Knox vs. Eureka Swimming Results
Galesburg, IL – The Prairie Fire got the new season off to a good start with a sweep of Eureka College on Saturday at Lay Natatorium.
The Knox women’s team won 90-26 while the Knox men’s squad claimed a close 58-44 victory.
Four women’s swimmers had multiple wins, led by sophomore Colleen Shelly (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg). Shelly placed first in the 50 freestyle (26.82) and the 100 breaststroke (1:15.53) and swam a leg in the winning 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay.
Sophomore Susannah Lodge-Rigal (Bloomington, IN, Bloomington) and first-year Maddie Boehm (Kenosha, WI, Harborside Academy) had a hand in three events won by the Prairie Fire.
Lodge-Rigal finished first in the 1000 freestyle (12:06.67) and the 100 freestyle (1:01.16) and was part of the 200 freestyle relay with Shelly.
Boehm won the 100 butterfly (1:09.09) and helped the Prairie Fire place first in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
Sophomore Madeline Troy (Naperville, IL, Naperville North) claimed victories in two individual events – the 200 freestyle (2:13.82) and the 500 freestyle (5:59.09).
“Madeline’s 500 was just a second slower than her time at the conference championships last February,” swimming coach Jonathan Powers said.
Besides Shelly and Bohm, senior Anna Claypool (Portland, OR, Lincoln) and sophomore ShirJia Bielefeld (Weston, WI, D C Everest) helped the Knox women’s team win the 200 medley relay with a time of 2:03.95. Joining Lodge-Rigal, Bohm, and Shelly on the 200 freestyle relay team was first-year Taylor Wayment (Littleton, CO, Lakewood). The four finished the event in 1:50.65.
Three first-year men’s swimmers each won two individual events and helped the team win two relays.
Sam Chen (Englewood, CO, Cherry Creek) placed first in the 100 butterfly (1:02.09) and the 50 yard butterfly (:26.15). Noah Santer (Plymouth, MI, Salem) won the 200 freestyle (2:06.62) and the 100 freestyle (:56.07). Chris Walsh (Boulder, CO, Shining Mountain Waldorf School) claimed victories in the 50 freestyle (:23.41) and the 100 backstroke (1:00.18). The three swimmers, along with sophomore Niko Kontos (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook South), won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:41.04 while the same threesome and sophomore Nick Polizos (Hoffman Estates, IL, Barrington Community) placed first in the 200 medley relay in 1:51.71.
“The men’s meet came down to the final relay – and it was exciting,” Powers said. “The stands were full and we had to come from behind on the last two legs…the crowd really made a lot of noise.”
Powers said the teams had a lot of really good swims. “We have some things to work on but this gives us something to build on.
“This was my first opportunity to see most of the swim team in competition and I’m very excited for the future,” he said.
The swimming teams participate in the Monmouth College Invitational on November 10 beginning at 11:00 a.m.
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