Jan. 16, 2007
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THIS WEEK — The Iowa men and women’s swimming team will host its final regular season action Friday and Saturday. On Friday the Hawkeyes entertain Western Illinois at 5 p.m. The Ohio State men will also be competing against Western Illinois. Saturday’s action will pit Ohio State against the Iowa men, with the Hawkeye women squaring off against Illinois at 11 a.m. Saturday’s meet will honor the seniors in their final home meet. Both meets will be held at the UI Fieldhouse Pool and are free to the public.
ON WESTERN ILLINOIS — The Leatherneck men are 2-4 with wins over Eastern Illinois and Valparaiso. The WIU women, the Westerwinds, are 4-4 with wins over Lewis, Eastern Illinois, Valparaiso and Illinois-Chicago. The Westerwinds and Hawkeyes have a common opponent in Iowa State. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cyclones 181.5-117.5, while the Westerwinds lost 149-79.
Senior captain Madeha Farrar leads the Westerwinds in the 100 breast (1:06.66), 200 breast (2:25.32), and swims on the team leading 200 medley relay (1:51.69). Men’s captains are senior Drew Page and junior Tony Gallagher, with Gallagher leading the team in the 400 IM (4:30.75).
ON ILLINOIS — The Illinois women currently stand at 3-1 (1-1 Big Ten), with wins over Oakland, Michigan State and Illinois State. This will be Illinois’ final dual before the Big Ten Championships. The Illini bring a trio of seniors, Meghan Farrell, Rebecca Poetz and Barbie Viney who swam at the NCAA Championships last season.
Farrell recorded an NCAA “B” time (provisionally qualifiy for the NCAA Championships) in the 50 free (23.33) in an early season loss to Ohio State. Viney tallied a “B” time in the 100 free (50.13) at the Texas A&M Reveille Invitational. Sophomore Marissa Clapp also recorded a “B” time in the 200 breast (2:17.24) at the Texas A&M meet.
ON OHIO STATE — The 14th ranked Buckeyes suffered their first loss of the season to 15th ranked Indiana. The Buckeyes now stand 4-1 (1-1 Big Ten), with wins over Kenyon, Miami (OH), Purdue, and Cleveland State; the Buckeyes also placed second at their own invitational. Ohio State finishes the regular season January 26th and 27th, hosting Northwestern and Michigan before the Big Ten Championships. Senior Joe Doyle leads the Buckeyes in the 50 and 100 free, and the 100 fly. Freshman George Markovic paces the team in the 200, 500 and 1,650 free.
THE LAST TIME — The Hawkeye women hold a 6-2 series advantage over Western Illinois, and trail Illinois 7-11. The Hawkeyes last faced the Illini in 2006, falling 169-130.
The Iowa men lead the all-time series with Western Illinois 5-1, but haven’t faced the Leathernecks since a 76-30 win in 1982. The Hawkeyes trail Ohio State 3-10 all-time, and last faced the Buckeyes in 2001.OSU won that meet 193-157.
SENIOR MEET — Saturday will be final home meet for seniors Seth Tweedy, Emmy Haeger, Nicole Nemmers, Erin Petty and Robin Samples.
THE LAST COMPETITION — The Hawkeyes last competed at the Florida International Invite January 6. The men came out victorious with 142 points, while the women came in second with 128 points. The invitational win is the first for the men’s program since a first at the 1998 Iowa Invitational. This was the best tournament finish for the women since a second place finish at the 2002 Notre Dame Invitational.
The men collected wins in the 500 freestyle relay and the 200 butterfly relay. The team of Brad Jones, Seth Tweedy, Brian Farris and Nick Divan won the 500 free relay in 4:12.91. The 200 fly relay crown was taken by the team of James Dragon, Nate Keeling, Seth Wessels, and Josh Schubert in 1:35.73. The Hawkeyes placed second in the 400 medley, 200 breast, 400 free, 200 back and 400 medley relays; the 200 free relay team finished third.
The women’s 200 free relay team of Christine Kuczek, Julie deBruin, Emmy Haeger, and Robin Samples was the only Hawkeye team to place first with 1:38.52. The Hawkeyes placed no worse than second in the other seven events.