After a relatively uneventful week around the Big 12, we still saw some exciting action including the Iowa State Cyclones upsetting the WVU Mountaineers at home in Ames, Iowa.
The Horned Frogs from Texas Christian University also downed University of Incarnate Wood this week, showing some impressive pre-conference swims in the process.
Iowa State Cyclones Upset WVU Mountaineers
The Iowa State Cyclones (7-3, 2-0 Big 12) finished with a huge 400 freestyle relay victory against West Virginia (3-3, 1-1 Big 12) to take the meet 152-148. Senior Haley Ruegemer came back from a two-second deficit in the 1000 free to win the event, while freshman Emily Haan stepped up in a big way with a pair of event wins, plus contribution on both winning relays. For the fourth time in five years, the final relay has decided the outcome of the Iowa State-West Virginia dual.
To start off the meet, the Cyclones earned their seventh 200 medley relay victory of the year with Haan, Martha Haas, Elynn Tan, and Evan Hundley touching at 1:44.17. Ruegemer followed the effort by winning her final 1000 free in Beyer Pool with a 10:23.70. The senior captain was behind by over two seconds at the 700-split, but stormed back in the next four lengths to virtually tie the lead swimmer, then won the event by over two seconds.
“I knew I had to stay in contact with [West Virginia’s Kallay],” Ruegemer said following the meet. “The 1000 gets a lot into strategy, and I knew I had a lot left in me. I tried to make the most of it and trust the training I have had the last four years.”
Haan had a key swim in the 100 back, taking first at 55.83, her second-fastest time of the season. The breaststroke squad brought in more points for the Cyclones, with Haas and Lehr Thorson going 1-2 in the 100 breast against a strong breaststroker in Emma Harris. By winning four of the first five events, the Cyclones had a commanding 63-30 lead. Andersen scored essential points with a win in the 100 free, touching at 51.85, just .12 seconds ahead of West Virginia’s Nilton. Haan’s second victory of the day in the 200 back (2:04.54) put Iowa State up 102-86.
“I’m very proud how our women got up and raced,” head coach Duane Sorenson said. “The turning point of the meet was Haley Ruegemer coming from behind and winning the 1000. That was the upset of we needed and the rest of the way our women kept fighting and fighting.”
The Cyclones are off next week but return to action in Lawrence against Big 12 foe Kansas in their final dual meet of the year. Following the dual, Iowa State will begin their final preparations for the 2019 Big 12 Championships which begins on Feb. 27 in Austin, Texas. Follow the team on Twitter (@CycloneSD) or on Facebook at facebook.com/cycloneSD for in-game updates, post-meet recaps and results throughout the season.
TCU Defeats UIW
TCU swimming and diving competed in its final dual meets of the season on Saturday, taking on the University of Incarnate Word and North Texas’s women’s team. Head-to-head, the women’s team defeated Incarnate Word 160-137, however the Frogs fell to North Texas 157-140 and the men lost to Incarnate Word 172-90.
Connie Deighton had a stellar day on the boards for TCU, sweeping the one-meter and three-meter dives against both Incarnate Word and North Texas. Her one-meter score of 276.40 and three-meter score of 287.15 are both NCAA Zone cuts.
Claire Munster was one of TCU’s bright spots in the water on Saturday, winning the 50 free outright with a mark of 24.04 and defeating Incarnate Word in the 100 free. She also was the leadoff for the 200 free relay that defeated Incarnate Word with a mark of 1:38.00.
Kiki Rice was another one of the leaders for TCU, winning the 200 back outright with a mark of 2:03.69 and defeating North Texas in the 100 back.
Nicqueline Rettberg was another winner as well, winning the women’s 1650 free a mark of 17:04.76,
On the men’s side, TCU dominated in the men’s 200 back by taking the top three spots. Radu Duican led the way with first-place time of 1:49.21, followed by Brendan Barry at 1:50.44, and Kade Knoch at 1:51.33.
Freshman Noah Cumby also took home a win, winning the men’s 100 free with a time of 46.33.
The Horned Frogs will send a few athletes to the SMU Time Trials, while most of the team will begin preparations for the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships. The conference meet is scheduled for Feb.27-March 2 in Austin, Texas.
The above press releases were posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Iowa State and Texas Christian University Swimming and Diving. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
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