Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Evansville
Swimming & diving teams sweep Evansville in season-opener
10/23/2005 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Oct. 23, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University swimming & diving teams opened the 2005-06 season with victories over the University of Evansville, Sat., Oct. 22.
The men's team won its meet 189-44 over the Purple Aces while the women won their meet, 178-62.
"It was exactly what we expected in terms of how we swam," said SIU Head Coach Rick Walker.
"We were very tired so its not surprising if someone came out flat, but we also had some really good surprises out of some people."
The men's team dominated its meet, winning all 13 events.
Sophomore Antonio Santoro won the 200 Free (1:39.82) and 200 Fly (1:51.14), and was a member of the winning 200 Free Relay (1:24.97) team with Dennis Hedo, Stephan Ackerman and Bryan Riekena.
Riekena also picked up a individual win as he swam the 50 Free in 21.73.
Hedo also won the 100 Free with a time of 46.57, but teamed up Ackerman, Miguel King and Gareth McGee for a win in the 400 Medley Relay (3:31.53).
King also won an individual title in the 200 Breast (2:11.04) while McGee won the 200 Individual Medley (1:57.60) and the 200 Back (1:52.26).
Senior Jason Sigler took top honors in the distance events for the Salukis as he won the 500 Free (4:45.20) and the 1000 Free (9:38.57).
Brandon Birchak swept the diving events as he competed for the first time in a year after sitting out last season. Birchak won the 1-Meter Dive with a 243.58 and the 3-Meter Dive with a 317.85.
The women's team posted a similar performance, winning 12 of the 13 events en route to a 178-62 victory.
Freshman Isabel Madeira and junior Nora Bunford led the way for SIU as they each won two individual events.
Madeira won the 200 Free (1:53.05) and the 100 Free (52.50). Bunford was the top performer in the 200 Individual Medley (2:11.16) and the 200 Breast (2:24.39).
Seniors Elizabeth McGowan and Briley Bergen took top honors in the distance events with McGowan winning the 1000 Free (10:32.94) and Bergen winning the 500 Free (5:15.24).
Also winning individual events were Katie Lowry and Kelly Dvorak. Lowry won the 200 Fly with a time of 2:10.96 while Dvorak won the 200 Back in 2:08.11.
The Salukis also won both relay events. The team of Dvorak, Bunford, Lauren Abbott and Kelsey Kinsella earned the win in the 400 Medley Relay with a time of 4:06.58.
Madeira, Kinsella, Gabriela Flores and Danielle Quarry teamed up to win the 200 Free Relay in a time of 1:40.18.
The Dawgs also swept the two diving events. Cristina Curtuneanu won the 1-Meter Dive with a score of 261.75 while Jessica Leong won the 3-Meter with a score of 296.00.
SIU returns to action Sat., Nov. 5 as the Salukis take on Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Louisville in Bloomington, Ind. The meet is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
