BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University men's and women's swimming and diving teams begin the 2026-27 season as host of the annual IWU Halloween Invite Saturday, Oct. 31. Action is slated to begin at 1 p.m. at Fort Natatorium. The Titans welcome Millikin, Anderson (Ind.), Monmouth, MSOE, and Rose-Hulman for the six team invite.

The Green and White returns 11 swimmers from last year's roster, including 2025-26 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin runner-ups in senior Sam Borre (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-James B. Conant), junior Tate Thomas (Joliet, Ill.-Joliet West), and sophomore Ellen Hoover (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville Central). IWU also brings in a large freshmen class of 12 that will make an immediate impact. 

In his first year as head coach, Dan Lloyd guided the Titans to three CCIW Individual Championships, nine All-CCIW performances, and led a group named the women's swimming & diving Co-CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year. All together, Illinois Wesleyan finished the conference championship meet with 55 personal-best times. 

At last year's Halloween Invite, which is known for featuring a few non-traditional events, IWU's women's team grabbed a runner-up performance, while the men placed fourth. On the women's side, the Green and White took third in the 500-yard freestyle relay with a time of 5:06.24. This unconventional event features 50-yard, 100-yard, 150-yard and 200-yard legs in order. Hoover and senior Claire Paule (Godfrey, Ill.-Alton) were amongst the quartet a season ago. Illinois Wesleyan took home two first-place finishes in the 3x100-yard butterfly relay and the 3x100-yard backstroke relay, and a runner-up finish in the women's 3x100 yard breaststroke relay. Individually, Hoover, in her collegiate debut, placed second in the 200 fly and Borre took home first in the 200 backstroke. 

On the men's side, the team saw seven top-five finishes in individual events during the 2025 Halloween Invite. IWU also finished second in the 200 medley relay composed of Thomas, Ben Huk (Des Plaines, Ill.-Maine West), Jacob Nacional (Bolingbrook, Ill.-Bolingbrook). Thomas took first place in the 200 free and added a second-place finish in the 500 free. Nacional posted top-five finishes in the 200 fly and 100 free with a fourth and fifth place finish, respectively. 

The Titans will start action at 1 p.m. inside the Shirk Center at Fort Natatorium. Live coverage and live stats of the event can be accessed here.