Southern Illinois University
MVC Championships
FIVE-PEAT!
02/23/2002 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Feb. 23, 2002
CARBONDALE, Ill. - A dominating team performance by the women's swimming and diving teams resulted in a Missouri Valley Conference Championship for the team on the third and last day of the championship at Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium. The women claimed their fifth title in a row and seventh title in eight years.
The women's team built on their lead from Friday and easily outscored second place Evansville 833-705.5. Southwest Missouri (622), Illinois State (540), Northern Iowa (382.5) and Bradley (188) rounded out the teams.
"It's pretty cool. It's not really what the coaching staff does, it's the quality of athletes that we got. But it's nice to have great coaches in (Chris) Gally and Donnie (Torres) and we always work closely with the men's team. But ultimately it boils down to the athletes that perform and they deserve the credit," commented women's swimming and diving head coach jeff Goelz on the fifth straight championship.
In her last collegiate meet senior Brooke Radostits showed why she is the best backstroke swimmer in conference history by successfully defending her 200 backstroke title with a time of 2:01.82. She would team up with fellow seniors Courtney Corder, Jenna Meckler and freshman Rachel Green and help lead the 400 freestyle relay team to victory on the last event of the championship meet (3:30.12).
Sophomore Leane Pienaar defended her 1,650 freestyle title, winning the event with a time of 17:14.70. Brigitta Olson continued SIU's winning ways with a victory in the 200 butterfly (2:06.38).
Other top performers included Senior Mary Trailov finishing second in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.84), senior Dana Morrell third place finish in the 200 backstroke (2:05.80), junior Amber Mullins placed second behind Pienaar with a time of 17:16.03, and senior diver Breanne Hay finished her collegiate career with a seventh place finish in the 3-meter dive (391.95).
After the meet Saluki head coaches for both the men and the women were selected as 2002 Missouri Valley Conference Coaches of the Year for their teams performances. Coach Goelz won his second straight award.
MEET NOTES: Bradley University Head Coach Jane Austin was awarded co-coach of the year by a unanimous vote by her colleagues, this was the last swim meet for the Bradley swimming and diving program.
