Western Illinois kept up its rivalry status with Eastern, sweeping both men’s and women’s teams.

The Panthers squads lost to the Leathernecks this past weekend, with scores of 130-109 and 153-90, respectively.

The men’s team is now 2-3 overall and the women’s team is 0-5 in head-to-head meets on the season.

“I thought we swam fairly well. We knew they were better than us in the women’s events,” head coach Ray Padovan said. “But a lot of the times we are better than the week before with times. We swam an exceptional meet. We really lost a meet that was potentially winnable on the men’s side. As far as our overall effort, it was good.”

Though both the men’s and women’s teams were defeated, both made good times. Individual first-place finishers for the men’s team included sophomore Matt Crittenden in the 50-yard freestyle (22.18) and senior Tim O’Hagan in the 100-yard butterfly (53.16).

“First place is always nice to get; those guys really stepped up a bit,” said junior Joe Ethington. “That motivated us a lot. Crittenden had a good race, and Tim also did, too.”

The team took one relay on the day, with Crittenden, Ethington, senior Matt Latham and freshman Caleb Arthur winning the 200-yard relay (1:27.70).

“On our last relays, the guys had really good splits,” Ethington said. “It was a good way to end the meet. We went real fast in the meet, and it was nice to go one and two in that.”

For the women’s team, sophomore Laura Nilsen continued her strong effort this season, placing first in the 200-yard Individual Medley (2:13.65) and the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.48). These were season best times for Nilsen.

“Nilsen did really well in her events,” sophomore Lauren Zillmer said. “She’s going to do really well for the rest of the year, and by the end of the season, hopefully she’ll do really well, getting in the top six at conference.”

Padovan said the teams had a number of standout swimmers.

“This weekend, Nilsen swam great. She’s been solid all the way through. Patty Young swam a season’s best, and she’s been doing a nice job for us all the way through,” Padovan said. “On the men’s side, Crittenden swam real well; Brent Noble had another real good event, and he swam real well in the 200-IM. Joe Ethington is continuing to drop times, (but) he’s still real coming along real well. Matt Latham, who was out for two weeks, is getting back to where he needs to be.”

The team will travel to take on St. Louis University at 5:30 Thursday.

“We’re just going to do hard practices and get a lot of practice in before our break,” Zillmer said. “St. Louis is a really good team, so we’re just hoping for our best times.”

Fresman swimmer Eric Krolikiewcz competes in the 1000 yard freestyle event Saturday in Lantz Natatorium. Krolikiewcz finished fourth in the competition with a time of 10:47.72. Robbie Wroblewski/The Daily Eastern News

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