McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's and women's swimming and diving teams are set to begin their 2024-25 season with a meet against Lewis University. The competition is scheduled for Friday, October 18, at Lewis University's facilities in Romeoville, Illinois, starting at 5 p.m.

Leading the Titans is head coach Teresa Fish, who marks her 30th season with the team. The women's team sees seven returning athletes and five new members joining the squad. Meanwhile, the men's team returns three student-athletes and welcomes four newcomers.

The Titans have added nine new athletes to their roster this season. Newcomers for the women's team include Isabella Cano from River Grove, Julia Jozwiak from McHenry, Emilee Spicer, Caroline Stenger from Westlake, Ohio, and Isadora Tolpin from Highland Park. On the men's side, Ben Huk from Des Plaines, Jacob Nacional from Bolingbrook, David Ren from Chicago, and Tate Thomas from Joliet join the program.

In the previous season's College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet last February, eight IWU swimmers received all-conference honors. Among those returning are senior Emily Marks of Cary Grove; juniors Kayleigh Kuschewski of Batavia; Natalie Porter of Danville; and sophomore Sam Borre of Hoffman Estates.

Kuschewski and Marks were part of a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:46.78. Kuschewski also secured second place in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 58.29 seconds.

Borre earned an All-CCIW recognition by placing third in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:07.68 during her freshman year.

Porter is IWU's only returning champion after winning gold in the 1650-yard freestyle event last season with a time of 17:46.14.

While this will be IWU's first meet of the season in Romeoville against Lewis University’s Division II Flyers—a team that has already achieved a victory over Olivet Nazarene University—the Titans aim to secure their first win against Lewis since they began competing against them in 2016.

Results will be available on iwusports.com following the conclusion of Friday's meet.