MACOMB, Ill. - At the beginning of the season, Western Illinois swimming and diving head coach Greg Naumann expressed the men's and women's goal of beating in-state and Summit League opponent Eastern Illinois at the conference championship.

With just over a month before The Summit League Championships, the dual meet between the two programs this Saturday (January 14) will be a good indicator of how they stack up.

This marks the second meeting of the season between the east and west. The first matchup occurred on November 11 at the House of Champions meet hosted by IUPUI. The Leathernecks were edged out by the Panthers 292.5-278 (men) and 204-157 (women).

Western Illinois recorded 42 season personal bests in their last competition, a tri-meet against Illinois-Chicago and Saint Louis on December 17. Freshman Doug Ogilvie and senior Jamie Grau earned men's and women's Summit League Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week honors, respectively, for their efforts. It was the first career conference award for each as a Leatherneck.

According to Naumann, times have continued to drop in practice despite an increase in the level of training intensity.

"We're pretty excited with what has been going on over winter break," Naumann said. "Our times in practice are giving us a good idea of what to expect at the end of the year. They're swimming fast right now and as we go into Eastern, I think they're going to be able to just get after it."

The dual meet, hosted by Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Ill., begins at 1 p.m.
 

PROJECTED TOP PERFORMERS
Men:
• Jonathan Bond
• Jack Killheffer
• Tyler Neaveill
• Braydon Rudy
Women:
• Julia Rassmussen
• Jamie Grau

EVENTS TO WATCH
• Sprints
• Diving
• 200s of stroke
• 400 IM

SUMMIT LEAGUE TOP TIMES OCCUPANTS (as of January 10, 2012)
Julia Rassmussen
   • One Meter Six Dives, 10th - 205.00
Brandon Wilkinson
   • 200 Breast, 8th - 2:13.14
Jacob Shain
   • 200 Fly, 9th - 1:59.07
Josh Davis
   • 400 IM, 10th - 4:22.36
Doug Ogilvie
   • One Meter Six Dives, 3rd - 275.30
   • Three Meter Six Dives, 3rd - 283.35
Patrick Oliver
   • One Meter Six Dives, 9th - 216.65
   • Three Meter Six Dives, 9th - 204.70

200 Free Relay (W): Shawn Fitzpatrick, Mary Betsworth, Julia Rassmussen & Haley Brasile
   • 6th - 1:44.89
200 Free Relay (M): Tyler Neaveill, Brandon Wilkinson, Sam Vissers & Jack Killheffer
   • 4th - 1:27.68
400 Free Relay (W): Shawn Fitzpatrick, Mary Betsworth, Haley Brasile & Julia Rassmussen
   • 5th - 3:48.74
400 Free Relay (M): Brandon Wilkinson, Jacob Shain, Tyler Neaveill & Jack Killheffer
   • 5th - 3:16.86
800 Free Relay (W): Mary Betsworth, Haley Brasile, Shawn Fitzpatrick & Taylor Miller
   • 5th - 8:34.30
800 Free Relay (M): Jacob Shain, Josh Davis, Tyler Neaveill & Brandon Wilkinson
   • 5th - 7:30.49
200 Medley Relay (W): Shawn Fitzpatrick, Jamie Grau, Taylor Miller & Haley Brasile
   • 6th - 1:55.25
200 Medley Relay (M): Jack Killheffer, Brandon Wilkinson, Jacob Shain & Tyler Neaveill
   • 6th - 1:39.95
400 Medley Relay (W): Shawn Fitzpatrick, Jamie Grau, Taylor Miller & Julia Rassmussen
   • 6th - 4:14.11
400 Medley Relay (M): Josh Davis, Brandon Wilkinson, Jacob Shain & Jack Killheffer
   • 6th - 3:39.68