Iowa Women Take Down Northern Iowa

The Iowa women’s swimming and diving team concluded its regular season competition Thursday night, traveling to the University of Northern Iowa to take on the Panthers. The Hawkeyes took first place in nine events, including both relays, and came out with the win, defeating the Panthers 127-76. The victory concluded Iowa’s regular season with a 7-5 overall record and a 2-4 record in the Big Ten.

Opening the meet with a one, two finish in the 200-medley relay, the Hawkeyes gained momentum early. Danielle Carty, Katarina Tour, Daniela Cubelic and Julie DeBruin took first in the event, finishing the race in 1:46.14. Close behind, the team of Leah Schwartz, Dana Davidsen, Sophie Borchers and Caitlin Polz posted a time of 1:51.13 for second place.

Following the 200 medley relay, Stacia Johns and Kathryn Michelau both took second in the next two events. Johns finished the 1,000 free in a time of 10:45.08 behind Northern Iowa’s Chelsea Hartman and Michelau touched the wall in the 200 free in 1:59.56.

Iowa took command and dominated the duration of the meet, finishing first in the rest of the events. Cubelic swam to victory in the 50 free, posting a time of 24.06, while Kelsie Neubauer earned the top spot in the 400 IM with a time of 4:33.73. Laura Mozdzen took first in the 100 fly for the Hawkeyes, finishing the race in 58.38. Cubelic won her third event of the evening in the 100 free (51.25) and Gschwend finished first in the 100 back (58.82).

Coming down to the final three events, junior Christine Kuczek swam hard to a first place finish in the 500 free, touching the wall in 5:02.25. Tour won the 100 breast with a time of 1:06.42 and the Hawkeyes secured the win with a victory in the 400 free relay. The quartet of Gschwend, Hicks, Carty and Kuczek concluded the competition with a first place time of 3:32.86 in the event.

The Hawkeye women will return to competition on Feb. 19 with the start of the women’s Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships. The three-day competition will take place at the Donald B. Canham Natatorium on the University of Michigan campus.