North Dakota Press Release
VERMILLION, S.D.-- Behind a bevy of DakotaDome pool records, the University of North Dakota men's and women's swimming and diving teams each notched duals wins over host South Dakota Friday evening. Nine UND athletes put their names into the pool record book Friday as the UND men picked up a 136-104 victory while the Fighting Hawk women were 125-112 winners over the Coyotes.
"It was a lot of fun to get back to racing tonight. The team performed at or above our expectations," UND head coach Chris Maiello said. "I think the highlight of the meet tonight was all of the pool records that were set. Nine records are a real strong showing for the first meet back from our training trip. Our main goal tonight was to just race, and we did that tonight."
The women's 200 medley relay started the swimming portion with a pool record swim of 1:59.80. Katie Breault's times in the 200 IM (2:23.11) and 100 back (1:03.88) were both good for pool marks as well.
"For the women, Katie Breault also recorded multiple victories and two pool records. She is training very well right now and it shows," Maiello said. "I think overall the depth of our women's program is showing through. From top to bottom, we have quality swimmers and divers."
Katie Stover was the 400 (4:41.35) and 800 free champ (9:37.70) while Megan Wenman won the 200 free (2:09.38). Emily Hamel (26.98) was the winner in a 1-2-3 finish for UND in the 50 free. Danica Dutt won the 100 fly (1:05.08) and UND dominated the 100 free as Steph Frey led the pack with a 58.70 time.
"For the men, Noah Lucas and Jacob Wielinski were the headliners, each getting wins and two pool records," Maiello said. "The DakotaDome pool has been around for quite some time and a lot of great swimmers have come through there. I am happy for our guys."
Wielinski ran away with the 800 free race, clearing the competition by more than a half-minute (8:15.36) and wiping nearly 25 seconds off the old pool record. He later erased former UND standout Rodrigo Cintra's 14-year-old pool record in the 400 free with his 4:01.42 time. Lucas went 23.02 in the 50 free to etch another pool record then later also had another pool standard in the 100 free (51.67). Ivar Iverson helped UND to the top three spots in the 200 IM with his pool-record win in 2:07.26.
Tyler Zelen won the 100 fly (57.44) while Sam Marlow went sub-minute in the 100 back (59.15).
"It was also real encouraging to see Nick Benson qualify for the zone diving meet," said Maiello. "As a freshman this is a big deal, it’s been fun watching him improve and progress. He is going to be a great diver for us for a long time to come."
Benson's 337.15 in the 3-meter dive was the second-best score in UND history and punched his ticket for the NCAA Zone meet in March.
"It was great day on the boards with Nick qualifying for zones," UND diving coach Brian Strom said. "Mitch Raihle and Sam Howard both dove well, too. Keeley Coffee haded her best performance best all year. We went back to basics at winter training to work on the little things and it paid off today."
North Dakota will remain in South Dakota and will head north to Brookings to duel with the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State on Sunday.
South Dakota Press Release
VERMILLION, S.D. — South Dakota’s freshman diver Isaac Morris set a new school record on the three-meter dive with a score of 333.75 points and freshman swimmer Sabrina Sabadeanu broke the pool record in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of one minute and 4.83 seconds in a dual against North Dakota Friday night in the DakotaDome pool.
The Coyotes won eight events, but North Dakota’s men and women won 136-104 and 125-112, respectively.
Morris’ score of 333.75 on the three-meter dive broke Matt Fox’s score of 332.15 that was set in 2000. Morris finished second on the three-meter and added a first-place finish on the one-meter dive with a score of 289.45.
Sabadeanu broke the pool record in the 100-meter with her time of 1:04.83, but it was North Dakota’s Katie Breault that set the pool record with a time of 1:03.88. Sabadeanu also combined with sophomore Theresa Godlewski, senior Allie Pfauth and freshman Charlie Mechling to win the 200-meter freestyle relay with a time of 1:52.13.
The Coyote women swept both the one- and three-meter dives. On the three-meter, senior Greysen Hertting placed first with a score of 312.95, sophomore Sarah Schank was second with 277.25 and sophomore Samantha Norlin rounded out the top-three with 224.90. The trio swept the one-meter dive as Hertting finished first with 273.30, Schank was second with 214.45 and Norlin was third with 202.60.
The women’s swimming team also swept the 100-meter breaststroke. Junior Kassidie Cornell touched in first with a time of 1:15.01. Junior Kelly Howell came in second with 1:18.62 and sophomore Abby Hollub was right behind her with 1:18.76.
Hollub and senior Sam Schutt turned in runner-up finishes. Hollub was second in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:27.83 and Schutt was second in the 200-meter freestyle with 2:10.46.
On the men’s side, senior Jacob Knowles won the 100-meter breast as he touched in at 1:05.42. He teamed up with freshman Evan Marsh, sophomore Jared Thorson and junior Steve Wascom to win the 200-meter medley relay with a time of 1:45.68.
Sophomore Hunter Padgett took the 200-meter freestyle title with 1:56.49. He was the runner-up in the 100-meter freestyle with 53.63. In the 200-meter freestyle relay, Padgett, Wascom, freshman Nathan Spencer and junior Eric Erlenmeyer won the event with a time of 1:37.38.
South Dakota continues its season tomorrow as the Coyotes host South Dakota State Saturday at 2 p.m. for senior day.
