Woodward Sweeps Dives to Open Weekend

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa senior Lainey Woodward swept the one and three-meter dives on Friday night inside the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. Woodward neared her lifetime best from both springboards, scoring 312.05 points on the one meter and 318.65 from three meters.

“I’m proud of Lainey and her efforts, especially after coming back from UCLA,” diving coach Todd Waikel said. “Our training cycle has been difficult with being on the road, so coming off of that and performing the way she did made me very proud. It is a good segue into the next part of the month and into Big Tens.”

Senior Geneva Pauly placed third in both dives. She scored 285.65 points in the one-meter dive and 277.75 points from the three-meter springboard. Freshmen Zita Bernatsky (283.05) and Kamila Swanson (254.50) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the one-meter dive.

“I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to see today after coming back from UCLA,” Waikel added. “I am really pleased with how we competed on the three-meter board and then even better on the one meter. I am especially proud of Zita, who struggled a little bit on the three meter, but came back and dove about as well as she could on the one meter.”

In Champaign, the Hawkeye swimmers began the meet strong in the 400 medley relay. Freshman Payton Flowers, junior Olivia Swalley, sophomore Rachel Dildine and junior Jenna Kerr touched the wall in 3:46.62 to take home silver. 

Iowa swimming continued the momentum throughout the meet. Swalley competed in the 100 IM and placed second (58.19). Junior Olivia Frantum notched a season best in the 1,000 free. Finishing in 10:23.03, she placed sixth. 

To conclude the day, the 400 free relay team of Flowers, sophomore Audrey Olen, Dildine and Kerr finished in 3:25.53 to clinch first place. 

Up Next: The Hawkeyes will continue action tomorrow morning. Swimming will begin at 10 a.m. in Champaign at the Activities and Recreation Center. Diving starts at 11 a.m. at home in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. 

Hawkeye Results
Diving at CRWC
1-Meter Dive
1. Lainey Woodward - 312.05
3. Geneva Pauly - 286.65
4. Zita Bernatsky - 283.05
5. Kamila Swanson - 254.50

3-Meter Dive
1. Lainey Woodward - 318.65
3. Geneva Pauly - 277.75
10. Zita Bernatsky - 246.15
13. Kamila Swanson - 219.00

Swimming at Illinois
100 IM
2. Olivia Swalley - 58.19
5. Rachel Dildine - 58.92
7. Josie Hood - 59.45
9. Payton Flowers - 59.56
14. Willa Hage - 1:00.35
16. Hannah Cousins - 1:00.91

400 Free Relay
1. Flowers, Olen, Dildine, Kerr - 3:25.53
4. Kelly, Swalley, Hood, Frantum - 3:30.68
8. Cousins, Beam, Schimming, O’Malley - 3:39.40
10. Asay, Crain, Kell, Mosner - 3:43.64

400 Medley Relay
2. Flowers, Swalley, Dildine, Kerr - 3:46.62
6. Beam, Mosner, Hood, Olen - 3:51.36
9. Cousins, Kelly, Asay, Schimming - 3:58.77
11. Crain, Hage, Wendel, Kell - 3:59.52

1,000 Freestyle
6. Olivia Frantum - 10:23.03
8. Jenna Kerr - 10:37.96
10. Meredith O’Malley - 10:57.52