The UIC swim teams are ready for a big weekend of competition against some of the region's top teams.

After starting the season with single-sex dual meets, the men's and women's teams will come together for the first coed meets of the season Friday and Saturday.  First, the Flames will swim at Northwestern against the Wildcats, Illinois' women, and the University of Chicago.  Less than 24 hours later, the team will make a short trip to Bourbonnais for a meet with Olivet Nazarene and Butler's women.

"We've had some injuries and bouts of sickness during the preseason and even through our first meets for the guys and girls," head coach Tim Loeffler said, "but with people getting healthy it will be interesting to see how we swim this weekend.  Northwestern will give us a test against another Big Ten team, with our women getting an added opportunity against Illinois.  Chicago is a DIII powerhouse that always swims us tough.  After a short turnaround we will swim against Olivet who has won multiple NAIA national championships and Butler who is always a top Midwestern program."

Last Time Out

• The Flames' women fell to Indiana State, 178.5-121.5, October 5.
• The men opened against Michigan State at home October 12, taking a 176-124 loss.

Flames to Watch

• Lexie Joy won three individual events in the women's meet against Indiana State, including the 100 free in a pool record time of :52.64.
• Abby Kunze, Hannah Olsen, and Jessica Amyette each had a second place finish.
• Freshmen Christina Neri, Lauren Johnson, Maddie Hammer, and Beth Kelzer had impressive debuts with team-best finishes in several events.
• Cydney Liebenberg swept the 1- and 3-meter diving events.  Natalie Williams was fourth on both boards.
• Luke Hutchinson (200 fly), Michael Tegeler (200 back), and Mitch Milosch (100 back) each won an event against Michigan State.
• Danny Sivak was a three-time second place finisher.
• Tegeler, Sivak, Milosch, and Connor Homans topped the Spartans in the 400 medley relay.
• Felix LaFortune was a double winner in both diving events.

Scouting the Opposition

• Northwestern met Michigan in their season opener.  Calypso Sheridan won the 100 and 200 back, and Olivia Rosendahl won the 1-meter diving competition.
• The Wildcat men were led by freshmen Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson, Andrew Zhang, and Ryan Gridley.
• Illinois also lost to Indiana State earlier this year.  Jimena Martinez won two events in the Illini's wins over Southern Illinois and Illinois State in a tri-dual last weekend.
• Chicago will be making their season opener.  Five returning men and nine returning women made All-American last season.
• ONU's men have one meet under their belt.  Seth Cripe had NAIA qualifying times in the 200 fly and 500 free against IUPUI and Western Illinois.
• The Tiger women have two swims in the books.  Andrea Vega won the 200 breast against IUPUI, Western Illinois, and Butler; and she won three events against Indiana State.
• Butler topped WIU and ONU in the IUPUI quad-dual last weekend.  Seven Bulldogs finished with qualifying times for the Big East championships.

The meet at Northwestern will begin at 5:00 pm Friday.  Action will get under way at Olivet Nazarene at 1:00 pm Saturday.