The Scarlet Hawks' Swimming and Diving team split two meets this weekend with the men besting Loras College and Carroll University while the women fell to both schools. IIT boarded a bus on Friday afternoon and travelled to Dubuque, IA for an evening meeting with the Duhawks of Loras. Following the meet, they stayed overnight in Iowa before heading to Waukesha, WI to take on the Pioneers of Carroll College. The men and women from Illinois Tech swam well, overcoming stiffness from long bus rides and less than ideal meet conditions to post some very quick times. Both teams continue to use these meets to rehearse race efforts as they look forward to the culmination of the season at the Liberal Arts Conference Championship Meet.
On Friday night, the Scarlet Hawks defeated the Duhawks 130-77. Season best times were recorded by many swimmers, including the first place 400 Medley Relay of Ray Mohaimani, Billy Bafia, Tanner Grieve and Luke Workman (3:45.79), the second place finish in the 1000 Freestyle by Tristan Busch (11:08.55), and Joe Valio's 119.5 points in the 1m Diving competition. Other notable swims included Kevin Boldt's victories in the 200 Freestyle and 500 Freestyle (1:50.54 and 5:00.80), Bafia's race to the finish in the 100 Breaststroke (1:02.45), Jay Korhonen's first place finish in the 200 Individual Medley (2:00.62) and Connor McGuire's top finish in the 100 Freestyle (52.21). Boldt also capped off the meet with an impressive split in the 400 Freestyle Relay to come from behind and win the race in a time of 3:25.24.
The next day, the men had to fend off a tough Carroll University team with a stronger performance than the night before. Top finishes included Michael Dobben's and Tristan Busch's first and second place finishes in the 1650 Freestyle (18:37.70 and 18:41.99), Grieve in the 50 Freestyle (23.16), Korhonen's and Boldt's first and second place touches in the 400 Individual Medley (4:22.07 and 4:32.23), Grieve's 200 Butterfly (2:04.36), Bafia's and Workman's top two finishes in the 100 Freestyle (50.53 and 51.24), Mohaimani's 200 Backstroke (2:04.00), and Korhonen's and Bafia's one-two finish in the 200 Breaststroke (2:17.83 and 2:20.82). The men won the meet 114 to 86.
Illinois Tech's final meet of the year before heading to the Liberal Arts Conference Championship will be next Saturday, January 31 at Wheaton College. The meet begins at 11am and is against both Wheaton and North Central Colleges.
For more information on the Illinois Tech Swimming and Diving team, follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IllinoisTechSwimming), Twitter (@IITSwim) and Instagram (@IITSwimming).