Indiana Fueled by Michael Brinegar, Mariah Denigan in Sweep of Northwestern
Indiana had no trouble sweeping its Big Ten Conference dual meet with Northwestern on Saturday, as the Hoosier won the women’s meet, 175-125, and the men emerged on top, 173-120. Indiana is ranked 11th on the women’s side and fifth on the men’s scene.
Indiana Press Release
HOOSIER WINNERS
Men
Bruno Blaskovic – 200 Medley Relay (1:26.74), 50 Freestyle (20.27), 400 Freestyle Relay (2:56.54)
Michael Brinegar – 1000 Freestyle (9:06.41), 500 Freestyle (4:27.31)
Brendan Burns – 200 Medley Relay (1:26.74), 200 Butterfly (1:43.18), 200 Backstroke (1:45.33)
Gabriel Fantoni – 200 Medley Relay (1:26.74), 100 Butterfly (46.09)
Van Mathias – 200 Medley Relay (1:26.74), 400 Freestyle Relay (2:56.54)
Rafael Miroslaw – 200 Freestyle (1:36.22), 400 Freestyle Relay (2:56.54)
Maxwell Reich – 200 Breaststroke (2:00.01)
Jacob Steele – 100 Backstroke (47.71)
Carson Tyler – 3-Meter Dive (408.00)
Cole VanDevender – 1-Meter Dive (369.00)
Gavin Wight – 400 Freestyle Relay (2:56.54)
Women
Elizabeth Broshears – 400 Freestyle Relay (3:21.02)
Brearna Crawford – 200 Breaststroke (2:12.99)
Mariah Denigan – 1000 Freestyle (9:55.16), 500 Freestyle (4:50.82)
Anne Fowler – 1-Meter Dive (327.20)
Tarrin Gilliland – 3-Meter Dive (366.15)
Mackenzie Looze – 200 Backstroke (2:00.61), 200 IM (2:01.57)
Anna Peplowski – 200 Freestyle (1:48.18), 100 Freestyle (50.19), 400 Freestyle Relay (3:21.02)
Ella Ristic – 400 Freestyle Relay (3:21.02)
Ashley Turak – 400 Freestyle Relay (3:21.02)
NOTABLES
- Indiana swimmers totaled eight NCAA B cut times. Brearna Crawford and Gabriel Fantoni each recorded two qualifying times. IU divers combined for 15 NCAA Zone Qualifying scores.
- Indiana divers finished top two in all four events. On the women’s side, Tarrin Gilliland and Anne Fowler finished No. 1 & No. 2, respectively, in the 3-meter, then switched positions in the 1-meter. An IU diver has won the top spot in seven of eight events so far this season.
- Two Indiana men’s swimmers set pool records; Brendan Burns in the 200 Fly (1:43.18) and Gabriel Fantoni in the 100 Fly (46.09).
- In his first-career dual meet, Freshman Carson Tyler set a pool record in the 3-Meter Dive with a 408.00, beating out the 396.85 standard that Purdue’s Joey Cifelli established on January 30, 2016. The performance extended Tyler’s streak of success after he won two gold and one silver medal at last weekend’s UANA Pan American Diving Championships.
- Fresh off strong performances at the Las Vegas Open Water Championships a week ago, senior Michael Brinegar and Mariah Denigan each won both the 1000 and 500-Yard Freestyle races.
- Brearna Crawford’s NCAA B-Cut time of 1:01.82 in the 100 Breaststroke came in a photo finish. Despite her outstanding time, Crawford settled for second place as Northwestern’s Justine Murdock touched the wall a split second earlier, clocking in at 1:01.81.
- Cole VanDevender set a personal-best in the 1-Meter Dive, scoring a 369.00 to win the event. His previous-best came on Nov. 11, 2019, when he recorded a 359.15 in a second-place finish.
- Burns, Bruno Blaskovic and Anna Peplowski tied for the team-high with three wins apiece.
UP NEXT
Indiana swimming and diving will get set for a two-day quad meet featuring Virginia Tech, Penn State and Virginia Tech in Columbus, Ohio, October 29-30. The men will face all three teams, while the women will take on the Buckeyes and Hokies.
Northwestern Press Release
Northwestern Swimming and Diving dropped their first meet of the season to #5/#11 Indiana on Saturday at the Norris Aquatics Center. The #24 men’s team fell 175-125, while the #16 women’s team dropped a 173-120 decision to the Hoosiers.
First-year Justine Murdock delivered in her Wildcat debut, as the two-time USA Olympic Trials qualifer helped Northwestern win the Women’s 200 Medley Relay (1:40.23), swimming alongside Sophie Angus and Miriam Guevara, with Maddie Smith swimming anchor. Murdock followed up that victory with a win in the Women’s 100 Back (56.45)
She wasn’t the only member of Northwestern’s medley relay to impress on Saturday. Guevara delivered for the Wildcats in the 100 Fly (54.86) and 200 Fly (2:01.2) to take first place in both events. Guevara was a 2021 Honorable Mention All-American in the 100 fly, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay.
Smith added to her medley win with a victory in the 50 free (22.79) to deliver the Wildcats a victory in the splash and dash.
Hannah Brunzell followed up her school record performance at the NCAA Championships with a first-place swim in the 100 Breast (1:01.81). The Wildcats swept the event thanks to a 54.16 swim from Kevin Houseman in the men’s event.
Another impressive upperclassmen swam in the Men’s 100 Free, as Andrew Zhang delivered a a 44.06 swim to win the event. Tyler Lu won the men’s 200 IM (1:48.64) in an impressive debut for the Northwestern first year.
On the diving board, Markie Hopkins was the highlight for the Wildcats, as the junior won the 1-meter dive with a 286.70 score.
Northwestern is back in the pool on Saturday, taking on UIC at the Norris Aquatics Center.