VERMILLION, S.D. - Despite recording a total of 18 top three finishes, Western Illinois swimming and diving fell to fellow Summit League member South Dakota on Saturday (October 29). Final scores were 125-87 in men's competition and 148-66 in the women's.
"We had a tough time adapting to the short course meter pool," head coach Greg Naumann said. "Normally, we swim short yards, so it was a little longer than any pool we compete in. Jaime Grau had a great finish in the 200 breast. Julia Rasmussen and Doug Ogilvie both did really well against their divers. Jacob Shain, Tyler Neaveill, and Mary Betsworth all had some strong second place finishes.
Freshman Jacob Shain recorded a second place finish in the 200 individual medley and earned a first place finish in the 200 butterfly, edging out his teammate junior Josh Davis who came in second. However, Davis was able to capture the top spot in the 400 freestyle. Finishing second in the 100 freestyle by less than three-tenths of a second was freshman Tyler Neaveill, and fellow freshman Pawel Wierzchowiec took third in the 200 breaststroke. The 200 freestyle relay team of senior Brandon Wilkinson, Neaveill, freshman Sam Vissers and senior Jack Killheffer placed second.
Senior Jamie Grau continues to lead the team with strong performances. She recorded a first place finish in the 200 breaststroke and helped the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 medley relay teams to first and third place finishes, respectively. Fellow senior Shawn Fitzpatrick earned the top honor in the 200 backstroke and third place in the 200 freestyle. Also turning in third place finishes were freshmen Mary Betsworth in the 50 freestyle and Taylor Miller in the 200 butterfly, and sophomore Haley Brasile in the 400 freestyle.
In diving competition, freshman Doug Ogilvie took first in both one-meter and three-meter events, while sophomore Julia Rasmussen took the top spot in one-meter competition.
The Leathernecks take some time off before jumping back into competition at IUPUI's House of Champions on November 11.
