Complete Results

The Prairie Fire women's and men's swimming teams, competing Saturday at Lay Natatorium for the first time in two seasons, swept their dual meets against Eureka College.

The women's team won its dual against the Red Devils 69-18 -- the squad's second straight dual meet victory -- while the men's team triumphed 63-22.  The meet was the first for the Prairie Fire since December 9 at Illinois College.

Two juniors, Tory Kassabaum (St. Louis, Missouri) and Tyler O'Neill (Bloomington, Minnesota), earned three first-place finishes each to help their teams win 10 of 11 events. Kassabaum won the women's 200 Yard IM (2:35.22), the 100 Yard Backstroke (1:10.25) and the 1000 Yard Freestyle (12:04.78).  O'Neill -- in his first meet for the Prairie Fire -- won the men's 100 Yard Butterfly (:58.69), the 100 Yard Backstroke (:59.10) and the 100 Yard Breaststroke (1:08.35).

Coach Jonathan Powers says it's good to have O'Neill back.  "He's still working his way into shape but (Saturday) he had several nice swims, which was nice to see."

Two other swimmers won a pair of events.  Junior Sarah MacDowell (Rockton, Illinois) placed first in the women's 200 Yard Freestyle (2:16.34) and the 500 Yard Freestyle (5:59.09).  Sophomore Jesse Sindler (Cannon City, Colorado) earned first-place finishes for the men's team in the 50 Yard Freestyle (:25.13) and the 100 Yard Freestyle (:57.81).

"The team swam well.  I know they were really excited to be able to swim at home and show their classmates what they can do in the pool, so I'm really grateful to (Eureka coach) Jane Austin for bringing her team to Knox," Powers said.

The Prairie Fire swimming teams have not hosted a competition since January of 2009 (Knox Invitational).

Eureka College's Natalie Wetterauer won the women's 100 Yard Butterfly and Cody Leach placed first in the men's 200 Yard Freestyle.

The Prairie Fire swimming teams take part in the Grinnell College Invitational January 21 and 22.  The events begin at 9:00 a.m. both days.