Feb. 28, 2005
THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa women’s swimming team will compete in the Iowa Senior Championships, Friday through Sunday, at the Field House Pool in Iowa City, IA. Preliminary competition will begin at 9:30 a.m., while the finals will begin at 5:30 p.m.
THE COMPETITION — The Senior Championships will feature swim clubs from across the state of Iowa, including the Bettendorf Swim Club and the Cedar Valley Barracudas, who are hosting the meet. The University of Iowa men’s and women’s swimming teams will both be competing in the meet.
HAWKEYES TAKE EIGHTH AT BIG TENS — Iowa tallied 218 points over the four-day event to take eighth place. Senior Jennifer Skolaski took fourth in both the 200 back (1:58.69) and 100 back (54.84), swimming Iowa season-best times in both events. She also finished eighth in the 200 IM. Junior Kelly Werner took eighth in the 200 back, ninth in the 100 back and 13th in the 100 fly. Senior Lisette Planken took fourth in the one-meter and sixth in the three-meter diving competitions, while junior Nancilea Underwood came in fifth in the three-meter. The Hawkeye 200 medley relay team, comprised of Skolaski, Katie Haeger, Werner and Abby VanMaaren took fifth with a season-best time of 1:43.13, while the same team took fifth in the 400 medley relay.
SKOLASKI & WERNER SET RECORDS — Skolaski set two University of Iowa records at the Big Ten Championships. She set one with her split time of 50.56, swam in the first leg of the 400 free relay. She then set a record in the 200 IM with a time of 2:03.97, breaking the previous record by .01. With a 13th-place finish in the 100 butterly, Werner set a University of Iowa record with a time of 55.49.
WOMEN’S HEAD COACH Marc Long — Former Hawkeye Assistant Coach Marc Long is in his first season as interim head coach after serving two seasons as assistant. Prior to joining the women’s swimming program, Long served as Iowa’s assistant men’s swimming coach (1998-2001). As a Hawkeye swimmer, Long was a six-time all-American, a two-time Big Ten Champion and a two-time first team all-Big Ten selection. He is assisted by former Hawkeye swimmer Frannie DeBord.
DIVING COACH Bob Rydze — Bob Rydze is in his 30th year as men and women’s diving coach at the University of Iowa. He is the dean of Big Ten swimming and diving coaches.