The noise level in Lantz Natatorium was at its highest during the 400-yard medley races Saturday.

The noise level indicated these were the most exciting events of the meet.

Eastern’s men and women’s swim teams split the home meet with Evansville with the men winning 147-94 and the women losing 140-101.

The men’s team has now reached the .500 mark, while the women’s team remains winless at 0-4.

“I think we did pretty well. They were doing well; it wasn’t as close as I thought it would be,” sophomore Lauren Zillmore said. “We started winning the relay, so that was good. Last year, we won at the Panther Invitational, so it would be good to win this weekend.”

Though the women’s team lost, there were individual winners, including sophomore Laura Nilsen in the 200-IM (2:15.27), Zillmer in the 100-Free (54.70) and sophomore Emily Immel in the 500-Free (5:30.37).

“Nilsen had a season-best in the 100-Free, and she did really well with a season-best in the 200-IM,” senior Patty Young said. “I wasn’t the happiest with my time. I hope next weekend I do better – it’s the Panther Invitational, and that’s our big meet. Also, Jen Beresheim did well in her 200-Fly.”

One of the team’s relay teams stepped up, winning the 400-Medley Relay with Nilsen, Young, senior Jen Beresheim and Zillmer finishing with a time of 4:06.66.

“The medley relay team won, so that was a good change,” Young said. “It was a good start to the meet. Even though we didn’t win the whole meet, it was a good way to boost our spirits.”

On the men’s side, Brent Noble came up big in the distance races, including first place finishes in the 1000-Free (10:29.69) and the 500-Free (4:57.65), which Coach Padovan had addressed as a weakness prior to the meet against Evansville. The team also had strong finishes in the 50-Free by Jayson Shine (22.42), in the 200-Fly by Nathan Moritz (2:03.67), and Matt Scaliatine in the 200-Breast (2:13.28).

The men’s relay teams also picked up the pace, winning both races in the 400-Medley Relay, which included Thomas Showers, Scaliatine, Tim O’Hagan and Matt Crittenden with a winning time of 3:41.48. In the 400-Free relay, the team, comprised junior Joe Ethington, senior Matt Latham, sophomore Matt Crittenden and freshman Caleb Arthur, won with a time of 3:15.23. Junior diver Joe Laird continued his strong season in winning both the 1-Meter (243.70) and 3-Meter (266.90) dives.

The next meet for the teams is next weekend when they host the Panther Invitational with Evansville, IUPUI, Lincoln College, and Valparaiso. The competition starts Friday, Nov. 2 at 5:00 p.m. and continues Saturday, Nov. 3 at 8 a.m.

An Eastern Illinois swimmer takes off the blocks versus his University of Evansville opponents Saturday at Lantz Pool. The men won 147-94 while the women lost 140-101. Kevin Kenealy/Daily Eastern News

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