Feb. 1, 2002

Results

Chicago, Ill. - The atmosphere at Flames Natatorium on Friday night was unlike any other this season for a UIC home aquatics meet.

It was Senior Night and the mood was electric, as the University of Illinois at Chicago men's and women's swimming and diving teams both defeated Butler in a Horizon League tilt.

Both teams won convincingly, as the men won 122-91, while their female counterparts disposed of the Bulldogs 129-90.

"The kids were so positive this week and this was a great way to send off our seniors," head coach Paul Moniak said. "The kids really had fun tonight."

Fun indeed, as the men won nine-of-13 events on the night, while the women completed the same task.

Senior David Kimmerly continues to battle back from a bum knee and did so positively Friday night.

The Lockport, Illinois native won the 100-yard backstroke in 53.88 and Kimmerly added a win as a member of UIC's winning 200-yard medley relay.

"Kimmerly has been training very well and tonight he came out and had a great 100-back," Moniak said.

Senior captain Paul Torres won two individual events, including the 200-yard IM (1:57.10) and the 100-yard fly (54.27). He was also a member of the Flames' winning 200-yard medley relay team.

One junior got into the act, as diver Mike Magee won the one and three-meter events, as he qualified for the Zone Championships on the one-meter board with a score of 300.53. He took the three-meter, scoring 296.93.

For the women, senior Julie-Anne Chico won the 100-yard free (55.10), as well as playing a role in UIC's winning 200-yard medley relay team.

The senior diving duo of Shannon Joseph and Andrea Bove ended their home careers well, but may have done more in the development of freshman diver Caitlin Carey.

Carey won both boards, scoring 258.75 (one-meter) and 277.35 (three-meter).

All of the divers competed especially well on this night.

"This was the last dual meet at home and we wanted to make this meet seem as much like the conference meet as we could," said diving coach Larry Barcheski. "The reason we did so well is because we knew what we had to do and we did it."

The loss of Joseph and Bove will definitely be difficult to replace.

"Shannon and Andrea have been the UIC diving program," Barcheski said. "We had no female conference champions in diving before they arrived and now they have both won titles."

The Flames said good-bye to seven seniors all told on the night. The seniors are: Andrea Bove, Stephanie Brane, Julie-Anne Chico, Shannon Joseph, Nakima Sepulveda, David Kimmerly and Paul Torres.

Of course, the Flames do have one more shot in the waters of Flames Natatorium, as UIC will host the 2002 Horizon League Championships from Feb. 27-Mar. 2.

UIC hits the road early Saturday morning (Feb. 2) for a 1:00 PM match-up with Wright State in Dayton, Ohio.