Minnesota swimming and diving triumphs over other Big Ten teams

Triple and quad duals took over the University Aquatic Center this weekend as the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams faced Wisconsin, Purdue and Illinois.

The No. 16 men sealed a 243-104 victory over Wisconsin and a 191.5-161.5 win against No. 17 Purdue.

“It was really good and really good at the right time,” men’s head coach Dennis Dale said. “We came back and won the events we had to win. They swam very well. We probably had the best meet of the year for us.”

Sophomore Kyler Van Swol won the 200-yard butterfly, came in second in the 100 butterfly and was a part of the second place 800 freestyle relay team. Even with all of his success against Big Ten teams, he said he hesitates to assume victory at the conference championships.

“It is one thing to beat someone or be beaten in season but once you are all ready at the end of the year, it’s different.” Van Swol said. “You never know what is going to happen.”

Senior Zach Bolin championed the 100 freestyle with his best time of the season. He also made the cut for NCAA provisional qualifying.

The 200 freestyle relay team (Bolin, Derek Toomey, Ben Griggs and Hrvoje Capan) placed second but earned an NCAA provisional qualifying time.

That same group also earned an NCAA provisional qualifying in its 400 freestyle relay win against Purdue. It was the group’s best time of the season.

In diving, junior Michael Ross finished second in one-meter springboard with an NCAA Zone Diving qualifying score.

Women

The No. 15 women defeated No. 19 Wisconsin 238-128, Purdue 253-118 and Illinois 314.5-51.5.

The undefeated Gophers won 11 events out of 19 and continued their dominance on the road to the Big Ten championships.

“We’ve done the work and done everything we need to do to be successful in the championship season,” head women’s coach Terry Nieszner said. “Now it is fine tuning details and making sure that everything is technically sound and correct and taking care of ourselves outside the pool.”

Sophomore diver Maggie Keefer won both one-meter and three-meter springboard diving. Her score of 340.05 in the three-meter was an NCAA Zone Diving qualifying mark. Teammate Katie Grunawalt qualified as well, and her mark of 315.45 was good for second place.

“I felt really on. We’re seeing improvements, and all the hard work is paying off right now. All of us are diving so well,” Keefer said. “Going into Big Ten the way I’m diving against these really good competitors is reassuring that I’ll dive this well and score high [at the conference championship meet].”

There were many other notable finishes for the women’s team. Minnesota won the 400 freestyle relay (freshman Jessica Plant, freshman Tori Simenec, sophomore Erin Caflisch and sophomore Tess Behrens) in a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 3:21.82.

The 200 medley relay team of Behrens, Haley Spencer, Becca Weiland and Caflisch also won and posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:41.33. Two Gophers teams in the 800 freestyle relay swam to the top spots and in NCAA provisional qualifying time.

Individually, Behrens finished first in the 100 backstroke and had a NCAA provisional qualifying time. Spencer qualified too, but placed third in the 100 breaststroke.

The men’s and women’s teams will host the Minnesota Challenge at the Aquatic Center next weekend with competition from around the state.