Minnesota Sweeps Iowa

The University of Minnesota men’s swimming and diving team cruised to a solid 184-114 victory tonight over the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Golden Gophers won 12 of 16 events to improve their season dual record to 2-0. Sophomore Karl Burdis, junior Ivan Gutesa and senior Alex Wold all had two individual titles for Minnesota as the Gophers won their 14th straight dual meet dating back to the 2007-08 season.

Burdis swept the backstroke events for the second straight week, taking the 100 in 49.53 and the 200 in 1:51.30. The native of Dublin also helped the Gophers to a victory in the 200 medley relay (1:30.89) along with Gutesa, junior Kevin Baseheart and junior Michael Richards.

Following Burdis’ lead, Gutesa also swept the breaststroke events for the second week in a row. He took the 100 breast in 56.56 before winning the 200 breast in 2:02.56. Finishing second in the 200 breast behind Gutesa was junior Zach Weis (2:06.91).

Senior Alex Wold also took home two individual titles for Minnesota. The Gopher captain first took the 200 butterfly in 1:50.06, while his teammate Kevin Baseheart finished right behind Wold in second (1:50.33). Wold’s second victory came in the 200 individual medley in 1:53.32.

Minnesota finished 1-2-3-4 in the 500 freestyle with senior Ray Betuzzi taking first place in 4:34.68. Following behind Betuzzi were freshman Michael McBroom (4:37.51), senior Nico Zebley (4:44.05) and freshman Matt Benecki (4:46.84).

Also winning individual titles for Minnesota were McBroom in the 1000 free (9:26.16), junior Drew Brown in the 3-meter diving event (382), junior Curt Carlson in the 100 free (45.34) and junior Michael Richards in the 50 free (20.68).

“It’s been a long time since we haven’t won a 400 free relay. It was kind of difficult to not win the final event,” head coach Dennis Dale said. “Ivan [Gutesa], not only did he nice job a nice job in the breaststrokes, but he also swam well in the 200 IM. Karl’s [Burdis] showing signs of life again. He swam a very nice 100 back and a pretty decent 200 back. They were certainly the bright spots for the team and not only did they win, but they also swam very well during the process.”

The University of Minnesota men’s swimming and diving team next compete at the Minnesota Grand Prix Nov. 13-15 at the University Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.



The University of Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team won 10 events en route to a 176-118  win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, tonight in Iowa City, Iowa. With the win the Gophers improve to 2-0 on the dual season.
 
Minnesota started the night with a win in the 200 medley relay. The foursome of Hannah Whitehead, Jillian Tyler, Kaylee Jamison and Alison Eggers combined for a time of 1:44.23 and 11 points. Minnesota’s B relay of Castina Wabke, Paige Bradley, Kelsey Ridder and Marissa Davies added a third-place showing with a time of 1:46.57.
 
Kristen Steenvoorden won the 1000 free in 9:54.62, while Loren Brandon finished second (9:57.02) and Lissa Tommerdahl was third (10:02.63). Like the 1000 free, Minnesota went 1,2,3 in the 200 free. Ashley Steenvoorden won event in 1:51.30, while Lauren Weis added a time of 1:52.68 for second, followed by Whitehead in third (1:53.00).
 
After Iowa won the 100 back, the Gophers returned to a win in the 100 breaststroke as they took the top three spots. Emma Jackson won her first collegiate event of her short Gopher career when she touched the wall in 1:05.08. Bradley came in second with a time of 1:05.47, while Molly Belk added a time of 1:05.48. The Gophers added another top-three finish in the 200 fly. Annalise Colton won her first Gopher event in 2:04.87, followed by Megan Braun in second (2:06.78) and Elizabeth Weitz in third (2:07.06).
 
Although Iowa’s Christine Kuczek won the 50 free (24.09), Minnesota took the next three four spots and recorded scores for three. Jamison and Davies tied for second (24.14), while Eggers followed in fourth (24.34). Abigail Staats was fifth (24.39) but did not record points for the Gophers. Eggers led the Gophers led the Gophers in the 100 free when she clocked a time of 52.87. Staats added a time of 52.96, followed by Weis in 53.39.
 
Jackson accomplished her second win of the evening when she also won the 200 breaststroke. Jackson chipped in a time of 2:20.67 for the win, while Belk placed third in 2:22.66. Davies won the 500 free in a time of 4:58.22. Jamison won the 100 fly in 56.47 and led the Gophers in the 200 IM with a second-place finish in 2:08.38.
 
Minnesota closed the night with a second-place finish in the 400 free relay. Davies, Staats, Weis and Eggers added four points to the Gophers’ total with a time of 3:28.29.
 
In diving action, Kelci Bryant earned to wins in the 1- and 3-meter events. Bryant posted a score of 314.85 in the 1-meter, while adding a score of 366.60 in the 3-meter. Katie Grunawalt followed Bryant when she finished second. Grunawalt held scores of 278.17 in the 3-meter and 264.00 in the 1-meter.
 
Minnesota hosts its only home meet of the first half of the season with the Grand Prix, Nov. 13-15 at the University Aquatic Center. Action begins every day at 9 a.m.



