Scots Return to Pool, Sweep Knox Friday

Monmouth wins every relay at meet

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (10/16/2021) — The Monmouth College swimming team got back in the pool for the first time in 20 months, paid tribute to their former coach Tom Burek, and swept Knox on the scoreboard. The women won 177-54 while the men beat Knox 113-29.

The season-opening match began with a moment of silence and remembrance for Burek, who passed away from COVID-19 last December. The Scots will honor Burek next Saturday with the unveiling of a memorial plaque at a Homecoming ceremony and his family will be in attendance.

"A lot of people told me before the race today, coach Burek this one is for you," said Monmouth coach Jake Dacus. "He was on everyone's mind tonight and this is where he shined screaming Goggle Up before every single race."

The Scots immediately took control of the meet with a women's win in the 200-yard medley relay while the men competed solo in their relay, taking all the points. The wins continued to pile up for the Scots as Monmouth won each of the first 12 events before Knox won the women's 100-yard freestyle.

The only men's event won by the Prairie Fire was the 100-yard backstroke. Monmouth won every relay on the night and won five of the final six individual women's races as well, the exception being the 50-yard butterfly.

"We couldn't be happier, the kids have been excited all week," said coach Dacus. "It was a really good day and we had some racing rust to shake off but some good things happened tonight."

Individually the women had five different event winners while the men had four. On the women's side, Brooke McCormick (Metamora, Illinois) won three individual events: the 100-yard butterfly, the 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard individual medley. Jaidlyn Sellers (Tremont, Illinois) won the 50-yard backstroke and the 100-yard backstroke while Katie Oberheu (Fort Worth, Texas) won the 50-yard breaststroke and the 100-yard breaststroke. Lauren Fulscher (Moline, Illinois) won the 50-yard freestyle and Marissa Logan (Elmhurst, Illinois) won the 200-yard freestyle.

On the men's side, Camden Schmidt (Washington, Illinois) took first place in three events: the 50-yard breaststroke, 100-yard breaststroke and 50-yard butterfly. Trevor Davis (Beloit, Wisconsin), Tristan Kennon (Flossmoor, Illinois) and Finn VanDyke (Lawrence, Kansas) each won two events. Davis won the 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle. Kennon won the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard individual medley. VanDyke won the 50-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke and 100-yard backstroke.

"We will get a couple days off now for Fall Break and get back to work," said coach Dacus. "We will get back in the pool and get going for Augustana."

Dacus picked up his first wins as a Monmouth coach after being hired this summer. The wins are also his first as a head coach. The Scots will swim at Augustana next Saturday before hosting a multi-team meet on Saturday, November 13.