Iowa Men
The University of Iowa men’s swimming and diving team won all 12 events en route to a 147-71 dual victory over Western Illinois in its regular-season finale Friday night at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium.
“This is always a great meet to sharpen up as we head into the Big Ten Championship portion of the season,” said UI head coach Marc Long. “We’re happy with where we are. We saw some sparks and a lot of people swim some non-traditional events, which is fun to see.”
The Hawkeyes opened the evening with a 1-2 finish in the 400-medley relay with Iowa’s ‘B’ relay claiming the victory, setting the tone for the meet. The quartet of freshman Kenneth Mende, senior Mike Nelson and juniors Kyle Patnode and Jackson Halsmer won the relay in 3:22.72.
Iowa followed with 1-2-3-4 finishes in the 200 free, 100 IM, and 50 free. Senior David Ernstsson was the individual winner in the 200 free in 1:39.02, although senior Roman Trussov posted the top time at 1:38.90 in an exhibition heat.
Senior Tyler Nichols won the 100 IM (51.98), and senior Charles Holliday sprinted to the win in the 50 free (20.53).
Sophomore Jerzy Twarowski swam to a victory in the 50 fly (22.82) before the Hawkeyes went 1-2 in the 100 free. Halsmer sprinted to the top time, touching out in 45.95 seconds. Iowa also went 1-2-3 in the 50 back with Mende posting his second victory with a time of 23.22 seconds.
Iowa went on to swim the top two times in the 500 free with sophomore Logan Samuelson finishing in 4:33.55 en route to the victory. The Hawkeyes also went 1-2-3 in the 50 breast with Trussov winning in 24.73 seconds.
The Hawkeyes had the top three times in the final event of the evening, the 200-free relay. The quartet of Nichols, Holliday, Trussov, and senior Luke Snow had a winning time of 1:20.44.
In the diving well, senior Brandis Heffner and freshman Will Brenner posted wins. Heffner won the 3-meter with a score of 341.45, while Brenner was victorious off the 1-meter with a score of 361.00.
The Hawkeyes now enter the championships portion of their schedule. The 2016 Big Ten Championships will be held from Feb. 24-27 in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Iowa Women
The University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving team posted victories in all 12 events in a 144-61 triumph over Western Illinois on Friday night at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium. The Hawkeyes finish 8-4 in dual action this season.
“This is always a great meet to sharpen up as we head into the Big Ten Championship portion of the season,” said UI head coach Marc Long. “We’re happy with where we are. We saw some sparks and a lot of people swim some non-traditional events, which is fun to see.”
Iowa opened the meet with a 1-2-3 finish in the 400-medley relay, starting a trend for the evening. The relay of sophomore Jo Jekel, junior Emma Sougstad, freshman Kelly McNamara, and sophomore Lauren Leehy won the event with a time of 3:51.40.
The Hawkeyes posted 1-2-3-4 finishes in the 200 free, 100 IM, and 50 free before the first break. Sophomore Nikol Lagodzinska won the 200 free in 1:52.51, senior Allie Orvis won the 100 IM in 58.57 seconds, and senior Olivia Kabacinski sprinted to a victory in the 50 free (23.98).
Kabacinski also posted an individual victory in the 50 breast, touching out in 29.87 seconds.
Iowa followed with 1-2-3-4 showings in the 50 fly, 100 free, and 50 back. Sougstad swam to a victory in the 50 fly in 24.86 seconds; Lagodzinska won her second event, touching in 51.21 in the 100 free, and Lavelle coasted to a win in the 50 back in 26.97 seconds.
Sophomore Summer Campbell swam to a victory in the 500 free, finishing with a time of 5:11.47. Iowa finished 1-2-3 in the race.
The Hawkeyes closed out the evening in the pool with the top four times in the 200-free relay. Sougstad, seniors Colleen Champa and Jennifer Weigand, and junior Serena Wanasek had a winning time of 1:36.11.
In the diving well, Iowa posted the top three scores off the 1-meter. Freshman Jacintha Thomas won the event -- the first victory of her collegiate career -- with a score of 276.80. Junior Lydia Lehnert claimed a victory off the 3-meter, finishing with a score of 283.95.
The Hawkeyes now enter the championships portion of their schedule. The 2016 Big Ten Championships will be held from Feb. 17-20 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
