Wheaton, Ill. -- The 2022-23 season got underway for the Wheaton men's and women's swimming and diving teams on Saturday afternoon, as the Thunder played host to the University of Chicago Maroons inside Lederhouse Natatorium. UChicago was ranked fifth in the country in the preseason CSCAA DIII poll on the women's side and sixth on the men's side, so the Thunder knew they were in for a tough matchup in their campaign-opener. While the UChicago men's team triumphed by a score of 191-91 and the Maroon women won 173-75, the afternoon featured several impressive individual performances for Wheaton to reflect on.
Abby Pardridge led the way for the Wheaton women today, as she was the team's highest finisher in the 100 yard backstroke, 100 yard butterfly, and 200 IM events. The senior also teamed up with
Elli Bennett,
Carolyn Bubar, and
Scottie McKeaney to place second in the day's first event, the 200 yard medley relay. The grad transfer Bennett put in a solid showing in her debut appearance for the Thunder, swimming to a second place finish in the 100 yard breaststroke race.
Katie Yonan, who earned acclaim in her rookie collegiate campaign last year, came second in the 50 yard freestyle this afternoon to lead the three Wheaton swimmers involved. Freshman
Olivia Wiebe also opened her Wheaton account on a positive note when she earned runner-up status in the 200 yard backstroke competition. Fellow first year
Lily Foung joined her with the same placement in the 200 yard breaststroke event.
The final swim of the meet on the women's side was the 400 yard freestyle relay, and Wheaton's best grouping consisted of Yonan, Wiebe,
Rachel Clancy, and
Sophie Pelling, who collectively came in second place to end the day on a high.
Abe Plimpton helped set the tone for the Thunder men in today's meet. The senior was Wheaton's highest-placed swimmer in the 200 yard freestyle race and was a part of the two most successful relay groups for the hosts in this afternoon's competition. Plimpton joined forces with Andrew Rogers, Kael Gannon, and AJ Staiti at the start of the meet to place third in the 200 yard medley relay, before ending the day alongside Staiti, Mason Hodge, and Harrison Smith to earn Wheaton's best finish in the 400 yard freestyle swim.
Smith put in the best showing for the Thunder in the 200 yard IM event, coming in second place. Relay teammate Staiti did likewise in the 100 yard butterfly. Rogers earned another runner-up placement for the Wheaton men in the 200 yard breaststroke race.
After today's season-starter, the Thunder squads will have to wait two weeks to get back in the pool for some competition. Wheaton is scheduled to host UW-Milwaukee for another home dual meet on Friday, November 4th.
