9 Ilinois Tech swim team records, 8 Liberal Arts Championship Meet winners, 7 Liberal Arts Championship Meet records, the male Liberal Arts Championship swimmer of the meet (Dale Cuffe), the overall Liberal Arts Championship coach of the meet and 3 new NAIA National Championship qualifiers were all achieved this weekend by the Illinois Tech Swimming and Diving Teams.  Coach Bond asked the team to treat the Liberal Arts Championships (the team's conference meet) as if they were already at the NAIA National Championships.  Both meets use the same 3 day format with prelims and finals, so this was supposed to be the perfect rehearsal for the national championships.  He expected the team to use this meet to get used to having to come back and swim fast twice in the same day, over a three day span.  The team responded with a performance worthy of a national championship meet performance.  School records and meet records fell every session of the meet.  The team won a combined 8 events out of 40.  Not to be lost in all of the excitement, the team added three more swimmers to the national team roster.  Lauren Fast swam to her first national qualification in the 200 Fly.  Brian Brady picked up 3 national cuts over the weekend with swims in the 50, 100 and 200 Freestyle events.  Team captain, Greg Herbert picked up the first national cut of his career in the 1650 Freestyle.

Bond stated, "If this meet is any indication of what is yet to come at the NAIA National Championships, there are some teams that that need to start considering us a threat to move up the rankings with both teams.  Our women's team showed it is small, but fast.  We have our entire women's team qualified for the national championships now with Lauren Fast getting her cuts this weekend.  Our men's team sent notice that we have the guys that can score big points.  I believe our 200 and 400 Free Relays are ranked #1 in the nation coming out of this meet.  We were not shaved and tapered, so I expect this is just a glimpse of what this team is capable of doing at the NAIA National Championships in two and a half weeks."

Here is a breakdown of the meet results:

New Illinois Tech Team Records
Women's 200 IM, Morgan Curran, 2:11.73
Women's 400 IM, Morgan Curran, 4:38.00
Men's 100 Freestyle, Andrew Mehr/Dale Cuffe, 46.32
Men's 200 Freestyle, Dale Cuffe, 1:41.86
Men's 500 Freestyle, Dale Cuffe, 4:35.00
Men's 100 Backstroke, Joe Taylor, 52.38 (leading off 400 Medley Relay)
Men's 200 Free Relay, Kyle Pinsonneault/Joe Taylor/Dale Cuffe/Andrew Mehr, 1:23.38
Men's 400 Free Relay, Dale Cuffe/Kyle Pinsonneault/Joe Taylor/Andrew Mehr, 3:04.20
Men's 800 Free Relay, Kyle Pinsonneault/Jay Park/Andrew Mehr/Dale Cuffe, 6:59.93

Liberal Arts Championship Meet Records
Women's 200 IM, Morgan Curran (prelims)
Women's 400 IM, Morgan Curran (prelims)
Men's 100 Freestyle, Andrew Mehr (prelims)
Men's 500 Freestyle, Dale Cuffe (finals)
Men's 200 Fly, Dale Cuffe (finals)
Men's 200 Free Relay, Kyle Pinsonneault/Joe Taylor/Dale Cuffe/Andrew Mehr (finals)
Men's 400 Free Relay, Dale Cuffe/Kyle Pinsonneault/Joe Taylor/Andrew Mehr (finals)

Liberal Arts Championship Meet Winners
Women's 200 Breaststroke, Morgan Curran
Men's 100 Freestyle, Andrew Mehr
Men's 200 Freestyle, Dale Cuffe
Men's 500 Freestyle, Dale Cuffe
Men's 100 Fly, Joe Taylor
Men's 200 Fly, Dale Cuffe
Men's 200 Free Relay, Kyle Pinsonneault/Joe Taylor/Dale Cuffe/Andrew Mehr
Men's 400 Free Relay, Dale Cuffe/Kyle Pinsonneault/Joe Taylor/Andrew Mehr