Illinois Wesleyan 2006-07 Swimming Stories

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April 26
Sophomore Angie Tomazin and freshman Mike Kozak have been named “Most Valuable Swimmers” for the Illinois Wesleyan women’s and men’s teams, respectively. Tomazin finished sixth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet in both the 100 and 200 backstroke events and swam a leg on the second place 400 and 800 relay teams. Despite limited practices early in the year due to a sprained ankle on one leg and a stress fracture in her other foot, Tomazin turned in the team’s best time of 2:22.35 in the 200 individual medley and was CCIW “Swimmer of the Week” once. Kozak set a school record in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:54.17 when he finished second in the CCIW meet and also earned all-CCIW honors with a third place finish in the 100 butterfly and swimming on the third place 200 free, 400 free and 400 medley relay teams. In other team honors. senior Sarah Lewis and sophomore Jeff McCortney earned the "Most Improved" swimmer awards for the women’s and men's squads, respectively.

February 16-17
The Illinois Wesleyan men's and women's swim teams both finished in 10th place at the Midwest Invitational, held Feb. 16-17 at the University of Chicago. The women were 10th of 11 teams and the men were 10th of 13. High finishers for the women included Angie Tomazin, who got second in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:19.57 and also placed sixth in the 100 butterfly. For the men, Chris Betzle got second in the 200 individual medley with his swim of 2:02.33 and was sixth in the 100 fly, while Mike Kozak also earned a second place finish in the 200 butterfly.

February 8-10
Illinois Wesleyan's Teresa Fish was co-winner of men's swimming "Coach of the Year" as her Titan men's squad finished third in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet, held Feb. 8-10 in Wheaton. The IWU men amassed 497 points, behind only Wheaton (906.5) and Carthage (737.5). The IWU women's team also finished third with 399 points, behind Wheaton (940) and Carthage (723). For the women, senior Jessica Hohl finished second in the 100 (54.13 seconds) and 200 freestyle (1:58.68) and swam a leg of the 400 free relay squad that finished second and the 200 free relay team that placed third. Fish shared the coaching honor with Wheaton's Jon Lederhouse, who also won the women's honor.

January 27
The Illinois Wesleyan men's and women's swim teams both won their ends of a triangular meet at Fort Natatorium on Sat., Jan. 27. The Titan men beat North Central (74-16) and Wheaton (61-34) while the women beat North Central (86-17) and Wheaton (67-41). IWU had 13 individual winners in the meet - for the women, Samantha Sebastian won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events while Larry Graves (100 free, 200 free) and Ben Rock (100 breast, 200 IM) were double winners for the men. Other women winners were Erin Storck (1000 free), Carlie Mangieri (200 IM), Anne Kopf (100 free), and Nicole Litzner (500 free). For the Titan men, Zac Birch (1000 free), Brian Burch (50 free) and Chris Betzle (500 free) were first place finishers.

January 24
Illinois Wesleyan senior Chris Betzle has earned College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) "Swimmer of the Week" recognition on Jan. 24 after his performance during the previous week of competition. Betzle (East Moline, Ill.) won the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:04.63 against Millikin on Jan. 19. His time was six seconds faster than his time from last semester for an untapered best time.

January 19
In a dual meet in Decatur on Fri., Jan. 19, the Illinois Wesleyan men's and women's swimming teams defeated Millikin. The IWU women won, 109-90, while the men were winners by a 116-84 count. Multiple winners were Angie Tomazin for the women (in the 50 and 100 free) and Larry Graves for the men in the 1000 freestyle, 200 backstroke and on the victorious 400 free relay team. The Titans will next host a triangular with North Central and Wheaton at 1 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 27 at Fort Natatorium.

January 16
Illinois Wesleyan freshman Mike Kozak has been chosen "Men's Swimmer of the Week" in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin on Jan. 16 after his performance during the previous week of competition. Kozak (Aurora, Ill., Waubonsie Valley HS) had a lifetime best in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:02.42, good for a first place finish in a dual meet vs. DePauw. His time was four seconds faster than at the DePauw Invitational in December. He also placed second in the 100 butterfly with an untapered best time of 55.46.

