CHICAGO (Oct. 13, 2023) – The UIC swimming and diving program starts its 2023-24 season Saturday at Flames Natatorium. The men will be facing off against Ball State while the women's team will compete against Butler. Both meets will start at noon.

SCOUTING BALL STATE

• This will be the third meeting between UIC and Ball State in the pool with the overall series tied at 1-1.
• This is the first time the Flames and the Cardinals have competed since Jan. 13, 2006. UIC won in its last meeting, 134-109. That was highlighted by UIC's 200 medley relay team of Adan Jimenez, Stefan Staev, Kris Simos and Blake Booher winning their heat at 1:34.78. Mark Pappalardo won the 3M board (272.10) and finished second place in the one-meter event (266.40).
• The Cardinals are coming off a fourth-place finish in the Mid-American Conference Championships with 457 total points. This was their second-best total since the 2005 MAC Championships.
• Three-time defending MAC 100 breaststroke champion Joey Garberick returns for his fourth season in the pool. He is the current record holder in the 100 breaststroke (52.17) and has been a part of three program-record relays including the 200-medley relay (1:26.35), 400 medley relay (2:14.42) and the 200-freestyle relay (1:19.35).
• Fifth year Wyatt Blake returns to the diving board for the Cardinals, holding the 3m board school record (359.25) and the program's second-best score on the 1M board (337.45).

SCOUTING BUTLER

• This is the seventh time UIC and Butler are set to compete. The Flames have won five consecutive meets and lead the overall series 5-1.
• UIC last faced off against Butler in a double-dual meet alongside Olivet Nazarene in 2018. UIC's Lexie Joy had a strong showing in the meet, winning the 50 free, the 200 back and the 100 fly.
• The Bulldogs are coming off a sixth-place finish at the BIG EAST Championship Meet in 2023.  In the three-day event, the team broke nine school records.
• The Bulldogs started their season strong in late September, going 2-1 at their own double-dual meet. The team secured wins over Bellarmine (133-71) and IUPUI (119-110).
• Sophomore Kate Schilling earned three BIG EAST qualifying times in the meet. She finished second in the 200 individual medley (2:12.89), seventh in the 200 fly (2:14.35) and sixth in the 200 breaststroke (2:31.13)
• Senior Emily Landwehr took second place in the 50 Free, with a BIG EAST qualifying time of 24.82.

FLAMES READY TO COMPETE

• The Flames are ready to embark on their second seasons as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (women) and as an affiliate member of the Mid-American Conference (men).
• After finishing seventh in the MVC Championships last year, the women's team was recently voted to finish sixth in the MVC coaches' preseason poll.
• Key returners include MVC champion in the 3M dive Ciara McCliment (Farmington Hills, MI./Mercy) and 200 Breast record holder Taira Juronis (Palos Hills, Ill./Amos Alonzo Stagg).
• The men's team is coming off a fifth-place finish in the MAC Championship this past spring.
• Returning to the pool for the Flames includes MAC 3M diving champion and All-MAC First Team selection Cole Tremewan (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) and all-MAC Second Team selection Liam Davis (Naperville, Ill./ Plainfield North).

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• Women's 1 meter / Men's 3-meter diving
• 200 Medley Relay
• 1000 Freestyle
• 200 Freestyle
• 100 Backstroke
• 100 Breaststroke
• 200 Butterfly
• 50 Freestyle
• Women's 3 meter / Men's 1 meter diving
• 100 Freestyle
• 200 Backstroke
• 200 Breaststroke
• 500 Freestyle
• 100 Butterfly
• 400 IM
• 400 Free Relay

 
EVENT INFORMATION

• Where: Flames Natatorium (901 Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL. 60608)
• When: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023
• What time: Noon
• Admission:  Free
• How else can I follow: Through the meet mobile app, social media or UICFlames.com. 

 
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

• For more information, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_SwimDive and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_swimdive and @uicflames).
   

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