Results

Jacksonville, IL – The Prairie Fire swept its second dual meet of the season, winning on Friday at Illinois College.

The Knox women’s team beat the Lady Blues 129-53 and the Knox men’s team outscored the Blueboys 99.5-76.5.

Double winners for the Fire women’s squad were senior Tory Kassabaum (Webster Groves, MO, Webster Groves), senior Rachel Clark (Newton, IA, Newton), and first-year Susannah Lodge-Rigal (Bloomington, IL, Bloomington). 

Kassabaum placed first in the 200 yard IM and the 500 yard freestyle.  Clark won the 50 yard freestyle and the 100 yard freestyle.  Lodge-Rigal finished first in the 200 yard freestyle and the 100 yard backstroke.

The Fire women’s team also won the 400 yard medley relay and the 400 yard freestyle relay.  Kassabaum and Clark swam in both relays.

Senior Tyler O'Neill (Bloomington, MN, Perpich Center for Arts Education) had a big day for the men’s team with three first place finishes in individual events while contributing to a pair of relay victories.  He won the 200 yard IM, tied in the 100 yard backstroke, and won the 100 yard breaststroke.

"Tyler swam two really exciting races, Coach Jonathan Powers said.  “In the 100 breast he and Xander Benzinger (of IC) swam stroke-for-stroke for the first 75 yards before Tyler pulled ahead.  And in the 100 backstroke, he tied with Illinois College's Tom Deppe.  In both events Tyler had season best times."

Like the women’s team, the men won the 400 medley and 400 freestyle relays.

"This was a nice way to cap off this stretch of the season, Powers said.  “We had some good swims and we always enjoy the friendly supportive competition with Illinois College." 

Knox's other dual sweep was in November at home against Eureka College.

The Prairie Fire teams are idle until January 21, when they compete in the Eureka College Invitational.

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