Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Sports

Freshman Micheal Lacine competes in the 100-yard backstroke during the Oct. 31 meet against Illinois-Chicago in the Ray Padovan Pool. (Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News)

With no competitions in the past three weeks, the Eastern men and women's swimming teams are ready to get back into the pool at 6 p.m. today as they take on Saint Louis at Simon Recreation Center in St. Louis.

The swim team's last meet was scheduled against Western Illinois on Nov. 7, but was canceled because of the death of women's basketball assistant coach Jackie Moore.

The Panthers haven't had a meet since their Oct. 31 dual meet loss to the Illinois-Chicago.

The men lost 152-108 and the women lost 138-121 in that meet putting the men at a 1-1 record with the women at 0-2.

With a lot of rest and training under their belt during the last few weeks, both the men and women swim squads are hungry for a win.

"We're really excited about this meet in St. Louis," said freshman backstroke specialist Chacour Koop. "It's our first road meet, and hopefully we'll be successful and do really well."

The Billikens will not be a pushover however. Saint Louis is abundant with youth as they have 17 freshmen.

The women's roster is made up of 24 athletes, while the men have 23 on the team.

Billikens' head swim coach Jim Halliburton has led the women's swim squad in the right direction so far this season as the women are 6-2.

The men, who are only 1-4 on the early season.

However, they are still a threat as junior Mechael Dahle notched three first-place finishes in the Billikens' Oct. 30 meet at Western Illinois in Macomb.

Dahle posted a 1-minute, 58.64 second-mark in the 200-yard backstoke, and is one of Billiken's strongest swimmers.

For the women, freshman Taylor Streid will be someone to look out for as she had three first place finishes to lead all rookies on her squad at Saint Louis's meet at Washington including the 100-yard fly, 200-yard fly and 500-yard freestyle.

After the meet in St. Louis, the Panthers will have a little time off.

Their next meet is scheduled for Dec. 4 at Ball State in Muncie, Ind.

Kevin Maras can be reached at 581-7944 or kjmaras@eiu.edu.

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