THIS WEEK
University of Iowa swim and dive heads to Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Friday, Oct. 4 for its first meet of the season to take on the Panthers of Northern Iowa. The dual begins at 2:30 p.m. (CT).
2023-24 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- The Hawkeyes scored 303 points at the 2024 Big Ten Championships, an over-100-point improvement from last season. Iowa had 14 individual performances in the finals session and reached the podium with an eighth-place finish in the 400-freestyle relay.
- Further postseason success took place at the National Invitational Championships in Ocala, Florida. Competing against 65 teams, Iowa placed ninth with 327 points.
- The Hawkeyes secured dual meet victories over Illinois, Iowa State, Nebraska, UNI and Vanderbilt. The Hawkeyes’ win over Iowa State clinched the final point necessary to bring the CyHawk Trophy back to Iowa City.
- Freshman Olivia Swalley earned four B1G freshman of the week honors, while sophomore Scarlet Martin claimed three B1G swimmer of the week honors this season.
- On Dec. 13, 2023, junior Makayla Hughbanks received her second B1G diver of the week honor.
- Four Hawkeyes posted a total of 10 NCAA B cut times (Kennedy Gilbertson, Jenna Kerr, Scarlet Martin, Olivia Swalley).
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Senior Makayla Hughbanks and sophomore Olivia Swalley were named to the Big Ten’s preseason Athletes to Watch list. Hughbanks holds the program’s fifth-best 3-meter dive (356.93) and eighth-best 1-meter (312.90). Last season, she won five individual event titles (two 1-meter and two 3-meter) and the AAU National Championship 1-meter dive with a score of 277.45 points. Swalley enters the 2024 swim season following a stellar freshman performance. The Johnston, Iowa, native led the team in 100 breast (1:01.02), 200 breast (2:12.92), 200 IM (1:58.47), and 400 IM (4:14.42) which rank second, fourth, second, and second, respectively, all-time at Iowa. She won 23 individual races and contributed to six winning relays during the season. Swalley is a four-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree and was named Swimming Team Co-MVP. Hughbanks and Alix O’Brien were named captains for the 2024-25 season.
ETCHED IN THE BOOKS
The Hawkeyes combined for 23 top-10 program performances and counting throughout the course of the 2023-24 season.
- 50 Free – Kennedy Gilbertson (22.70) – 3rd all-time
- 50 Free – Scarlet Martin (22.91) – 6th all-time
- 100 Free – Sabina Kupcova (50.14) – 4th all-time
- 100 Free – Jenna Kerr (50.26) – T-7th all-time
- 200 Free – Jenna Kerr (1:46.97) – 5th all-time
- 200 Free – Sabina Kupcova (1:47.93) – 7th all-time
- 500 Free – Jenna Kerr (4:45.15) – 4th all-time
- 1000 Free – Jenna Kerr (10:01.53) – 7th all-time
- 1000 Free – Alix O’Brien (10:02.46) – 8th all-time
- 1650 Free – Jenna Kerr (16:34.23) – 5th all-time
- 100 Breast – Olivia Swalley (1:01.02) – 2nd all-time
- 200 Breast – Olivia Swalley (2:12.92) – 4th all-time
- 200 Fly – Scarlet Martin (1:58.67) – T-4th all-time
- 200 IM – Olivia Swalley (1:58.47) – 2nd all-time
- 200 IM – Sabina Kupcova (2:01.21) – 6th all-time
- 400 IM – Olivia Swalley (4:14.72) – 2nd all-time
- 200 Medley Relay – Gilbertson, Swalley, Martin, Kerr (1:39.59) – 5th all-time
- 200 Medley Relay – Gilbertson, Swalley, Kupcova, Kerr (1:39.95) – 7th all-time
- 400 Medley Relay – Gilbertson, Swalley, Martin, Kerr (3:38.28) – 7th all-time
- 200 Free Relay – Gilbertson, Kerr, Swalley, Martin (1:31.46) – 6th all-time
- 800 Free Relay – Kerr, Kupcova, Swalley, Martin (7:12.57) – 6th all-time
- 1 Meter Dive – Makayla Hughbanks (312.60) – 8th all-time
- 3 Meter Dive – Makayla Hughbanks (356.93) – 5th all-time
BUY STOCK NOW
Sophomores Jenna Kerr and Olivia Swalley shared the team’s most valuable swimmer of the year award. Kerr posted NCAA ‘B’ cut time standards in the 200 and 500 freestyle events. In her rookie campaign, Kerr placed second in the 200 freestyle at the National Invitational Championship and was a ‘B’ finalist at the Big Ten Championships. Kerr is currently in Iowa’s top-10 in the 200, 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle events. Swalley posted ‘B’ cut times in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes and the 200 and 400 IM. Swalley was the 200 IM champion at the NIC and a ‘B’ finalist at the Big Ten Championships. Swalley is ranked in the program’s top-10 in four events. Both Kerr and Swalley were members of Iowa’s 400 freestyle relay team that placed eighth at the Big Ten Championships.
DIVER OF THE YEAR
Senior Makayla Hughbanks earned Iowa’s diver of the year honor, while holding the team’s best marks in the one-meter and three-meter dives. Hughbanks’ score of 356.93 points in the three meter at Illinois ranks fifth in program history, while her 312.60 points against UNI in the one meter is eighth in Iowa history. With those marks, she qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native was named the Big Ten Diver of the Week in October and won four events during the season. Hughbanks was Iowa’s Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree and a member of the Academic All-Big Ten team.
LET IT RIP
The Hawkeyes qualified four divers to the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in Houston, Texas, on March 11-13. Sarah Ballard, Simone Beinlich, Makayla Hughbanks and Geneva Pauly headed to Houston after achieving qualifying scores throughout the season. Pauly moved on to the finals of the platform dive, placing 11th and just two spots from punching her ticket to the NCAA Championships.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes come home on Friday, Oct. 11, to host the Nebraska Cornhuskers at 4 p.m. (CT) inside the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City, Iowa. The dual will be live streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).
