2025 Kicks Off with a Splash: Senior Day Showdown Against Quincy/SLU

NORMAL, Ill.– The Illinois State Swimming and Diving squad is returning to their home turf on Friday for their last home competition of the season at Horton Pool, where the Redbirds will face off against Quincy and Saint Louis (SLU). Diving events will commence at 11 a.m., followed by swimming at 1 p.m.

SENIOR DAY

On Friday at 12:45 p.m., the Redbirds will recognize eight seniors for their valuable contributions to the program throughout their tenure. The student-athletes being honored include fifth-year Cassidy Carey (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie HS) and seniors Emma Feltzer (Edwardsville, Mich./St. Joseph HS), Ella Glaspie (Highland, Mich./Milford HS), Lauren Hervey (Columbia, Mo./Fr. Tolton Catholic HS), Sydney Hoff (Stevens Point, Wis./Stevens Point Area Senior HS), Mia Snow (Omaha, Neb./Westside HS), Lauren Wisdom (Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic HS), and diver Eva Reyes (Tijuana, Mexico/ San Ysidro HS).

REDBIRDS IN THE VALLEY

As they approach 2025, Illinois State has two swimmers ranked among the top-five in their respective events within the Missouri Valley Conference. Mia Snow holds the fourth position in the 100-fly with a time of 54.03, while Emma Feltzer is fifth in the Valley for the 50-freestyle event, clocking in at 22.99.

Within diving events, Eva Reyes, Selena Corona, Emma Thompson, and Isabel Poggenklass are ranked in the top-five on the 1-meter boards. On the 3-meter, Reyes, Corona, Thompson, and Poggenklass also occupy the first four positions in the Valley. Furthermore, Corona and Reyes rank second and third, respectively, in the platform diving category following their performances at Purdue.

ALL-TIME MEETINGS

This match marks the first occasion that ISU and Quincy will compete in NCAA events. SLU last faced Illinois State during the 2000-2001 season, during which the Redbirds triumphed over the Billikens with a score of 212-64 in Peoria, Ill.

LAST TIME OUT

Illinois State has been absent from competition for an extended period, having last participated in November at the Purdue Invitational, where they achieved 32 season-best times and two personal best performances. The standout moment of the weekend was when Mia Snow established a new school record in the 100-fly (54.03) on the second day of competition.

Additionally, the Redbirds saw senior Lauren Hervey and freshman Hailey Fris achieve new individual lifetime bests. In the 100-free, Hervey recorded a lifetime best of 53.11, while Fris achieved a personal record of 2:04.05 in the 200-back. 

SCOUTING THE HAWKS (Swimming)

Quincy University belongs to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The Hawks arrive in Normal after competing last month against the University of Missouri-St Louis. Quincy was notable for a second-place finish in the 200-medley relay with the team consisting of Olga Pucarevic, Faith Cummings, Vanja Vrbanec, and Bella Sparrow, timing in at 1:53.23. Individually, Elisa Armentia Moliner secured second place in the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:29.59).

SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS (Diving)

St Louis University (SLU) is part of the Atlantic-10 Conference. The Billikens last competed in November at UIndy in the House of Champions, finishing in 10th place. The diving team from SLU was led by Lauren Van Vooren and Elizabeth Voss at the event, with Van Vooren achieving third place on the platform board (162.00) and Voss finishing sixth overall (132.45).

UP NEXT

The Redbirds are set to travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to face off against Missouri Valley Conference rival UNI in a two-day meet on January 17 and 18. The diving event will begin at 5 p.m., while competition will resume on Saturday at 11 a.m. inside Glen F. Henry Pool.

FOLLOW THE REDBIRDS

To keep up with all the latest news on Illinois State swimming & diving, stay connected to GoRedbirds.com and follow the squad on “X” (RedbirdSwimDive), Facebook (Illinois State Swim & Dive), and Instagram (@redbirdwswimdive).

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