Swim & Dive Notes: Iowa Hosts Illinois

THIS WEEK

University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving hosts Big Ten competitor Illinois in a dual on Friday. The meet will begin at 11 a.m. (CT) in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. Admission is free.

LAST TIME OUT

Iowa competed in Miami, Florida, on Jan. 7. The Hawkeyes tallied three individual wins. Sophomore Olivia Swalley had two first-place finishes in the 200 breaststroke (2:19.26) and the 200 IM (2:04.90). Senior Annie Galvin added an individual win of her own with a time of 2:03.74 in the 200 backstroke.

B1G WEEKLY AWARDS

Senior Annie Galvin was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week and freshman Nora Kemp was tabbed as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, for their performances against Iowa State on Dec. 13. On her senior day, Galvin swam a time of 54.30 in the 100 back to place herself eighth all-time at Iowa, before finishing out with a time of 1:58.66 to win the 200 back. Kemp collected a personal best in her 100 free with a time of 50.73 before collecting a winning time of 1:49.12 in the 200 free. Kemp swam the third leg in Iowa’s 200 free relay, finishing out the night to secure the Hawkeye victory. This was a first time award for both Galvin and Kemp.

CY-HAWK BATTLE

Iowa took gold in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Dual, defeating Iowa State 215-84. In total, the Hawkeyes collected 15 event wins, 10 lifetime bests and four updates to the program’s top-10 lists on the night. Makayla Hughbanks took the 3-meter dive title with a score of 351.85. Junior Geneva Pauly set a new personal best in the 1-meter dive with a score of 312.95, setting the eighth-best mark in school history. 

2024 HAWKEYE INVITATIONAL

Iowa hosted eight schools in its meet on Nov. 21-23. The Hawkeyes placed fifth, collecting a final score of 879. Sophomore Olivia Swalley took the 400 IM all-time title at Iowa with her time of 4:10.54, topping the previous record by almost two seconds. Senior Makayla Hughbanks clinched first in the three-meter dive finals with a career best score of 358.10. The score also bettered Hughbank’s fifth all-time record at Iowa. Iowa tallied a total of 46 personal bests, 24 season bests and seven top-ten records on the weekend.

B1G DIVER OF THE WEEK

Makayla Hughbanks was named the Big Ten Diver of the Week after her dominanting performance in the one-meter and three-meter dives at UNI on Oct. 4. It is the third time in her career that Hughbanks has earned the honor, previously winning in December of 2022 and 2023. She is Iowa’s first honoree of a weekly Big Ten award since junior Scarlet Martin and sophomore Olivia Swalley took home conference awards last January.

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).

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 

UP NEXT 

University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving travels to Piscataway, New Jersey, to take on Rutgers and Nebraska on Jan. 31, at 4 p.m. and Feb. 1, at 9 a.m. (CT) inside Werblin Recreation Center.