Hawkeyes Take Down Illinois, Nebraska

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Iowa swimming and diving defeated Illinois and Nebraska on Saturday afternoon. The Hawkeyes knocked off Illinois, 193-179, and beat Nebraska 216-156. 

Iowa improved to 3-3 on the season and 2-2 in the Big Ten.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH NATHAN MUNDT

“This weekend was a total team effort. With diving events in Iowa City and swimming events in Champaign, it took all of us to earn a pair of Big Ten dual meet wins against two very tough teams. It was exciting to see our team come together and support one another to victory. We look forward to continuing this momentum into the last two dual meets of the season the last weekend of January.”

In Champaign, freshman Payton Flowers won two events. In the 50 free, Flowers placed first with a final time of 23.00. During the 100 free, she touched the wall in 50.94 to secure the win. 

Junior Jenna Kerr tallied a win in the 200 free (1:51.01). She continued the momentum into the 500 free, where she placed second (5:01.59).

The Hawkeyes sealed the wins over the Illini and Huskers with a victory in the 200 free relay. Flowers led the group in the first leg and was followed by Rachel Dildine, Audrey Olen and Ella Jean Kelly. The quartet stopped the clock in 1:33.50. 

Throughout the remainder of the meet, the Hawkeyes had solid performances. Sophomore Elizabeth Beam placed second in the 100 (57.44) and 200 back (2:04.38). Junior Olivia Swalley took home silver in the 200 breast (2:19.92) and 200 IM (2:04.74) and bronze in the 200 fly (2:05.72). 

At the CRWC, the Hawkeye divers competed from the platform. Senior Geneva Pauly placed second in the meet with a total of 233.20 points. Freshman Zita Bernatsky was right behind her. Bernatsky claimed third with 229.90 points. She updated both her season best and top 10 record. The freshman remains ninth at Iowa in the top-10 record book. Freshman Kamila Swanson grabbed eighth with a total of 168.25 points. 

Up Next: The Iowa swimming and diving team will return to the pool for its senior day meet against St. Thomas on January 30 at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. 

Hawkeye Results
Swimming at Illinois
50 Free
1. Payton Flowers - 23.00
2. Rachel Dildine - 23.80
4. Ella Jean Kelly - 23.87

100 Fly
3. Rachel Dildine - 55.87
4. Josie Hood - 57.05
11. Olivia Asay - 59.26
12. Leslie Wendel - 1:00.02

100 Free
1. Payton Flowers - 50.94
3. Jenna Kerr - 51.44
5. Audrey Olen - 52.29

100 Back
2. Elizabeth Beam - 57.44
5. Hope Schimming - 58.40
9. Hannah Cousins - 58.93
11. Addie Crain - 1:03.73

100 Breast
3. Ella Jean Kelly - 1:05.73
4. Emilie Mosner - 1:06.41
8. Willa Hage - 1:07.32

200 Fly
3. Olivia Swalley - 2:05.72
4. Josie Hood - 2:07.13
9. Leslie Wendel - 2:11.19
10. Mallory Kell - 2:16.27
11. Meredith O’Malley - 2:19.16

200 Free
1. Jenna Kerr - 1:51.01
8. Audrey Olen - 1:54.09
10. Olivia Frantum - 1:55.95
12. Meredith O’Malley - 2:01.87

200 Back
2. Elizabeth Beam - 2:04.38
4. Hope Schimming - 2:05.56
7. Hannah Cousins - 2:06.90
12. Addie Crain - 2:12.49
14. Mallory Kell - 2:12.69

200 Breast
2. Olivia Swalley - 2:19.92
4. Emilie Mosner - 2:22.05
6. Willa Hage - 2:25.53

200 IM
2. Olivia Swalley - 2:04.74
9. Willa Hage - 2:10.54
10. Emilie Mosner - 2:11.57
11. Hope Schimming - 2:14.51

500 Free
2. Jenna Kerr - 5:01.59
7. Olivia Frantum - 5:10.90
10. Meredith O’Malley - 5:26.55

200 Medley Relay
2. Olen, Swalley, Dildine, Flowers - 1:44.43
4. Beam, Mosner, Hood, Kelly - 1:45.84
8. Crain, Hage, Asay, Cousins - 1:48.87

200 Free Relay
1. Flowers, Dildine, Olen, Kelly - 1:33.50
5. Kerr, Hood, Cousins, Beam - 1:37.10
7. Frantum, Wendel, Asay, Crain - 1:43.86

Diving at CRWC
Platform
2. Geneva Pauly - 233.20
3. Zita Bernatsky - 229.90, SB + 9th at Iowa
8. Kamila Swanson - 168.25