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Flames with a Successful Season Opener Against Ball State

Several Flames Standout

10/12/2024 4:15:00 PM

Muncie, Ind. (Oct.12, 2024) The UIC men's and women's swimming and diving programs 2024-25 season began today, as the Flames took on Ball State in a dual meet at the Lewellen Aquatic Center in Muncy, Ind. The men's team came away with a win (156.5-143.5), and the women's team fell short to Ball State (123.5-176.5)
 
Quote from UIC Head Coach Ashley Dell
 
"It is great to be back in the pool competing again. It's not easy sitting on a bus for 4 hours before racing so I am proud of the way both teams took it one event at a time and gave it their all. The men getting the win against a conference opponent was amazing and the women being so close to a solid MAC team was great to see. We're excited for the rest of this Fall and can't wait to see what this group accomplishes together."
 
Diving
 
Women's
 
  • In the 3-meter competition the Flames had two top-five finishes with junior Kerry-Leigh Morrison (Gauteng, South Africa/St. Mary's School) finishing fourth with a score 232.05, and fellow junior Kathryn Kleczka (Franklin, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels) finishing fifth with a score of 227.02.
  • The same duo of Morrison and Kleckza finished third and fourth in the 1-meter competition with scores of 243.15 and 229.43.
 
Men's
 
  • UIC dominated the 1-meter diving competition, securing the top two spots. Junior Harrison Nolan (Riverside, Ill./Riverside Brookfield High School/Kentucky) took first place with an impressive score of 338.55, while senior Cole Tremewan (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) finished in second with a score of 304.73.
  • The 3-meter dive was not much different with Nolan and Tremewan getting first and second, but sophomore Christian Curtis (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood Flossmoor) got in on the action finishing third with a score of 312.30.
 
 
Swimming
 
Women's
 
  • Freshman Samantha Wilson (Richmond, New Zealand/Waimea College) made her Flames' debut and had an impressive start to her collegiate swimming career. She clinched victory in two events: the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 56.61 seconds and the 200-yard individual medley (IM) with a time of 2:08.65.
 
 
  • The Flames trio of junior Madison Helmick (Bingham Farms, Mich./Birmingham Groves), sophomore Molly Kroeger (Easton, Md./Easton), and freshman Karolena Shaw (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills) dominated the competition, going one, two, three in both the 1000 and 500-yard freestyle events. Kroeger claimed victory in the 1000-yard freestyle, while Helmick secured first place in the 500-yard freestyle.

 
 
Men's
  • Sophomore James McCarthy (Minnetonka, Minn./DeLaSalle) kicked off his 2024-25 swimming season with an impressive performance, winning both the 200-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley (IM). He recorded times of 2:08.03 in the breaststroke and 1:56.05 in the IM.
  • Fellow sophomore Jack Mills (Toronto, Canada/Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute) got in on the action winning the 1000 yard freestyle with a time of 9:57.49.
  • Senior Daniel Galinski (Elmwood Park, Ill./Elmwood Park) won the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 58:66, and finished second in the 200 yard breaststroke to fellow Flame James McCarthy.
  • In the 200-yard butterfly, graduate student Liam Davis (Naperville, Ill./Plainfield North) secured a first-place finish with an impressive time of 1:53.93.
 
 
 
Up Next
 
The Flames will be back in the water on Oct. 26 as they travel to Carbondale, Ill. to take on Missouri-Valley Conference opponent Southern Illinois.
 
 
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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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