day with a win in the 200-yard individual medley, besting the field by 13 seconds with a career-best time of 2:20.45.

Sophomore Caroline Stenger (Westlake, Ohio-Westlake) completed a comeback in the second half of the 100-yard breaststroke to take the crown. The sophomore timed in at 1:16.88, shaving 0.70 off her seed to beat the field.

Hoover bested the field in the 200-yard butterfly behind a time of 2:21.56, six seconds ahead of the next finisher.

Continuing her dominance in the 100-yard freestyle, Schnitter collected another win in the event, this time behind a time of 55.42, just under three seconds ahead of the field. Schnittker added another victory on her day, as she took first in the 100-yard butterfly after touching at 1:01.72.

For the men, sophomore Tate Thomas (Joliet, Ill.-Joliet West) collected the first win of the day, as he completed the program sweep in the 200 free behind a time of 1:49.14. He added a victory in the 100 free, clocking in at 50.87.

Senior Jay Jenkins (Aurora, Ill.-West Aurora) posted victories in the 100 back (56.10) and the 50 free (23.42).

Sophomore Ben Huk (Des Plaines, Ill.-Maine West) brought excitement in the 200 breast, as a second half surge saw the sophomore take home gold in the event (2:24.52). Huk was second in the 100 breast behind a time of 1:04.24.

Sophomore Jacob Nacional (Bolingbrook, Ill.-Bolingbrook) added three top-two finishes for the Titans. He claimed first in the 500 free (5:13.61) and 200 IM (2:10.08), and added a runner-up performance in the 200 fly (2:09.14).

Adding to the women's total, Borre posted a runner-up performance in the 200 free behind a career-best time, as she clocked a 2:04.81. The mark was 2.32 seconds faster than her seed time, and a 0.19 career-best improvement. The Hoffman Estates, Ill. native also added a second-place performance in the 100 breast (1:17.42).

Junior Claire Paule (Godfrey, Ill.-Alton) posted a top-two time in the 1000-yard freestyle, finishing second (11:43.20). Also posting a top-two performance, Kuschewski finished second in the 50-yard freestyle behind a time of 27.03. Senior Julianna Boyle (Carol Stream, Ill.-Glenbard North) added another runner-up performance for the Titans, as her time of 5:45.63 was good for second in the 500-yard freestyle.

IWU closed out the meet with a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The combination of Hoover, Porter, Borre, and Schnitter posted a winning time of 3:51.00.

The Titans will remain home, as they host Millikin University and Illinois College for a triangular Friday, Jan. 16. Action is set to begin at 6 p.m. inside Fort Natatorium.

Individual Results
*personal-best

Women's 1000 Free
2. Claire Paule, 11:43.20
3. Emilee Spicer, 12:33.14

Women's 200 Free
1. Natalie Porter, 2:03.48
2. Sam Borre, 2:04.81*
5. Julianna Boyle, 2:12.26

Men's 200 Free
1. Tate Thomas, 1:49.14

Women's 100 Back
3. Ellen Hoover, 1:08.18
4. Julia Jozwiak, 1:08.38
6. Libby Hamer, 1:13.90

Men's 100 Back
1. Jay Jenkins, 56.10

Women's 100 Breast
1. Caroline Stenger, 1:16.88
2. Sam Borre, 1:17.42

Men's 100 Breast
2. Ben Huk, 1:04.24

Women's 200 Fly
1. Ellen Hoover, 2:21.56

Men's 200 Fly
2. Jacob Nacional, 2:09.14

Women's 50 Free
2. Kayleigh Kuschewski, 27.03
3. Julia Jozwiak, 27.90
5. Caroline Stenger, 28.57
7. Libby Hamer, 29.74
8. Emilee Spicer, 30.82

Men's 50 Free
1. Jay Jenkins, 23.42
4. Ben Huk, 24.90

Women's 100 Free
1. Abby Schnittker, 55.42
4. Julia Jozwiak, 59.53
5. Kayleigh Kuschewski, 1:00.04
7. Julianna Boyle, 1:03.06
8. Emilee Spicer, 1:06.96

Men's 100 Free
1. Tate Thomas, 50.87

1-Meter Dive
3. Sarah Worsley, 128.65 points (six dives)

Women's 200 Back
4. Claire Paule, 2:29.63

Women's 200 Breast
1. Natalie Porter, 2:43.75

Men's 200 Breast
1. Ben Huk, 2:24.52

Women's 500 Free
2. Julianna Boyle, 5:45.63
4. Caroline Stenger, 6:01.73

Men's 500 Free
1. Jacob Nacional, 5:13.61

Women's 100 Fly
1. Abby Schnittker, 1:01.72
6. Libby Hamer, 1:14.40

Women's 200 IM
1. Natalie Porter, 2:20.45*

Men's 200 IM
1. Jacob Nacional, 2:10.08

Print Friendly Version