CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois swim and dive team begins its home schedule this weekend, hosting Southern Illinois and Illinois State in the House of Paign Invite at the ARC Pool. Competition starts Friday at 5 p.m. CT and continues Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.
The Fighting Illini are coming off a prosperous road trip at Iowa State, where they defeated the Cyclones 121-65 and 123-82, starting the season with a 2-0 record. Matilda Garcia achieved the program’s eighth-best score on the three-meter dive with 305.20 points, earning a silver medal. Illinois won eight events on Friday in the 50, 200, 400 and 1000 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly, 200 IM and the 200 medley relay, and followed up with another eight wins on Saturday in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle, 100 and 200 backstroke, 400 IM, 200 freestyle relay and the 400 medley relay.
Last year’s House of Paign Invite saw Illinois dominate, defeating Vanderbilt 232-101 and Indiana State 250.5-135.5, leading 99-27 and 90-39 respectively after day one.
In previous matchups, Illinois secured a close 157-143 victory against Southern Illinois and a decisive 252-48 win over illinois State. Sophomore Chloe Diner broke the 100 breaststroke program record (1:01.59) during last year’s meet against Southern Illinois.A total of eight top-10 program marks were recorded during those competitions.
Southern Illinois enters the meet with a 1-1 record, having defeated Illinois-Chicago 174-124 earlier this season. Illinois State is 1-3, following a 221-78 loss to Illinois-Chicago. At last year’s Missouri Valley Conference Championships, Southern Illinois finished second with 1,331 points, while Illinois State placed seventh with 738 points.
Friday’s competition will be an Orange Out and Leukemia and Lymphoma awareness night.
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