The Indiana University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams fell on the road at Auburn on Saturday afternoon.
The No. 9-ranked IU men lost to the No. 6 Tigers, 184.5-115.5. The No. 5-ranked Hoosier women fell to No. 6 Auburn, 169.5-130.5. The men’s team totaled four wins and nine NCAA B cuts, while the Hoosier women won eight events and posted seven NCAA B cuts on the day.
“I was pleased with our effort and passion today,” IU head swimming coach Ray Looze remarked. “We made improvements over last week’s competitions, but still need to show progress on turns, relay exchanges and consistency on a meet-to-meet basis.”
For the Indiana divers, Lacey Houser led the way, winning the 1-meter with a career-best and NCAA Zones qualifying mark of 324.15. Her score ranks here as the eighth-best 1-meter (six dives) performer in school history.
Michal Bower was second with a NCAA Zones qualifying mark and season-best score of 285.30. In the 3-meter, Bower placed third (268.28), while Houser was fifth (231.15).
On the men’s side, Joshua Arndt won the 3-meter dive with a NCAA Zones qualifying score of 372.30, while Cody Coldren was fourth with a Zones and season-best mark of 285.30. In the 1-meter, Coldren placed second with a season-best and NCAA Zones qualifying score of 339.23, while Arndt was fourth with a Zones score of 314.48.
We had a solid day today,” Indiana head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “Splitting the events with Auburn was good, with Josh winning the men's 3-meter and Lacey winning the women's 1-meter. Both performances were championship caliber. Michal and Cody both turned in great performances on 1-meter, showing they are on track for a great championship season as well.”
In the 200 medley relay, the men’s team of Bob Glover, Tanner Kurz, Max Irwin and Ali Khalafalla touched second in a time of 1:27.52 – a time less than a second off last year’s NCAA mark. For the women, the team of Ally Rockett, Miranda Tucker, Christine Jensen and Gabriela Rajic placed third in a time of 1:43.09.
In the 1000 freestyle, Jackson Miller continued his tremendous season, claiming the Hoosiers first win of the afternoon with a time of 9:09.17. On the women’s side, Haley Lips placed third (9:58.38), while Stephanie Marchuk finished fourth (10:04.18).
The Hoosiers dominated the 200 freestyle, going 1-2 in both the men’s and women’s races. For the men, Blake Pieroni won in a NCAA B cut time of 1:36.53, while Anze Tavcar placed second in a NCAA B cut time of his own – 1:36.97. For the women, Kennedy Goss placed first with a NCAA B cut time of 1:47.87, while Haley Lips came in second in 1:49.03.
In the 100 backstroke, Marie Chamberlain tied for the victory with in a NCAA B cut time of 54.15. On the men’s side, Bob Glover placed second in a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 47.75, while Ryan Gordon finished fourth with a mark of 50.08.
Lilly King captured the first of her two wins on the day in the 100 breaststroke, clocking in with a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:00.74. King’s time improves her standing as the fifth-best 100 breast swimmer in school history.
For the Hoosier men, Tanner Kurz placed second in a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 53.53, while Levi Brock finished fourth in 56.92.
In the 200 butterfly, Gia Dalesandro won her first race of the day, touching first in a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:57.89. Reagan Cook came in fourth with a season-best mark of 2:01.02. For the men, Max Irwin came in second with a NCAA B cut time of 1:47.39.
Ali Khalafalla continued his strong sprint season, winning the 50 freestyle with a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 19.70. For the IU women, Grace Vertigans finished fourth with a season-best mark of 23.48.
In the 100 freestyle, Blake Pieroni was back to his winning ways, beating the field with a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 43.60. Anze Tavcar tied for second with a mark of 44.50. For the women, Grace Vertigans finished third in a season-best time of 50.97, while Kaitlin Kitchens came in fourth with a season-best mark of 51.23.
Indiana went 2-3 in both the men’s and women’s 200 backstroke, with Shelly Drozda leading the women with a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:58.92. Drozda’s time makes her the 20th-best performer in the event in program history. Marie Chamberlain was right behind her in third with a season-best time of 1:59.24. For the men, Bob Glover was the runner-up in a season-best time of 1:47.91, while Joseph Lane was third in his best time of the year, 1:48.13.
In the 200 breaststroke, Lilly King completed her sweep of the breast events, winning with a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 2:11.64. King now ranks as the sixth-best 200 breast swimmer in IU history. On the men’s side, Tanner Kurz was the runner-up in a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:58.88.
Jackson Miller led the Hoosier charge in the 500 freestyle, finishing second with a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 4:24.81. Adam Destrampe placed fourth with his best time of the year, 4:34.59. For the women, Haley Lips was the runner up in a time of 4:51.44.
Gia Dalesandro finished off her sweep of the butterfly events, winning the 100 fly with her best effort of the season, clocking in with a NCAA B cut time of 53.44. For the men, Max Irwin placed fourth in a time of 49.38.
Not done, Gia Dalesandro made it three wins on the day, touching first in the 200 individual medley in a season-best time of 2:01.68. Lilly King was fourth in a season-best 2:03.77. For the men, Blake Pieroni took second place with a mark of 1:49.50.
In the 400 free relay, the women’s team of Grace Vertigans, Kaitlyn Kitchens, Haley Lips and Kennedy Goss placed second with a season-best time of 3:23.62. For the men, the team of Anze Tavcar, Ali Khalafalla, Oliver Patrouch and Blake Pieroni also placed second, timing in at 2:59.43.
The Indiana men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will be back in action on Friday, November 13 when the Hoosiers will host Wisconsin in a dual meet at 2 p.m. at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington, Ind.