January 13
The Illinois Wesleyan women's swimming team lost by a 154-119 score and the men's team fell by a 163.5-88.5 count to DePauw in dual meet competition at IWU's Fort Natatorium on Sat., Jan. 13. Jessica Hohl was a multiple winner in the meet, taking first places in the 100 (56.68 seconds) and 200 free (2:03.24) and swimming a leg on the winning 400 free relay team. Other women winners were Angie Tomazin (100 back) and Erin Storck (500 free), while men winners included Mike Kozak (200 fly), Brian Busch (50 free), Ben Rock (200 breast) and Larry Graves (500 free).

December 1-2
The Illinois Wesleyan women's swimming team finished seventh and the Titan men's team was 10th in the 10-team DePauw Invitational on Dec. 1-2 in Greencastle, Ind. The women scored 174 points while the men amassed 151 points. In Dec. 2 action, Larry Graves was third in the 1650 free and sixth in the 200 free while Ben Rock was fifth in the 200 breaststroke. For the women, Angie Tomazin was sixth in the 100 back and Erin Storck was sixth in the 1650 free. Those two also swam with Jenifer Becker and Ali Johnson on the 400 free relay team that finished fourth.

November 21
Angela Tomazin and Ben Rock of Illinois Wesleyan earned College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin swimmer of the week recognition Wednesday after their performances during the previous week of competition. Tomazin, a sophomore from Warrenville, Ill., took first place at the IWU Invitational in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:04.12 and second place in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:05.86. She achieved the fastest 50 fly split on the medley relay with a 28.28 and anchored the 200 freestyle relay that placed first with a time of 25.41. Tomazin has just been able to do whole practices the last two weeks due to a sprained ankle and a stress fracture in her other foot. Rock, a junior from Dunlap, Ill., placed second in the 200 IM at the IWU Invitational with a time of 2:06.76, which is two seconds faster then his previous untapered best and six seconds faster than his time at this same meet last year. He finished second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:03.63, which is three seconds faster than last year's time at the IWU Invite.

November 18
The Illinois Wesleyan women's swim team finished first (of nine) and the men's team placed fourth (of seven) at the IWU Invitational, held Nov. 18 at Fort Natatorium. The women scored 106 points to top second place Lincoln (95). Angie Tomazin won the 200 free with a time of 2:04.12 and was second in the 200 back while teaming with Jessica Hohl, Anne Kopf and Jenifer Becker to win the 200 free relay (1:45.13). The men's team scored 71 points in the meet that was won by Vincennes (Ind.) with 136 points.

November 4
The Illinois Wesleyan men's and women's swim teams both split in a triangular meet at IWU on Sat., Nov. 4. The Titan men defeated Principia, 69-14 and the IWU women beat Principia, 66-42, while the men lost to U. of Chicago, 87-18, and the women fell to Chicago, 76-36. Chris Betzle won the men's 1000 free with a time of 10:27.29 and Erin Storck won the women's 1000 in 11:30.48. Angie Tomazin won the 200 free (2:06.76) and Taissa Boyko took first in the 500 free (5:57.55).

October 28
The Illinois Wesleyan men's swim team won and the Titans also won the co-ed title in the Halloween Invitational on Oct. 28 at IWU's Fort Natatorium. The IWU men amassed 88 points to handily defeat Augustana (53) in the four-team event. IWU's co-ed total of 147 was 22 points better than runner-up Millikin. In the women's standing, Illinois Wesleyan finished second with 59 points to Millikin's 81. The Titans got individual first place finishes from Angie Tomazin in the women's 100 free (57.28), Matt Swanstrom in the 100 free (53.78), ben Rock in the men's 200 breaststroke (2:26.74), Mike Kozak in the men's 200 butterfly (2:11.17) and Larry Graves in the men's 500 free (5:05.38). On Oct. 27, the Titans lost a triangular against Wabash and Transylvania.