Butler Swimming Teams Look To Keep Improving

Dec. 11, 2002

CLOSING THE GAP: The Butler men's and women's swimming teams performed well against Eastern Illinois on Sunday (Dec. 8) at Carmel High School, but both team still came in second to the Panthers at the meet. The Butler men recorded 84 points to EIU's 162 points, and the Butler women posted 93 points compared to the Panthers' 160 points.

QUOTING ELLIS: "We had one of our best meets of the season against Eastern Illinois," said head coach Nichole Ellis. "The results as far as points are concerned don't show it, but on our men's side we were going one competitor to their three or four. We started off the meet fast with a female win in the medley relay and then ended with a win in the 200 Freestyle. Our men brought on the fire at the end to out touch the EIU swimmers in the 200 Freestyle as well. All I can say is that this team individually is going to make heads turn at the championships!"

LEADING LADY: Sophomore Jesse Levknecht led the Butler women's swimming team to a first-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay and the 200 Freestyle Relays in the Bulldogs' home meet against Eastern Illinois. Levknecht also captured a pair of individual first-place finishes, as her time of 1:01.05 placed her in first in the 100 Butterfly and her mark of 2:14.19 led her to a top finish in the 200 Butterfly.

TOP DOG: Brendan Van Cleve took home a pair of first-place individual finishes against Eastern Illinois. Van Cleve won the 100 backstroke in a time of 56.26 and touched the wall first in the 100 Freestyle in a time of 50.11. He also helped guide the 200 Medley Relay (1:41.42) and the 200 Freestyle Relay (1:30.87) teams to first place finishes.

NOTABLES: Carlton Racette touched the wall first in the 200 butterfly in a time of 2:01.03... he also was the top finisher in the 100 butterfly with a time of 54.34... Carlo Girolamo finished second in the 50 freestyle in a time of 22.74 ... John Allan placed second in the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:28.66... Kristen France finished second in the 100 freestyle with a time of 56.07... Cherri Mosher placed second in the 500 freestyle in a time of 5:37.60... Liz Klueh placed second in the 200 backstroke in a time of 2:20.63...Kaylee Quilling finished second in the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:05.11... Catie Scott finished second in the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:12.23.

LEAGUE COMPARISON: Several Butler swimmers rank in the Top 10 of their particular event among the Horizon League. Carlton Racette ranks third in the 400 IM (4:24.06) and tenth in the 200 Butterfly (2:00.57). Jesse Levknecht also ranks in the Top Ten in a pair of events - standing in sixth position in the 100 Backstroke (1:02.10) and in ninth place in the 200 Backstroke (2:17.55). Teammate Kaylee Quilling leads the Butler swimmers with a second place standing in the 100 Freestyle (54.03) and a fifth place standing in the 50 Freestyle (25.28). Catie Scott ranks near the top in three events, holding third place in the 100 Freestyle (54.61), sixth place in the 50 Freestyle (25.29) and sixth place in the 200 Freestyle (1:59.51).

UP NEXT: The Butler swimming teams will have a lengthy holiday break, as their next competition isn't until Jan. 24-25 at the Bill Ritter Invitational, hosted by UW-Milwaukee.