The University of Iowa men’s swimming and diving team hosted the Minnesota Gophers tonight at the Field House Pool. The Hawkeyes put up a good fight and had some excellent swims but it was not enough to beat the Gophers. Iowa lost 184-114.
 
The Hawkeye men opened the competition with the 200 medley relay. Iowa earned second and third place finishes in the event. Iowa’s third place team of  junior Sean Hagan, sophomore Ryan Phelan,  junior Richard Salhus and freshman  Jordan Huff came from behind  to touch out Minnesota’s fourth place team.
 
Senior Nick Divan, despite a shoulder injury, swam a strong race in the 1000 free. He earned third place with a time of 9:37.20 after having a close race with Minnesota’s second place finisher. Divan’s time was a season best for him. Sophomore Paul Gordon and freshman Jordan Huff got the fans on their feet during the 200 free. Gordon and Huff were neck-in-neck with Minnesota’s top swimmer the entire race but both Hawkeyes pulled ahead the last 50 yards and earned first and second place. Gordon (1:38.33) and Huff (1:39.95) swam colligate best times in the event.
 
Huff had another great swim in the 100 free. He came away with second place after battling it out with Minnesota’s first place finisher. Huff posted another collegiate best time of 45.51. Junior Max Dittmer earned two second- place finishes in the 100 back (50.92) and 200 IM (1:53.73). Junior Sean Hagan earned second place in the 100 breast with a season best time of 57.69.
 
A victory in the men’s 100 fly gave Gordon his second individual win of the day and his second colligate best time. Gordon finished the event in 48.96 and continued to anchor the Hawkeyes first place 400 free relay team to conclude the meet. Gordon teamed up with Huff, Phelan, and sophomore Duncan Partridge to win the relay with a time of 2:59.59.
 
“We were happy with the meet but we needed to step it up in some races and put ourselves in a winning position,” said Head Coach Marc Long. “But as a program we did a great job and had a great finish to the meet. We still have a long way to go not only as a program but also this season. We had some positive races but there are definitely things we need to work on.”
 
Iowa’s men divers had a strong day of diving. Senior Mike Gilligan took first place in the one-meter event with a score of 340.00. Senior Frank Van Dijkhuizen  took third place with a score of 315.00.  Van Dijkhuzien went on to finish second (352.05) in the three-meter event, while Gilligan took third (323.70).



The University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving team hosted the Minnesota Gophers tonight at the Field House Pool. The Hawkeyes had some exciting races but lost to the Gophers 176-118.
 
The Hawkeye women opened up the competition with an exciting race in the 200 medley relay. Iowa and Minnesota were right next to each other the entire race, but the Gophers out-touched Iowa’s team of sophomore Danielle Carty,  junior Katarina Tour,  freshman Grace Borchers and sophomore Daniela Cubelic.  Iowa posted a second place time of 1:44.77
 
Senior Christine Kuczek had a great meet. She recorded two new season best times in the 200 free (1:53.08) and the 50 free (24.09).  Kuczek took first place in both the 50 free and 100 free and earned fourth place in the 200 free.  Carty and Cubelic went one and two in the 100 back. Carty earned the top spot with a time if 56.41 and Cubelic came in right behind at 56.90. Carty’s time was a new season best.
 
“The backstroker’s really stepped it up and Christine Kuczek had some great races including in the end on the relay,” said Head Coach Marc Long.
 
The 100 breast was a very close race and resulted in the top six swimmers, swimming a time in the 1:05 time zone. Tour and senior Julie Feingold came in fourth and fifth, respectively. Tour placed fifth with a time of 1:05.61, while Feingold finished close behind with a time of 1:05.88.  Later in the competition, Feingold swam a close race in the 200 breast and came away with second place after beating out Minnesota’s third place finisher. Feingold earned a season best time of 2:22.27.
 
Senior Verity Hicks swam a season best time in the 500 free (5:03.10) and earned a second place finish. Iowa did not win the 100 fly but the Hawkeye flyers still took second, third and fourth place. Senior Laura Mozdzen took second place with a time of 58.06, while Feingold took third (58.20) and senior Katie Michelau took fourth (59.86). Tour picked up what she made look like an easy first place finish in the 200 IM with a time of 2:05.10, which was a season best time for her.
 
The Hawkeye women concluded the competition with a battle for first place in the 400 free relay. Iowa’s team of Cubelic, Carty, Hicks and Kuczek brought the crowd to their feet after being neck-in-neck with Minnesota before Kuczek touched the Gophers relay out. The women posted a time of 3:28.19.
 
“We were happy with the meet but we needed to step it up in some races and put ourselves in a winning position,” added Coach Long. “But as a program we did a great job and had a great finish to the meet. We still have a long way to go not only as a program but also this season. We had some positive races but there are definitely things we need to work on.”
 
Iowa’s women divers had a strong day. Freshman Mary Sue Lemay took third place in the women’s one-meter diving event with a score of 218.25, which is her best score this season. Senior Brittany Logan came in right behind Lemay with a fourth place finish (167.32). The Hawkeyes stayed consistent in three-meter diving event, placing third and fourth. Lemay earned a score of 188.93, while Logan earned a score of 188.32.