The Eastern men’s and women’s swim teams both beat up the visiting Millikin Friday night at Lantz Natatorium with team scores of 121-64 for the women and 119-64 for the men.

The meet was low-pressure for Eastern, as there was a team mindset going in to get best times and prepare for conference.

“It was good going in; we had the idea that we were going to win,” senior Mollye Shanel said. “So, instead of concentrating on winning, we concentrated on our times. The pressure was off.”

It was the women’s team’s first dual meet win of the season, making its record 1-6, while the men moved within one win of .500 with a 3-4 record for the season.

Even though both teams won and several swimmers improved their times, there was a feeling that times didn’t matter as much to them, swimming against a Division III school.

“I don’t know many people who were that excited about their times,” junior Brent Noble said. “It’d be good to take this meet, especially with difficult ones early on in the season, and it allows us to charge right into conference.”

First place finishers for the men’s team include senior Matt Latham in the 50-yard freestyle (22.20) and the 100-yard freestyle (49.19), and Noble in the 200-yard freestyle (1:52.45) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:02.75).

“The times that we had really helps make the coach’s decision easier on who will swim what events at conference,” Caleb Arthur said, who won his first event as a freshman in the 100-yard backstroke (57.76).

Several members of the women’s team improved their times and won several races. The team’s most consistent swimmer of the season, sophomore Laura Nilsen, won the 50-yard freestyle (26.36), while also winning the 100-yard backstroke (1:02.76). Senior Mollye Shanel improved her season best time in the 200-yard IM (2:19.30) and won the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 59.81. Sophomore Lauren Zillmer won the 200-yard freestyle (2:03.62) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:30.86).

“Everybody was working hard in practice, and that showed in the meet,” Shanel said. “I think the time factor is big, and it was a big meet for us. It was like we were amazed we could get those times.”

Eastern junior Joe Laird was the lone 1-meter and 3-meter diver, finishing with scores of 296.60 and 315.15, respectively. Junior Geanina Pavel also set a new season high in the 1-meter dive (208.65) and did well in the 3-meter (184.80).

“Joe always performs top notch,” freshman Cody Showers said. “I’ve always been amazed with Joe, and I have never thought that he’s not going to do well.”

The team travels to Indiana for a Saturday meet at 1 p.m. at Valparaiso.

“Coming back into the season with the win (against Millikin) will boost our confidence,” Showers said. “We have Valpo coming up next Saturday. They’ll have good guys going for them.”

Ross Meister may be reached at 581-7944 or at rwmeister@eiu.edu.

The men’s swimming team defeated Millikin University this past Friday 119-64. Eastern finished first in 12 of the 13 scoring events. (Kevin Kenealy

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