NAPERVILLE — The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s swimming and diving season continues to gather momentum as programs across the league move into the heart of the January schedule. Record-setting swims, dominant senior-day performances, and strong showings at multi-team invitationals highlighted another productive week, while the conference’s statistical leaders continue to separate themselves nationally.

With several key meets looming on the calendar, the latest CCIW Women’s Swimming & Diving Notebook captures the performances and trends shaping the stretch run of the regular season.
 
Boyer’s Record-Breaking Splash Leads Thunder Charge
Wheaton junior Tess Boyer continued her standout season at the Illinois-Michigan Quad Meet last Saturday at Kalamazoo, delivering one of the top performances in the conference this winter. 
 
Boyer established a new pool record in the 200-yard breaststroke, touching in 2:25.97 to eclipse the previous standard by .37 seconds while winning the event by nearly five seconds. She also claimed the 200-yard freestyle in a lifetime-best flat start time of 1:55.96, the second-fastest mark in the CCIW this season. Boyer added a 57.60 butterfly split as part of Wheaton’s third-place finish in the 400-yard medley relay.
 
Allison Henschel provided additional firepower for the Thunder with a decisive win in the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:07.22), finishing 27 seconds clear of the field. Wheaton placed second overall with 376 points, trailing only No. 10 Hope, with Kate Zurowski contributing a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke (2:18.13). On the boards, Renata Marantz recorded a season-best 149.78 on the 3-meter dive, the third-highest score in the conference this year.
 
Firebirds Ignite on Senior Day Behind Norman and Skalski
Carthage celebrated Senior Day last Saturday with a 207-87 victory over Illinois Tech. Mae Norman highlighted the afternoon by posting career-best scores on both boards, earning her second straight CCIW Diving Student-Athlete of the Week honor with a 160.60 on 1-meter and a 158.20 on 3-meter. Sophomore Kendall Leistico won both diving events in the meet competition, scoring 175.00 on 3-meter and 167.75 on 1-meter.
 
In the pool, freshman Brie Skalski swept the distance and IM events, winning the 1,000 freestyle (11:12.39), 500 freestyle (5:28.21) and 400 individual medley (4:55.25). Emily Belcik captured victories in the 200 freestyle (2:01.54) and 100 freestyle (55.03). 
 
Carthage opened the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay (1:54.65) from Mikella Mesina, Jill Kane, Lois Klinger and Lucy Brown. Kane also won the 100 breaststroke (1:11.71), while Klinger topped the 200 butterfly field (2:19.53).
 
Viking Voyage: Augustana Finds Success in Grinnell Waters
Augustana finished fourth among 11 teams at the Grinnell Invitational last Friday and Saturday with 434 points. Senior Savannah Shapley led the Vikings with a commanding win in the 400 individual medley (4:28.23) and a third-place finish in the 1,650 freestyle (18:22.92). Giselle Koonce placed second in the 1,650 (18:18.00) and added a runner-up showing in the 200 freestyle (1:59.00).
 
Additional point-scoring efforts included Kendle Mihm, who placed fourth in the 100 freestyle (54.05), and Caitlin Stoddard, fourth in the 100 individual medley (1:03.66). Augustana closed the meet with a fifth-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:42.92) and earlier placed fifth in the 800 freestyle relay (8:32.45).
 
Titan-ic Triumph: Illinois Wesleyan Sweeps Dual Action
Illinois Wesleyan defended its home pool last Friday with dual victories over Millikin (144-42) and Illinois College (129-67). Senior Kayleigh Kuschewski swept the 200 individual medley (2:20.08) and 100 breaststroke (1:13.72), while Abby Schnittker won the 200 freestyle (2:03.86) and 100 butterfly (1:02.41). Claire Paule added a win in the 500 freestyle (5:34.15).
 
Millikin’s Becka Dunakey provided a highlight, winning the 50 freestyle in 26.17. Dunakey followed with a second-place finish in the 100 freestyle (57.42) at Olivet Nazarene on Saturday. Audrey Korniak placed third in the 100 butterfly (1:05.61) on Friday and third in the 500 freestyle (5:57.67) on Saturday.
 
Conference Leaderboard: The Statistical Pace-Setters
With the regular season entering its final stretch, the CCIW Top Times Report shows Wheaton atop most event leaderboards. Tess Boyer currently owns the fastest CCIW times in the 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, 200 IM and 400 IM.
 
Other conference leaders include:
 • 50 Freestyle - Aubrey Swanson, Wheaton (24.28)
 • 200 Freestyle - Emily Belcik, Carthage (1:55.58)
 • 500 Freestyle - Allison Henschel, Wheaton (5:10.17)
 • 1,000 Freestyle - Allison Henschel, Wheaton (11:00.13)
 • 1,650 Freestyle - Olivia Wiebe, Wheaton (18:05.51)
 • 100 Backstroke - Savannah Jeffery, Wheaton (1:00.05)
 • 200 Backstroke - Olivia Wiebe, Wheaton (2:10.53)
 • 100 Breaststroke - Jill Kane, Carthage (1:08.26)
 
Thunder and Lightning: A Look at the Upcoming Schedule
Conference attention turns to the Thunder Invitational at Wheaton this Friday and Saturday, featuring Augustana, Millikin and North Central. North Central enters the weekend coming off season-best efforts from Sydney Sprayberry in the 200 and 500 freestyle and Caitlin Suda in the 100 backstroke.
 
Additional upcoming action includes Carthage competing in a dual against Lawrence on Saturday, Illinois Wesleyan traveling to Valparaiso on Saturday and Carroll continuing preparations for the Wisconsin Private College Invitational later this month.