CHICAGO – The UIC swimming and diving program returns to the pool and begins its 2026-27 season Saturday morning at the Flames Natatorium. The women will compete in a tri-meet against Southern Indiana and Missouri Valley Conference foe Northern Iowa, while the men will compete in a dual meet against Southern Indiana. Looking into the returners from a season ago, the Flames welcome back 15 members who earned All-Conference honors.
 
EVENT INFORMATION
Where: Flames Natatorium
When: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM (CT)
Where to follow: Through the meet mobile app on Android and Apple, social media or UICFlames.com.
 
LAST YEAR RECAP
 
WOMEN

• The Flames are coming off a fourth place finish in the MVC last season, their highest finish since joining the conference in 2022-23.
• Nine members who earned All-Conference accolades last season return for the Flames.
• The swimmers are highlighted by returners senior Molly Kroeger and junior Samantha Wilson, both of whom earned All-Conference honors in multiple events. Both Kroeger and Wilson have won individual MVC titles in the past.
• The divers are led by sophomores Ava Molina and Morgan McCloskey. Molina was named the MVC Women's Freshman Diver of the Year.

MEN

• The Flames placed sixth in their second season competing in the MVC last season, with an individual champion.
• UIC returns six members who earned All-Conference accolades last season.
• The swimmers return freshmen Jay Stewart and Noah Pelinkovic as well as senior James McCarthy, all of which earned All-MVC First Team honors. Stewart and Pelinkovic broke school records in the 50 freestyle and 1650 freestyle respectively.
• Graduate Student Harrison Nolan leads the diving team after becoming the first UIC athlete to qualify and compete at the NCAA Swimming and Diving National Championships (three-meter). Last season Nolan also won the MVC title in the three-meter, broke the MVC Championship meet record in the one-meter and three-meter and won MVC Men's Diver of the Year.

HISTORY VS. SOUTHERN INDIANA

WOMEN
 
Saturday's meet will be the third meeting all-time between the Flames and Screaming Eagles, with the Flames winning both previous meetings. They last met on Jan. 10, 2026, with UIC winning 220-77.
 
In the meet, juniors Zoe Shields and Georgina Bell each earned four wins a piece. Shields won in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. Bell won in the 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly, 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.
 
MEN
 
Saturday's meet will be the fourth meeting all-time between the Flames and Screaming Eagles, with the Flames holding a 2-1 series edge. They last met on Jan. 10, 2026, with Southern Indiana winning 159-140.
 
In the meet, sophomore Noah Pelinkovic earned a win in the 1000 freestyle and second place finishes in the 50 breaststroke and 100 individual medley. On the diving board, graduate student Harrison Nolan swept the one-meter and three-meter events.

HISTORY VS. NORTHERN IOWA

This will be the second all-time meeting between the Flames and Panthers, with Northern Iowa winning the only meeting on Nov. 10, 2001.
 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• Women Three-Meter/ Men One-Meter diving event
• 200 Medley Relay
• 1000 Freestyle
• 200 Freestyle
• 100 Backstroke
• 100 Breaststroke
• 200 Butterfly
• 50 Freestyle
• Women One-Meter/ Men Three-Meter diving event
• 100 Freestyle
• 200 Backstroke
• 200 Breaststroke
• 500 Freestyle
• 100 Butterfly
• 200 Individual Medley
• 400 Freestyle Relay

 
 
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).