Iowa Set to Open 2015-16 Season

Sept. 23, 2015

Weekly Notes — at UIC

• Read the September issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
• 2015-16 Iowa Swimming & Diving Media Guide
• Download your Hawk Talk Monthly iOS app
• Download your Hawk Talk Monthly android app
• Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
• Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone/iPad app
• Download your Iowa Hawkeye android app
• 24 Hawkeyes to Watch

  

  THIS WEEK
  The University of Iowa men’s swimming and diving team heads to the Land of Lincoln to open the 2015-16 season. The Hawkeyes will face Illinois Chicago on Sept. 25-26 at Flames Natatorium in Chicago. Action begins at 4 p.m. (CT) on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.

  FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
  Fans can follow the University of Iowa swimming and diving program on social media. Follow the Hawkeyes on Twitter (@IowaSwimDive), Facebook (facebook.com/IowaSwimmingandDiving), Instagram (hawkeyeswimdive) for the latest news on the program.

  RETURNING NCAA QUALIFIERS
  Four of Iowa’s five NCAA qualifiers from the 2014-15 season are back in the fold. The Hawkeyes return seniors Roman Trussov and Addison Boschult, junior Jackson Halsmer, and sophomore Jerzy Twarowski in 2015-16.

  The Hawkeyes have their top performers returning in 10-of-14 swimming events, all three diving events, and four top performers in relays. Iowa has 25 letterwinners returning in total.

  ON THE TOWER
  Senior Addison Boschult returns to lead the Iowa divers after earning honorable mention All-America honors on the platform at the 2015 NCAA Championships. Boschult holds the school record on the platform (409.20) and ranks fourth all-time on the 3-meter (368.60) and 10th on the 1-meter (325.13).

  TRUSSOV: 2-TIME NCAA QUALIFIER
  Senior Roman Trussov returns for his senior season as a two-time NCAA qualifier (2013, 2015). The Kazakhstan native holds the school records in the 100 breast (52.85), 200 breast (1:54.57) and as part of the 200 (1:25.53) and 400 (3:08.56) medley relays. Trussov placed 24th overall in the 100 breast and 28th in the 200 breast at the 2015 NCAA Championships.

  TOP FLYER RETURNS
  Sophomore Jerzy Twarowski is back for his second season as a Hawkeye and his second season competing in the yards distances. Twarowski became the first Iowa butterfly swimmer to break the 47-second mark during his first collegiate season, posting a school-record time of 46.70. He also broke a 22-year old school record (Rafal Szukala) in the 200 fly, finishing with a time of 1:44.00.

  HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
  The men’s team features 11 newcomers to this year’s roster. Will Brenner, Ike Casey, Ben Colin, Drew Eisen, Andrew Hull, Matt Kamin, Kenneth Mende, Tanner Nelson, Quinn Risley, Sam Sauerbrei, and Jack Smith all join the team. This group of 11 men features three athletes from Iowa, two from Illinois, one from Nevada, Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, England, and Germany. The incoming swimmers feature four All-Americans.

  SWIMMING ACROSS THE POND
  Freshman Jack Smith joins the Hawkeyes following a strong junior career in England. Smith was twice selected to represent England Schools in international meets, competing in the 2013 World School games in Brazil, where he won a gold medal in the 4×100-medley relay. He swam in the 2013 and 2014 European Junior Championships in Poland and Holland, swimming the anchor leg for the winning 400-meter relay.

  A LONG WAYS FROM HOME
  This year’s team will feature five Hawkeyes from overseas. Jerzy Twarowski comes to the UI program from Krakow, Poland, Roman Trussov from Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, David Ernstsson from Stockholm, Sweden, Kenneth Mende from Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany, and Jack Smith from Stoke-On-Trent, England.

  RECORD BREAKING YEAR
  The Hawkeyes broke nine school records in 2015-16. Individually, Grant Betulius (100 backstroke – 45.56) and (200 backstroke – 1:42.19), Roman Trussov (100 breaststroke – 52.85) and (200 breaststroke – 1:54.57), Jerzy Twarowski (100 butterfly – 46.70) and (200 butterfly – 1:44.00) and Addison Boschult (platform diving 409.20) all broke school records in their respective events. The 200- medley relay of Betulius, Trussov, Twarowski, and Jackson Halsmer had a record-breaking time of 1:25.53 and the 400-medley relay of Betulius, Trussov, Twarowski, and Halsmer had a school-record time of 3:08.56.

  CAMPUS RECREATION AND WELLNESS CENTER
  Ground was broken for the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in October 2007. The facility opened in August 2010 and is home for the Hawkeyes. It is located at the corner of Burlington and Madison streets and cost approximately $69 million. The facility includes a 50-meter competition pool, a separate diving well, a leisure pool with lap lanes and 24,000 square feet of fitness space.

  IOWA SWIMMING AND DIVING 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 10 18 times, crowning nine NCAA and 22 Big Ten champions.

  ON THE HORIZON
  The Hawkeyes will make their home debuts at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium on Oct. 9, hosting the annual intrasquad meet at 6 p.m. (CT).