Nov. 17, 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 swimming and diving team will host the Hawkeye Invite this weekend. The Hawkeyes will face South Dakota State, Truman State, and Western Illinois. The invite starts Friday at 11 a.m. and continues through Sunday.
LAST EVENT — The Hawkeyes hosted the Minnesota Gophers Nov. 6 at the Field House Pool. The Hawkeyes put up a good fight and had some excellent swims but it was not enough to beat the Gophers. Iowa lost 184-114.
Sophomore Paul Gordon was nominated for Big Ten A.thlete of the week after having strong swims against Minnesota. Gordon swam collegiate best times in the 200 free (1:38.33) and 100 fly (48.96). He also anchored the Hawkeyes first place 400 free relay team. He teamed up with sophomore Jordan Huff, sophomore Ryan Phelan, and sophomore Duncan Partridge to win the relay with a time of 2:59.59.
Huff earned two collegiate best times as well. He came in behind Gordon in the 200 Free with a time of 1:39.95. Huff followed up with a second place finish in the 100 free and posted another collegiate best time of 45.51. Junior Max Dittmer earned two second-place finishes in the 100 back (50.92) and 200 IM (1:53.73). Junior Sean Hagan earned second place in the 100 breast with a season-best time of 57.69.
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 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.
Iowa’s men divers had a strong day of diving against Minnesota. Senior Mike Gilligan took first place in the one-meter event with a score of 340.00. Senior Frank Van Dijkhuizen took third place with a score of 315.00. Van Dijkhuzien went on to finish second (352.05) in the three-meter event, while Gilligan took third (323.70).
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.