Oct. 9, 2006
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THIS WEEK — The Iowa men and women’s swimming team will kick off its regular season when the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers come to town for a two-day triangular. The meet on Friday will start at 5 p.m., and Saturday’s meet will start at 10 a.m. Both meets will be held at the University of Iowa Fieldhouse Pool.
THE LAST WORD: BLACK AND GOLD MEET — The University of Iowa men and women’s swimming team held its annual Black and Gold intrasquad meet on September 30th, at the UI Fieldhouse Pool. The Black team held off a Gold team rally, for a 125-112 win.
Sophomore James Dragon led the Black squad with wins in both the 100 (52.37) and 200 (1:56.93) butterfly. Sophomores Ashley Dell, Alison Gschwend, and freshman Margie Chamberlin each picked up two individual wins for the Black squad.
The Gold squad was led by freshman duo Christine Kuczek and Julie Feingold, who each picked up two wins. Sophomore Nick Divan got wins in the 1,000 free (9:38.66), 500 free (4:41.24) and the 200 IM (1:57.98).
“It’s very exciting to see everyone back in the pool, competing again, and a very fun atmosphere,” said Head Coach Marc Long.
ON WISCONSIN — The Badger men’s team comes to Iowa City after easily dispatching of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix, winning 14 of 16 events for a final score of 190-106. The men will be led by senior captain Tom Molzahn — the younger brother of former Iowa swimmer Jackie Molzahn, who lettered from 2000-01 through 2003-04 — won the 100 and 200 free versus the Phoenix. Sophomore Scott Rice took home top honors in the 100 and 200 fly. Both Molzahn and Rice were members of the winning 200 free relay team.
The Badger women were equally impressive, defeating the Phoenix 218.5-78.5, and winning all 16 events. Wisconsin had 10 separate women finish first, with senior Susan Johnson, sophomore Yi Ting Siow and freshman Gabby Maddalena each winning two events.
The Badger men finished the 2005-06 campaign with a 5-6 dual meet record, and a seventh place Big Ten finish. The women finished with a 12-1 dual meet record, a sixth place Big Ten finish, a sixth place finish at the NCAA Championships, and ranked 12th in the nation.
ON WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE — The Panther men’s team opened up their season by placing fourth out of six teams, with 114 points, at the Dennis Stark Relays, hosted by Notre Dame. The men return Chase Gravengood, an all-Horizon League first team member. Gravengood set school records in the 100 fly, 200 fly and 200 IM at the Horizon League Championships last year. Robby Leibold returns after a stellar freshman season in which he set school freshman records in the 500 free, 1,000 free and 1,650 free.
The Panther women finished fifth of seven teams, with 108 points at the Dennis Stark Relays to open their season. The Panthers are led by senior Lindsay Caldwell, who was named the Horizon League Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year and the Horizon League Championships Swimmer of the Meet. Caldwell reset school records in the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free, and the league record in the 50 free. She holds nine UWM records and three Horizon League records.
The Panther men finished the 2005-06 season with a dual meet record of 5-8-1 and a fifth place Horizon League finish. The women ended with an even 7-7 record, and a third place Horizon League finish. They return eight all-Horizon League honorees.
THE LAST MEETING — The last time these teams met was October 13th, 2005, at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium. The Badger women defeated the Hawkeyes 164-78, and the Panthers 184-59. The Hawkeye women downed the Panthers 172-71.
The Badger men defeated the Hawkeyes 162-80, and the Panthers 201-42. The Hawkeyes earned a split by defeating the Panthers 163-78.
HEAD COACH Marc Long — Marc Long is in his third season as head coach for the University of Iowa swimming team, and his second as head coach of the combined program. In his first year at the helm of the combined program four student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships, and four school records were broken.
DIVING COACH Bob Rydze — Bob Rydze is in his 32nd year as diving coach of the men and women’s teams at the University of Iowa. He is dean of Big Ten swimming and diving coaches. During his tenure with the Hawkeyes, Rydze has coached 31 all-Americans, nine Big Ten and one NCAA Champion.