FallingIllini.org

It’s cold outside, but the Falling Illini keep on skydiving! Congratulations to Kristin Athanas, Benjamin McGill, Caitlin Wolf, Brian Fisher, Bogdan Buricea, Craig Smith, Fernando Marcaini, Karl Steller, Patricia Hernandez, Julia Waldsmith, Peter Dohrn, Siva Gorantla, Mark Steller, Matt Poulos, Joy Waranyuwat, Adva Steiner, and Meghan Possley for all making their first skydives! Another huge congratulations to Hanna Albrecht for getting her A-License! Way to go Hanna! And lastly congratulations to Daniel Bedford for getting his B-License! Mike Murphy is still winning the Staff Skydiving Contest, but there are still 2 weeks left to win that $150.

                                      The Falling Illini Windblade

                                   Derek Runge and Craig Smith

                                  Hanna Albrecht and Mike Murphy

                                             Hanna Albrecht

                     Mike Murphy comes in on the Bedford Special

It has been a fun two weeks!  I know everyone who came out to the Halloween party had a great time.  Congratulations to Devin Mapes, Wilson Manuel, Fred Knecht, and Tyler Shane for coming out and making their first tandem jumps! Congratulations to Yanyan Ren-Qiu, Rachel Burke, Steve Luu,  and Joe Wolff for making their first static line jumps! More congratulations to Brad Topol, Abdul Hassaballah, and Yanyan Ren-Qiu for cutting the line and making their first freefall jumps! And a big final congratualtions to Mike Murphy for winning the race and getting his A-License! Great job everyone! You all have been going crazy, I cannot believe how much you’ve been jumping! Keep it up!

Remember, whoever gets the most U of I staff to jump before school ends, gets $150.

                                 Joe Wolff and Abdul Hassaballah

                   Wilson Manuel, Fred Knecht, and Tyler Shane

                                Gary Peek and Hanna Albrecht

                              Abdul Hassaballah and Dave Shim

Well, with the server down we didn’t have the biggest turn-out ever. Actually we might have had the lowest ever for October. Congratulations to Cristina Pieracci for completing her first tandem skydive. Also, congratulations to Yanyan Ren-Qiu for completing the static line first jump course. Great job you two! If you are not aware we have a fierce competition among some of the more experience jumpers to see who will be the first to be licensed! Good luck!

                          Cristina Pieracci before her big jump

What a beautiful weekend to jump out of the sky! The clouds and weather were amazing, everyone had a spectacular time. Congratulations to Jay Schroeder, Thomas Wood, Aishwarya Krishnamoorthy, Veronica Castro, Mike Kim, Heesoo Kim, Katie Dillon, Jordan Graham, Jeff Johnson, Rita Hsu, Paddy Lindley, Martin Hofmann, Brittany Deterding, Joe Wolff, Michael Lennon, Erik Van Dusen, Amy Brucato, Michael Atherton, Aaron Walker, and Steven Kallal for all coming out and making their first jumps! Cherish these memories, pictures, and videos of this amazing event!  A last congratulations to me for beating Justin Tobin in a midair gun battle.

                           Paddy Lindley makes a tandem skydive

Joe Wolff, Aishwarya Krishnamoorthy, Erik Van Busen, and Amy Burcato

                                              Veronica Castro

                           Louie teaching the First Jump Course

                                  Jeff Johnson and Katie Dillon

                               Jordan Graham and Jason Papke

                                                   Mike Kim

                                                 Heesoo Kim

                                       Louie expertly landing

                             Aaron Walker and Brittany Deterding

      Pretty typical dropzone activities with Susie, Justin, and Corrin

Thanks for a great weekend with the Falling Illini Skydiving Club! We had a bunch of new skydivers despite the windy days.  Congratulations to Amanda Brenner, Katie Krahulec, Ryan Swearingen, Taylor Smith, Christina Virgilio, Christina Wertke, Kristina Bouzios, Felipe Westhelle, Allison Pigatto, Eric Marnul, Spencer Masterson, Sarah Phelan, Kitty Medcalf and Kyle Mansk for all coming out and making their first skydives!  They all loved it. Sorry for all of those of you who were grounded due to the wind.  We will see you this weekend hopefully!

 Katie Krahulec, Taylor Smith, and Amanda Brenner after skydiving

   Katie Krahulec, Taylor Smith, and Amanda Brenner prior to jumping

             Ryan Swearingen, Christina Virgilio, and Chrisitna Wertke