MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois swimming and diving opened the 2011 competition with a dual meet against St. Louis at home on Friday, October 8. While both teams fell to the competition, men by score of 218-77 and women by 226-62, several individual performances stood out.

"We had some great swims and dives from Jamie Grau, Tyler Neaveill, and Doug Ogilvie," head coach Greg Naumann said. "Each placed first in different events. We are early in our season, and haven't quite gotten into our race training sets in practice.  We will be starting to move towards our race training as we move week to week."

Senior Jamie Grau led the way for the Leathernecks placing first in both the 50-yard breaststroke and 100-yard breaststroke. Narrowly missing a first place finish by three hundredths of a second in the 50-yard backstroke was senior Shawn Fitzpatrick. Freshman Mary Betsworth made a strong collegiate debut placing second in three events: the 200-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle. The women's 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relays also turned in second place performances.

On the men's side, freshmen Tyler Neaveill and Doug Ogilvie turned in top performances. Neaveill claimed the individual title in the 50-yard freestyle and a second place finish by two tenths of a second in the 100-yard freestyle. Ogilvie took top honors in one-meter diving competition by a margin of 21.75 points. Junior Josh Davis earned a second place in the 200-yard IM.

The Fighting Leathernecks return to the pool Saturday, October 8 at 1 p.m. to face the Truman State Bulldogs. The dual meet will take place at Brophy Pool on the campus of Western Illinois.

"I expect to see a much closer meet, score wise, than what we saw tonight," Naumann said. "Truman is still a tough opponent, and should never be taken lightly, but I am happy with where our team is at, and I believe that we have a strong chance of possibly coming away with a win."