Feb. 26, 2002

Chicago, Ill. - The University of Illinois at Chicago will play host to the 2002 Horizon League Swimming & Diving Championships, starting Wednesday afternoon and going until Saturday at the UIC Natatorium inside the PEB.

The natatorium, which has recently gone through a serious facelift, looks brand new and will be the host to some of the best swimming in the Midwest this week.

As for the UIC men's and women's teams, a few individuals are looking to wreak havoc on the league's opposition, while the collective units are hoping to be players in the team race, as well.

"Although we are probably out-matched for the team championship, we will hopefully have some say in the team championship by are performances," said UIC head coach Paul Moniak.

After a few weeks off to taper, the Flames are ready to roll in the biggest competition of the year.

"Certainly, you can see the kids are getting more energy and we anticipate a very solid performance this week," added Moniak.

On the men's side, the Flames will look to senior captain Paul Torres for serious points. Torres has the top seed in the 200-yard breaststroke, while he sits with the second-best seed in the 400-yard individual medley.

"Paul is ready to finish his college career in style and the home-pool advantage will help him this week," Moniak said.

At last year's championships, Torres reigned as the Swimmer of the Meet, and he is looking to pull of the duplication of that performance.

Diver Mike Magee is also in the hunt for a championship, as he was named last year's Diver of the Meet at the conference championships.

"Mike has picked up a new dive with a high degree of difficulty and he is ready to unveil this week," said Moniak.

Enric Claret should also be a player in the IM events, as well as the breaststroke events.

For the women, the diving team of seniors Shannon Joseph and Andrea Bove and rookie Caitlin Carey is expected to shine.

"The women's diving competition will be as competitive as ever," Moniak said. "It will be a fight to make the finals, but our divers have been training very well."

In the swimming portion of the meet, Jamie Redway is seeded second in the grueling 1650-yard free, while Christine Hare and Vanessa Segovia are seeded fifth and seventh, respectively, in the 200-yard free.

Listed below is a schedule of all the action.

ORDER OF EVENTS

Wednesday, February 27, 2002

Day 1 Trials 2:30 PM

Event

#10 One-Meter Diving (M)

#9 Three-Meter Diving (W)

Thursday, February 28, 2002

Day 2 Trials 10:30 AM

Day 2 Finals 6:00 PM

Event

#1 200-yard Freestyle (W)

#2 200-yard Freestyle (M)

#3 500-yard Freestyle (W)

#4 500-yard Freestyle (M)

#5 200-yard IM (W)

#6 200-yard IM (M)

#7 50-yard Freestyle (W)

#8 50-yard Freestyle (M)

#9 One-Meter Diving (M)*

#10 Three-Meter Diving (W)*

#11 400-yard Medley Relay (W)

#12 400-yard Medley Relay (M)

*diving will take place from 2:00-5:00 PM

Friday, March 1, 2002

Day 3 Trials 10:30 AM

Day 3 Finals 6:00 PM

Event

#13 200-yard Medley Relay (W)

#14 200-yard Medley Relay (M)

#15 400-yard IM (W)

#16 400-yard IM (M)

#17 100-yard Butterfly (W)

#18 100-yard Butterfly (M)

#19 200-yard Freestyle (W)

#20 200-yard Freestyle (M)

#21 100-yard Breaststroke (W)

#22 100-yard Breaststroke (M)

#23 100-yard Backstroke (W)

#24 100-yard Backstroke (M)

#25 800-yard Free Relay (W)

#26 800-yard Free Relay (M)

Three-Meter Diving (M)*

One-Meter Diving (W)*

*diving will take place from 2:00-5:00 PM

Saturday, March 2, 2002

Day 4 Trials 10:30 AM

Day 4 Finals 6:00 PM

Event #27 1650-yard Freestyle (W)

#28 1650-yard Freestyle (M)

#29 200-yard Backstroke (W)

#30 200-yard Backstroke (M)

#31 100-yard Freestyle (W)

#32 100-yard Freestyle (M)

#33 200-yard Breaststroke (W)

#34 200-yard Breaststroke (M)

#35 200-yard Butterfly (W)

#36 200-yard Butterfly (M)

#37 One-Meter Diving (W)*

#38 Three-Meter Diving (M)*

#39 400-yard Free Relay (W)

#40 400-yard Free Relay (M)

*diving will take place from 2:00-5:00 PM