UIC will look to build on several strong performances, with the support of a full squad, as the season continues Saturday at Cleveland State.

"We took a smaller group to Milwaukee, where we were encouraged by some of the times they turned in after a full year away from competition," Tim Loeffler said.  "With another week of training under our belts, many more of our kids are race-ready and we're looking forward to the opportunity to compete again this weekend."

The shorthanded Flames fell to Milwaukee in both the men's and women's meets on Sunday, but had several event winners and won three of the four Horizon League Athlete of the Week awards.  The men and women both defeated Cleveland State in both days of a two-day, triple-dual meet last season, but the Vikings outpointed UIC at conference.  Cleveland State was the only team picked between defending champion Oakland and UIC in the men's and women's preseason polls.

Flames to Watch

• Jan Komorowski won the 500 and 1000 free and was named Male Swimmer of the Week in his first collegiate competition.
• Bryce Wyma won the 50 free, and Liam Davis won the 200 fly in the season opener.
• Jacob Cunningham won the 100 free.
• Felix LaFortune won both diving events, and the Male Diver of the Week award.
• Cydney Liebenberg was a double diving winner as well, and took the Female Diver of the Week honor.
• Christina Neri had a second and a third place finish.
• The Flames' women were strong in the freestyle events.  Beth Kelzer, Nikki Eyssen, and Omega Pinnix finished second through fourth in the 100, and UIC was just 0.02 seconds out of first in the 400 free relay.

Scouting Cleveland State

• Cleveland State opened their season with convincing wins over DII Notre Dame (Ohio), and lost to Oakland their last time out.
• Griffin Manning was the 200 breast winner against Oakland, while Colin Martin won the 50 free.
• Lexie Kostelnick won the 1000 free.  Rachel Contich, a previous Swimmer of the Week winner, had two third-place finishes.