WAUKEE, Iowa (Mar. 1, 2025) – UIC sees its members break several records and two individual champions, as it finishes fifth in the team standings at the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championship Meet. This is the Flames highest finish since joining the MVC in the 2022-23 season
AWARDS
Eight Flames were honored with All-Conference accolades, with four First-Team members and Four Honorable Mention members.
CHAMPIONS
Sophomore
Molly Kroeger (Easton, Md./Easton) broke a school record and won the 500 freestyle (4:47.20) to become an MVC Champion.
Freshman
Samantha Wilson (Richmond, New Zealand/Waimea College) broke a 12 year old school record in the 200 butterfly (1:59.24) to become an MVC Champion
TOP PERFORMERS
Swimming
- Molly Kroeger broke the school record and won the 500 freestyle (4:47.20) and added another top three finish in the 1650 freestyle. Kroeger earned First-Team All-MVC.
- Samantha Wilson broke the school record in the 100 butterfly (54.71) and 200 butterfly (1:59.24) earning two top three finishes and became an MVC Champion (200 butterfly). Wilson earned First-Team All-MVC.
- Junior Madison Helmick (Bingham Farms, Mich./Birmingham Groves) broke the school record for the 500 freestyle in the prelims and took second in the event (4:47.62). Helmick earned another top eight finish in the 1650 freestyle finishing fourth. Helmick earned First-Team All-MVC.
- Freshman Georgina Bell (Wellington, New Zealand/Wellington Girls College) broke the school record in the 50 freestyle (23.06) and placed eighth in the event. Bell also broke the school record in the 100 backstroke (55.14) and placed fifth in the event. Bell earned Honorable Mention All-MVC.
- Sophomore Sophie Stefanac (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) broke the school record in the 100 backstroke (55.43), and placed fourth in the 200 backstroke. Stefanac earned Honorable Mention All-MVC
- Graduate Student Taira Juronis (Palos Hills, Ill./Amos Alonzo Stagg) broke the school record in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.98) and placed fourth in the event. Juronis added another top eight finish in the 100 breaststroke placing eighth. Juronis earned Honorable Mention All-MVC.
Diving
The Flames finished the meet with 11 top eight finishes, six finishes in the top-three and eight school records broken.
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH ASHLEY DELL
"This group of women completely blew my mind this week. Moving up 2 spots from last year while scoring 123 more points is an incredible feat. It was a total team effort from start to finish and I couldn't be more proud of their grit, determination, and positive attitudes. Having 2 MVC champions and breaking 6 school records was phenomenal and I know our program is on the rise. Thank you to our seniors for your fantastic work ethic and leadership the last 4 years, you will be missed! This team is hungry and we are extremely excited to be moving on up! Go Flames!"
COMMENT FROM ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/HEAD DIVING COACH SUSAN BROMBERG
"I am so proud of this team and all that they have accomplished this week. It was amazing seeing them break so many records, achieving personal best times and at the end we moved up 2 spots in the overall finish. It was truly a team effort from both the swimmers and the divers. I am so thankful for our seniors, they have made a lasting impression on this program"
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
Day One - Wednesday
Day Two - Thursday
Day Three - Friday
Day Four - Saturday
UP NEXT
The diving team will be turning its focus to its next post season competition at the NCAA Zone C Diving Championship in Columbus, Ohio. The four-day championship event will begin on Sunday, Mar. 9. Fans are encouraged to follow along at divemeets.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).
#ChicagosCollegeTeam
