Iowa swimming swept the UIC Flames to start the season. The men won 155-57, while the women claimed a 146-72 victory.
Iowa Press Release:
The University of Iowa men’s swimming and diving team opened the 2015-16 season with a 155-57 road victory over Illinois Chicago on Saturday afternoon at the Flames Natatorium. The Hawkeyes won every event in the dual.
“We had a tremendous team-building and development weekend in Chicago,” said UI head coach Marc Long. “It was great to race and perform in a variety of different events and formats.
“There were a number of highlights in the meet, but we need to see more urgency to reach our potential. It’s a dedicated group of athletes, and we are eager to get better with them this week in practice.”
Junior Jackson Halsmer swam to a pair of first place finishes in the 200 free (1:42.60) and 200-free relay (1:25.97). Two freshmen — Jack Smith and Matt Kamin — also helped win freestyle events. Smith touched in 21.13 to win the 50 free, while Kamin was second in 21.51. Kamin also anchored the winning 200-medley relay (1:33.91).
Other wins for Iowa include senior Roman Trussov in the 100 IM (52.36), senior Jackson Allen in the 100 fly (50.30), junior Brandon Farnum in the 100 free (46.75), senior Matthew Boyd in the 100 back (51.90), sophomore Logan Samuelson in the 500 free (4:43.29), and senior Mike Nelson in the 100 breast (58.48).
In the diving well, Iowa posted a pair of one-two finishes, competing in a pair format. Juniors Brandis Heffner and Andrew Hull teamed up to win both the 1-meter (298.27) and 3-meter (269.70). Senior Addison Boschult and freshman Will Brenner tallied two second place finishes with scores of 291.52 (1-meter) and 263.85 (3-meter).
“The divers did a nice job considering how early it is,” said UI diving coach Todd Waikel. “They showed a lot of strengths and gave me a good measurement of where we are and what we need to focus on for the next couple of weeks.”
Iowa returns to action Oct. 9, hosting the annual intrasquad meet at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium.
The University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving team opened the 2015-16 season with a 146-72 road victory over Illinois Chicago on Saturday afternoon at the Flames Natatorium.
“We had a tremendous team-building and development weekend in Chicago,” said UI head coach Marc Long. “It was great to race and perform in a variety of different events and formats.
“There were a number of highlights in the meet, but we need to see more urgency to reach our potential. It’s a dedicated group of athletes, and we are eager to get better with them this week in practice.”
Freshman Katie Wells had a dynamic opening dual, claiming three first-place finishes in the 100 back (58.70), 100 breast (1:05.05) and as a member of the 200-medley relay (1:45.23).
Sophomore Tereysa Lehnertz tallied a first-place finish in the 50-free (24.31), while posting two second place finishes in the 100 back (59.02) and as a member of the 200-free relay (1:38.05).
Iowa also got wins from freshman Kelly McNamara in the 100 fly (57.34) and junior Taylor Flummerfelt in the 100 free (52.77).
The Hawkeyes’ final victory came in the diving well, where senior Samantha Wagner and sophomore Morgan Rafferty teamed up to win the 1-meter. The duo finished with a 226.35 point total. Juniors Calli Head and Lydia Lehnert had two runner-up showings on the 1-meter (201.67) and 3-meter (222.90).
“The divers did a nice job considering how early it is,” said UI diving coach Todd Waikel. “They showed a lot of strengths and gave me a good measurement of where we are and what we need to focus on for the next couple of weeks.”
Iowa returns to action Oct. 9, hosting the annual intrasquad meet at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium.
UIC Press Release:
The UIC Flames swimming and diving teams concluded their exhibition against Iowa on Saturday at Flames Natatorium. Each team for the Flames compiled 18 top-5 finishes during the competition.
“Our focus at the beginning of this season was to be more prepared for our fall competitions,” said head coach Tim Loeffler. “An exhibition meet with one of the better Big Ten teams this early in the season is the perfect way to tell our team, we mean business.”
Reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year, Brie Hines, picked up right where she left off last season by picking up two victories. Hines touched the wall first in the 100 IM (57.59) and 500 free (4:58.13).
In the 500 free, senior Veronica Gibson finished second (5:08.28). Freshman Lexie Joy picked up a first place finish in the 200 free (1:54.93) as well as well as a second place finish in the 100 free (53.52). Senior Katherine Hare finished third in both the 50 fee (24.69) and 100 free (53.82).
At the end of the meet, the women’s 200 free relay team of Erika Martinez, Joy, Hare, and Sophia Shalabai picked up a victory with a time of 1:37.95.
On the men’s side, senior Kei Ishimaru finished second in the 100 IM with a time of 53.85. In the 100 fly, senior Ryota Kuwahara touched the wall second with a time of 52.17.
Freshman Evan Johnson grabbed a second place finish in the 100 free (49.39) while junior Nick Kowaleski touched third (49.72). Seniors Christian Grobe and Brayden Amendola also finished second and third but in the 100 breast with times of 59.66 and 1:00.04, respectively.
The Flames will be back in the pool on October 24th at the University of Chicago for a meet against the Maroons, Northwestern, and Denison.
Go hawks! Katie Wells