by Eric Willuweit

Elsah, Ill. – The Illinois Tech swimming and diving team wrapped up competition at the Liberal Arts Conference Championships Saturday, with several top three finishes over the course of the event, as well as multiple school records broken by senior swimmer Anna Slominski.

The men's team took second place honors with 504 points. Saint Ambrose University took top honors with 685.50 points. On the women's side, the Scarlet Hawks secured fourth place with 308 points, with Saint Ambrose University taking first place with 547.50 points.

The men's team had top three finishes in the 800-yard freestyle relay (3^rd), the 200-yard freestyle relay (2^nd), the 500-yard freestyle (Mark Klinchin – 2^nd), 3-meter diving (Evan Standish – 2^nd), the 400-yard medley relay (3^rd), 100-yard butterfly (David Halmy – 2^nd, Don Rose – 3^rd), 100-yard breaststroke (Samuel Kastan took first place honors), the 200-yard medley relay (2^nd), the 1650 freestyle (Mark Klinchin took first place honors), the 200-yard breaststroke (Griffin Colomer – 2^nd), the 200-yard butterfly (David Halmy – 3^nd), 1-meter diving (Evan Standish took first place honors, Griffin Colomer – 3^rd), and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3^rd).

The women's team had top three finishes in the 800-yard freestyle relay (3^rd), the 50-yard freestyle (Anna Slominski took first place honors), 1-meter diving (Maria Plencner took first place honors), the 400-yard medley relay (3^rd), the 400-yard IM (Kristen Hampton – 2^nd), the 100-yard butterfly (Nethmi Bopearatchy – 3^rd), the 200-yard freestyle (Raven Anich – 3^rd place), the 100-yard breaststroke (Anna Slominski took first place honors), the 200-yard medley relay (2^nd), the 200-yard backstroke (Kristen Hampton – 2^nd), the 200-yard breaststroke (Anna Slominski took first place honors), and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3^rd).

In total, Slominski took first place honors in three events: the 50-yard freestyle, the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard breaststroke. Slominski also established new school records in the following events:

- 50 freestyle (23.75)

- 200 freestyle (1:54.13)

- 100 breaststroke (1:03.81)

- 200 breaststroke (2:20.15)

Coach's Comments

Interim Head Coach Billy Bafia:

• Proud of the team for coming together to finish our season strong with an amazing conference showing. Friday was one of our greatest days leading to many out-touching the competition and setting themselves up well for a terrific Saturday. It was clear the team overcame many long and tiring days of practice throughout the season for a well-tapered and well-executed four days.
• This was the first championship style meet for our diving team and they absolutely crushed it. Everyone nailed their voluntaries in the morning and came back to finals strong to repeat their optionals. The support they all gave one another and coaching throughout solidified their successful week. With this being a foundational year for the team, I am looking forward to the team now building upwards from this foundation next season. The sky truly is the limit for them.
• Our first-year group impressed. The first-year for many tends to be a lighter, transitional time from high school into college where we may not always see personal bests. However, it's clear that coming out of the pandemic, this group was ready to focus and take on the challenge of being a student-athlete. We saw almost everyone achieve personal bests and contribute crucial points in individual and relay events. This is another group combined with our second-years and third-years that post-pandemic are ready to challenge themselves and seize the lost time.
• The team spirit on deck was exactly what we needed to make it through four long days. Our captains continued to lead the team through cheers and reminded everyone that each day brings new opportunities.

Assistant Coach Mac Robertson:

• Coach Mac: This was an amazing end to what was an incredible season. Each individual overcame every collective & personal challenge that was thrown at them over the past five months. The course of the season can drag some down, but both teams held together strong and built off the energy of their teammates. We can't be happier with how the races & times went. For the underclassmen, this will be a huge springboard for next year. For the seniors, this will be a meet they can forever cherish.

Assistant Coach Dar Novak – Diving:

• Coach Dar: The divers went into this meet with some challenges, most of the team starting with little to no diving experience, and their coach unfortunately unable to join them at the competition this year. They rose above and beyond those challenges completing all 11 dives each successfully. Every single one of them made it to finals to repeat their six optional dives, making for a total of 17 dives each, with first place finishes on both Men's and Women's teams on the 1-meter.

Up Next

The Scarlet Hawks will compete in the Midwest Invitational this Friday and Saturday at the University of Chicago.