UIC will return to the pool this weekend for one of just two full-team meets before the Horizon League championships.  The Flames will take on IUPUI and Cleveland State on Friday and Saturday in Indianapolis at the IUPUI Natatorium, which will host the conference meet starting February 13.

Friday's meet will begin at 5:00 pm Central.  Action will get under way at 10:30 Saturday morning.  Each day's events will be scored as a standalone meet.

Last Time Out

• The Flames last swam competitively at the TYR Invitational in mid-November.
• Many swimmers set season-best times.  Luke Hutchinson finished third in the 200 fly, and Danny Sivak took third in the 200 IM.
• Lexie Joy was third in the 100 free, among her three individual top-five swims against a talented field that included Northwestern, Michigan State, William & Mary, and Illinois State.
• Felix LaFortune won the 3-meter dive and finished second in the 1-meter.  Cydney Liebenberg finished second and third in the two competitions.

Flames to Watch

• Hunter Crook has been the Flames' top swimmer in the distance free events.
• The versatile Sivak has UIC's top time in breaststroke, backstroke, and individual medley races.
• LaFortune has burst onto the scene in his first year of competition, taking first place five times  and posting four NCAA Zone qualifying scores.
• Joy has been UIC's dominating force in sprint freestyle races, as well as butterfly and IM events.  Christina Neri has carried the torch in distance free events.
• Abby Kunze has been consistent in backstroke.  Jessica Amyette has scored points in breaststroke races.
• Liebenberg has been in the top three in every diving event this season, including six wins.  She is already qualified for the NCAA Zone meet on both boards.

Scouting the Opposition

• The IUPUI swimmers have not left their home pool all season.  In their last meet, their men and women both defeated Xavier.
• Ben Levart won three events against the Musketeers.  He owns the Horizon League's top time of the season in the 500 and 1000 free.  Earlier last fall, freshman Nick Hanas broke the school record in the 200 back.
• Aubrey Wing won three events as well, including a sweep of the breaststroke races.
• Cleveland State swept Division II Ashland in their last meet in December.
• Dominik Niedzialek has two Horizon League Swimmer of the Week awards to his credit, while Matt Akers has won Diver of the Week once.
• Molly McNamara won the female Swimmer of the Week award earlier, bringing her career total to nine.  She has turned in the conference's fastest 200 fly and 400 IM times.