Nov. 3, 2009
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 season)
THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa men’s and women’s swimming and diving team will host the Minnesota Gophers Friday at 5 p.m at the University Field House Pool.
LAST WEEK — The University of Iowa men’s and women’s swimming and diving team hosted Michigan State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday Oct. 23 and then woke up the next morning to host the Missouri State Bears on Saturday Oct. 24 at the Field House Pool. The Hawkeye women defeated UW Milwaukee 198.5-100.5. The men defeated UW Milwaukee 198-94. On Saturday, the Iowa women beat the Bears 188-112 and the Iowa men defeated the Bears 188.5- 109.5
The Iowa women started the competition against Michigan State and Wisconsin- Milwaukee with a great 200 medley relay. They placed first with a time of 1:45.18. The men’s relay team continued the winning streak by placing first in the 200 medley relay (1:33.30).
The Hawkeyes had a solid start to the individual races. Senior Nick Divan won the 1,000 free with a time of 9:37.25, which was two seconds faster than his time (9:40.27) two weeks ago at Wisconsin. Senior Verity Hicks claimed two first place finishes in the 200 free (1:53.02) and the 500 free (5:06.43). Freshman Byron Butler continues to have a great rookie year, winning both his individual events, the 200 fly (1:54.95) and 200 back (1:53.14).
The Iowa men and women finished the meet on a positive note. The women’s 400 free relay team took first place with a time of 3:32.10, which was three seconds faster than Michigan State’s second- place finish (3:35.67).The men’s relay team also won the 400 free relay (3:13.37) after a close race, which had the fans on their feet the last 100 yards of the race.
On Saturday the Hawkeye men opened the competition against Missouri State with an intense battle for first place in the 200 medley relay. Iowa’s team of junior Max Dittmer, senior Matt Ryan, freshman Byron Butler and sophomore Duncan Partridge had the crowd on their feet early after being neck-in-neck with Missouri State before Partridge touched the Bears relay out. The men posted a time of 1:33.12.
Divan continued the winning streak for the Hawkeye men, taking first in the 1,000 free with a time of 9:37.83. Sophomore Paul Gordon captured the top spot in the 200 free (1:41.17) and later went on to win the 100 free and record a collegiate best time of 45.43. A victory in the men’s 100 fly gave Gordon his third individual win of the day.
For the women, Hicks and senior Christine Kuczek finished first and second in the 200 free. Hicks posted a time of 1:53.53 while Kuczek finished in 1:53.86. Sophomores Daniela Cubelic and Danielle Carty also went one and two in the 100 back. Cubelic earned the top spot with a time of 57.13 and Carty came in right behind at 57.40.
Senior Julie Feingold had an excellent meet. After winning the 100 breast, she recorded a season best time of 1:05.75. Feingold went on to win the 200 breast later in the competition with yet another season best time (2:22.29). Kuczek picked up two first place finishes in the 50 free (24.14) and 100 free (52.35).
HEAD COACH Marc Long — Marc Long is in his sixth season as head coach for the University of Iowa swimming team. It’s his fifth as head coach of the combined program. During his tenure as head coach of both programs, 10 school records have fallen and 39 Hawkeyes have provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships.
DIVING COACH Bob Rydze — Bob Rydze is in his 35th year as diving coach of the men’s and women’s teams at the University of Iowa. Rydze served as Team Leader for USA Diving at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, where he served as the Team Leader for USA Diving. During his tenure with the Hawkeyes, Rydze has coached 31 all-Americans, nine Big Ten and one NCAA Champion.
The Hawkeye divers had a strong day of diving. Senior Frank Van Dijkhuizen won the one-meter diving event and took second place in the three-meter event. Van Dijkhuizen earned the top spot in the one- meter with a score of 331.95. He scored 313.65 score for the second place spot in the three-meter. Senior Mike Gilligan finished third in the one-meter with a score of 247.35. Freshman Mary Sue LeMay took second in the one-meter with a score of 203.63 and senior Brittnay Logan took fifth (175.12).
CAMPUS RECREATION AND WELLNESS CENTER– Ground was broken for the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in October 2007. The facility will serve as the new home for Iowa Swimming and Diving upon completion in the spring of 2010. The facility will be at the corner of Burlington and Madison streets and is expected to cost $69 million.
FIELD HOUSE POOL — Iowa’s Field House Pool was built in 1927 and was, at the time, the world’s largest indoor swimming pool. In 1979, the pool underwent a $400,000 renovation. Diving platforms were added in 1980. The pool is 150 feet long and 60 feet wide, with eight lanes. Diving facilities include a pair of one and three meter springboards, plus five and ten meter platforms.
IOWA SWIMMING HISTORY & TRADITION — Iowa was one of the first schools in the nation to compete on a collegiate level and competed at the first NCAA Championship. From 1937 to 1960, Iowa placed in the NCAA top ten 18 times, crowning nine NCAA and 22 Big Ten Champions.