Hawkeyes Head To Mizzou Dual Challenge

Oct. 30, 2006

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THIS WEEK — The Iowa men and women’s swimming team will travel to Columbia, Missouri, to compete in the Mizzou Dual Meet Challenge, hosted by the University of Missouri. Other teams competing will be the Louisville Cardinals, Drury Panthers and Southern Illinois Salukis. The meet will take place Friday through Sunday, at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.

THE LAST WORD: MICHIGAN STATE — Both teams traveled to East Lansing to face Michigan State last week. The Hawkeye men defeated the Spartans (152-148) but the Iowa women lost (159.5-140.5). The Hawkeye men improve their record to 2-2 (1-2 Big Ten), and the Iowa women drop to 1-3 (0-3 Big Ten).

Junior Dragos Agache led the Hawkeye men with wins in the 100 (57.61) and 200 yard breaststroke (2:09.31). Sophomores James Dragon (200 Fly – 1:55.83), Nick Divan (500 Free – 4:36.92) and freshman Wil Whaley (200 Back – 1:52.72) all picked up event wins for the Hawkeyes. Freshman Michael Gilligan picked up his first collegiate victory in one-meter diving, with 310.80, and teammate Frank Van Dijkhuizen finished second with 304.57; both scores met NCAA regional qualifying standards. In three-meter diving, Van Dijkhuizen took first (328.65), while Gilligan came in second (326.78).

Senior Emmy Haeger led the Iowa women with wins in the 100 (1:05.93) and 200 breast (2:24.29). Sophomore Ashley Dell (1,000 Free – 10:17.65), and freshmen Margie Chamberlin (200 Fly – 2:06.68), Christine Kuczek (100 Free – 52.89) and Laura Mozdzen (100 Fly – 57.95) all added individual victories for the Hawkeyes. Iowa also won the 400 medley relay (3:54.00) and the 200 free relay (1:36.87).

BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN — The win was the first Big Ten win for the men since defeating Purdue 162.5-137.5 on November 7, 2003. It was the first Big Ten road win for the Hawkeye men since winning at Northwestern on February 5, 2000.

QUOTING COACH LONG — “It was a great win for the men; Michigan State was gunning for us. The women were short-handed but fought hard. Both meets came down to the last event.”

THE COMPETITION — The host Missouri Tiger men are 0-1 after falling to Big 12 foe Texas A&M. The Tigers took first at the Show-Me-Showdown and third at the Big 12 Relays. The Louisville Cardinal men are 1-2, after defeating Eastern Illinois and falling to Tennessee and West Virginia. The Drury Panthers are 0-1, after losing to Southern Illinois. The Panthers finished second at the Show-Me-Showdown. The Southern Illinois Saluki men are 3-0, with wins over Evansville, Missouri State and Drury.

The Mizzou women are 1-1 after falling to Texas A&M and defeating Kansas. The Tiger women also took first in the Show-Me-Showdown and third at the Big 12 Relays. The Louisville women are 2-1 after defeating Eastern Illinois and West Virginia and losing to Tennessee. The Drury women are 0-1 after falling to Southern Illinois and finishing second at the Show-Me-Showdown. The Southern Illinois women are 3-0 after defeating Evansville, Missouri State and Drury.

THE LAST MEETING — The last time the Hawkeye men faced Missouri was January 21, 2006, and Iowa lost 177-108. Iowa last competed with Southern Illinois at Indiana on December 4, 2004, when the Hawkeyes fell 187-105. The Hawkeyes last challenged Louisville at Notre Dame on November 1, 2002, when they won 235-56. The Hawkeye men have never faced Drury.

The Hawkeye women last faced Missouri on January 21, 2006 when they fell 178-117. Iowa last competed against Drury on January 12, 2003 when the Hawkeyes won 133-68. The Hawkeyes last met with Southern Illinois on February 3, 1995, when Iowa lost 169-124. The Iowa women have never faced Lousiville.