Jan. 19, 2012
CHICAGO - The UIC men's and women's swimming & diving teams welcome in conference-foe Valparaiso, with the women's squad also taking on Illinois State, in a Friday night showdown at the Flames Natatorium, with competition set to begin at 5 p.m. (CT). Prior to the meet's first event, the Flames will honor their class of 13 seniors as they compete in their last home meet of the season.
Following competition last weekend (Jan. 14) at Green Bay, UIC walked away with a win and a tie. The men's squad defeated the Phoenix 158-83, while the women came to a draw with Green Bay, 121-121.
Through combined performances by seniors Zach Van Swol (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East), Luke Martinez (Sugar Grove, Ill./Marmion Academy) and Will Ikeda (Skokie, Ill./Niles North), as well as Brian Sivak (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) and Gabe Cury (Novo Hamburgo, Brazil/Instituicao Evangelica de Novo Hamburgo), the men's team (6-2, 2-1 Horizon League) continued to top previous performances made in the season.
Van Swol placed first in the 200 IM (1:55.08), a season best, and 500 free (4:41.06), Martinez topped the 1650 free (16:26.92) and 200 fly (1:57.36) and Ikeda took first in the 200 breast in 2:06.75.
Sivak finished first in the 200 back (1:55.74), with a lead off 100 back split of 52.15, while Cury won the 50 free with 21.25 and took second in the 100 free with 47.09.
It was a rare occurrence for the women's team (5-3-1, 1-1-1 Horizon League) to end competition with a tie, but they were led by the likes of senior Clair Martin (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha South), Marissa Yontz (Canton, Ill./Canton), Emily Gniatczyk (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South), Melanie Waszak (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) and Andrea Longlade (Windsor, ON, Canada/St. Thomas of Villanova Secondary School).
Martin held the 200 back with 2:06.45, Yontz was a second-place finish in the 200 free with 1:54.73, a personal and season best, and Gniatczyk took the 100 free with 53.53.
Waszak topped all competitors in the 500 free with 5:07.99, a best on the season, and Longlade claimed first in the 200 breast with 2:23.25.
In facing Valparaiso over the past 10 seasons, the men's and women's squads are 10-0 in regular-season play. The women have not faced Illinois State since the 2005-06 season, when they dropped a 160-81 decision.
