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TechnographIllini swimming and diving start season strongly
By Jessica Glade
Posted: 10/10/08 Section: Sports
Excited about their season opener, the Illinois swimming and diving team made a big splash in their season by defeating Nebraska 171-129, winning nine out of the 16 events.
"Nebraska is such a good match for us, to come out on top is so good for us," said junior swimmer Anna Johnson.
Though even before the meet began, the excitement of the match up to come was floating through the air at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) pool. All of the hype of the new facility and the first home meet in four years was culminated into one single meet.
"We came in here so pumped," said sophomore swimmer Meghan Mason. "It's been a big anticipation, even since last year. We've been looking forward to this day for so long."
The Illini were not the only ones looking forward to the meet; their fans were just as eager. As the meet was ready to start the ARC pool was filled with eager fans as well as the echoes of their loud cheers.
"It was crazy. We've never had that before," said junior swimmer CeCe Marizu. "You dream about that as a swimmer because you never think you're going to have that. When you see those big fans and hear those fans you're like 'Is this really Illinois swimming and diving they're here for?' We're just excited that they were here, it gave us the chills and made us excited and I'm glad we won today."
The Illini simply fed off that excitement and pushed themselves to a victory over Nebraska. And as predicted the match was a close call with Nebraska nipping at the Illini's heels all the way.
"There were a bunch of close ones," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "I thought overall they competed well, and final times may not have been where everyone wanted them to be," Novitsky said. "But it's the first meet of the season and that's why it's the first meet of the season. But they stayed calm, they stayed in the moment. I told them Thursday that my expectation was to see everyone in there competing hard to the end, and I was very pleased."
"Nebraska is such a good match for us, to come out on top is so good for us," said junior swimmer Anna Johnson.
Though even before the meet began, the excitement of the match up to come was floating through the air at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) pool. All of the hype of the new facility and the first home meet in four years was culminated into one single meet.
"We came in here so pumped," said sophomore swimmer Meghan Mason. "It's been a big anticipation, even since last year. We've been looking forward to this day for so long."
The Illini were not the only ones looking forward to the meet; their fans were just as eager. As the meet was ready to start the ARC pool was filled with eager fans as well as the echoes of their loud cheers.
"It was crazy. We've never had that before," said junior swimmer CeCe Marizu. "You dream about that as a swimmer because you never think you're going to have that. When you see those big fans and hear those fans you're like 'Is this really Illinois swimming and diving they're here for?' We're just excited that they were here, it gave us the chills and made us excited and I'm glad we won today."
The Illini simply fed off that excitement and pushed themselves to a victory over Nebraska. And as predicted the match was a close call with Nebraska nipping at the Illini's heels all the way.
"There were a bunch of close ones," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "I thought overall they competed well, and final times may not have been where everyone wanted them to be," Novitsky said. "But it's the first meet of the season and that's why it's the first meet of the season. But they stayed calm, they stayed in the moment. I told them Thursday that my expectation was to see everyone in there competing hard to the end, and I was very pleased."
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