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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa swimming and diving team dominated its dual finale, winning 21-of-24 events in posting three dual victories Friday night at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium.
The Iowa women tallied wins over Northern Iowa (147-73) and Western Illinois (161-49), while the men’s team downed the Leathernecks (145-58). The Hawkeye women finish the dual season with an 8-4 record; the men finish 6-3.
“This dual helps break the ice and soften the mood because we’re in the stage where we want to keep fine-tuning and sharpening for the Big Ten Championships,” said UI head coach Marc Long. “We had some good off events and some great performances, which is exciting.”
Senior Emma Sougstad swam to three event victories in her final collegiate home dual. The Forest City, Iowa, native was part of the winning 400-medley relay (3:44.20) along with Meghan Lavelle, Mekenna Scheitlin, and Hannah Burvill. Sougstad also won the 100 IM (57.26) and 50 fly (25.34).
Burvill was also victorious in the 500 free (4:57.00), and fellow freshmen Allyssa Fluit (23.71) won the 50 free and Amelia Armstrong-Grant touched first in the 200 free (1:55.41).
Juniors Jo Jekel and Shea Hoyt won the 50 back (26.47) and 50 breast (29.67) to round out action in the pool. Junior Morgan Rafferty had one of the most impressive performances in the dual, winning the 3-meter springboard with a 322.50. It is a personal-best and the eighth-best score in school history.
The Hawkeyes also got a victory from Jacintha Thomas off the 1-meter, finishing with a 295.70.
On the men’s side, Iowa got wins from freshman in five individual events. Sam Dumford sprinted to victories in the 50 free (20.69) and 100 free (45.71), Forrest White won the 500 free (4:34.03), and Isaak Webb touched first in the 50 breast (25.80).
Two first-year swimmers were also part of the winning 400-medley relay with Kenneth Mende, Webb, Jerzy Twarowski, and Will Scott posting a time of 3:19.71.
Twarowski also touched first in the 50 fly (21.34) and Mende was victorious in the 50 back (23.29). Sophomore Jack Smith also won the 200 free in 1:41.00.
Senior Brandis Heffner posted Iowa’s final two events in the diving well. He won the 1-meter with a score of 345.20 and 3-meter with a career-best 361.55.
One of the most anticipated races of the night came in the final event — the 200-freestyle relay — when the classes teamed up for bragging rights in an exhibition swim.
The women’s junior relay of Scheitlin, Lavelle, Tereysa Lehnertz, and Carly O’Brien posted a time of 1:31.97 to post the top time. The freshmen boasted the top time for the men when Scott, Joe Myhre, Steve Fiolic, and Dumford swam a 1:20.44.
“We hope to be able to get to that point in the dual,” said Long. “We lined up the classes for a little bit of pride. The student-athletes had fun with it, it has gotten to be a mini-tradition that we can do. It’s good to see the young kids step up.”
The Hawkeye women return to action Feb. 15, traveling to West Lafayette, Indiana, for the 2017 Big Ten Championships. The men’s championships take place Feb. 22-25 in Columbus, Ohio.
