Three school records fell at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium Friday night as the University of Iowa swimming and diving team scored a 206-94 win over the Iowa State Cyclones.
“I’m so proud of this group for having such a great one-week period and preparing as well as we did for this one,” said UI head coach Marc Long. “Iowa State always brings their best when they come here and it was good to get a win tonight. We have a lot of Iowa kids on the team and so do they so it always makes for a competitive and emotional meet.”
UI sophomore Emma Sougstad had a standout meet swimming to a pair of school records in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. The Forest City, Iowa, native bested her previous time in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.41) with a record-setting NCAA ‘B’ cut time of 1:00.14. In the 200 breaststroke, Sougstad earned her second school record with a first-place time of 2:11.71.
“She’s just beginning and has a real nationals focus,” said Long. “Nationals and beyond focus really, and that’s important as the season starts to pick up and we moves towards the postseason.”
The quartet of Sougstad, freshmen Rowan Hauber and Carly O’Brien, and junior Olivia Kabacinski set the tone early swimming to a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay, with a time of 1:40.60 -- the second-fastest in school history.
The Hawkeyes kept the momentum with a 1-2-3 finish in the 200 freestyle; Olivia Kabacinski got the win touching in with a time of 1:48.47. Serena Wanasek (1:50.75) took second and Jennifer Weigand placed third (1:50.94).
UI senior Becky Stoughton kept the Hawkeyes in front with an outstanding performance in the 200 butterfly, touching in with a UI school record-setting time of 1:59.42 -- replacing her previous mark at 1:59.68. Stoughton also had a strong showing in the 1,000 freestyle, touching in with a top time of 9:54.23.
The freshmen class had a big night against the in-state rivals -- combining for five wins. Meghan Lavelle led the pack with two wins and a pair of NCAA ‘B’ cut times in the 100 (54.48) and 200 backstroke (1:58.27). Newcomer Tereysa Lehnertz also added a solo win in the 100 fly (55.31).
In the diving well, the Hawkeyes went 1-2-3 on the 3 meter. Senior Joelle Christy led the group diving to a first-place finish with a score of 317.48. Sophomore Lydia Lehnert took second (296.03) and senior Lauren Kelba finished third (290.25).
Kelba went on to win the 1 meter competition diving to a score of 282.83. Joelle Christy (269.40) and Lydia Lehnert (259.43) were close behind going 3-4 in the event.
“We had a good night on both boards tonight and were able to get a couple of wins,” said UI diving coach Todd Waikel. “Moving forward I told the kids, this is my favorite part of the season -- we’re nearing the daily grind. We’re getting over finals and winter break, the weather is starting to cool down, and the ‘honeymoon’ part of the season is over. We’re going to come back from break on the 29th, we’re rolling up our sleeves, and we’re going to start working at it all over again.
The Hawkeyes return to action on Saturday, Jan. 3, at the St. Petersburg Invite in St. Petersburg, Florida.
