By Katya Vakshteyn, Swimming World College Intern
BROOKINGS – Summit League swimming teams South Dakota State, USD, Denver, Eastern Illinois, Omaha, IUPUI, and Western Illinois compete in the final meets before the holiday break. The House of Champions in Indianapolis will be the meet to watch this weekend. Competition between conference rivals EIU, IUPUI, and WIU will be exciting to watch.
Looking Back
Last weekend, the Jackrabbits women’s team traveled to Omaha to take on the Mav’s. The Jacks came out victorious against Omaha with a score of 159.5-140.5. The Jacks 400 medley relay took first, sophomore Sam Prasher won the 100 backstroke with an impressive time of 58.44, and Alex Yeager won the 200 fly in a time of 2:09.60.
USD travelled to Steven’s Point, Wisconsin for the Border Battle. North Dakota took home the win for the Border Battle and USD came in second with a combined score of 1,820. Sam Schutt won three titles over the course of the weekend. Schutt dominated the field in the 500 free, 200 free, and 200 backstroke. Senior Paige Stavely was good for second in the 400 IM with a time of 4:48.12. On the men’s side, Sophomore Jacob Knowles won the 200 breaststroke and took second in the 100 breast. Nick Schutt and Colin Krysl went one-two in the 100 fly.
The EIU Panthers pocketed the win in their home meet against Valparaiso. Between the men and women, the Panthers had 14 first place finishes in the dual. First place finishes came from Jake Roberts in the 1000 free, Steven Fishman in both the 200 free and 200 IM, Brogan O’Doherty in the 100 back, Matt Jacobson in the 100 breast, and Harris Thompson in the 500 free.
South Dakota State University (SDSU)
This weekend, the men’s team will travel to St. John’s in Collegeville, Minnesota. The Jacks will be looking at senior Alex McLain to sweep backstroke events and sophomore Chris Angerhofer to score big points in the distance freestyle events. John Overman will be key in breaststroke events and Ben Bolinske should take home wins in the sprint freestyle events.
University of South Dakota (USD)
South Dakota will take on St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minnesota on the 21st of November. Sam Schutt is expected to continue her winning streak in the freestyle events. Freshman Katie Svendson clocked in some impressive times in distance events so the Coyotes will be turning to her to score some points in those events. Breaststrokers Jacob Knowles and Jaden Van Dike should bring in points in both the 100 and 200 of their stroke.
University of Denver (DU)
Denver has no meets this week.
Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
The EIU Panthers will be heading to the three day meet at the House of Champions at IUPUI this weekend. After exciting wins from Nikki Peck, Amy Smith, and Kelsey Ferguson this past weekend, the Panthers will look to them to keep the momentum going heading into the House of Champions. Kaylee Morris has been dominating the sprint events for the Panthers and should be bringing in points this weekend.
University of Nebraska – Omaha (UNO)
After the Mav’s loss to the Jacks last weekend, UNO will head to Topeka, Kansas for the Kansas Invitational. Morgan Stepp and Natalie Renshaw have been leading the team and are expected to continue the trend heading into the weekend. Stepp posted season best times last weekend in the 1,650 free and the 200 IM, while also taking a victory in the 500 free. Renshaw took home victories in the 200 free and 50 free.
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
This weekend the Jags are hosting the House of Champions meet. The Jags did not compete last week in preparation for this meet. Jon Stoller’s 1:57.17 in the 200 IM at the last meet is a promising sign for the Jags. He will be one to watch at this meet. The Jags will also look for sophomore Lennart Kuester to step up in freestyle events. Seniors Margaret Barber, Jennifer Oleksiak, and sophomore Alexis Bullard have been strong swimmers on the women’s side.
Western Illinois University (WIU)
Western Illinois is also heading to the House of Champions this weekend. Chris Neaveill currently sits 3rd in the league in the 100 fly. WIU will look for him for points in both fly events and possibly in the 100 backstroke. Matt Abercrombie’s best time of 9:56.61 in the 1000 freestyle will be an exciting swim will be exciting race to watch this weekend.
Schedule
November 22: South Dakota State vs St. John’s (Collegeville, Minn.)
IUPUI, EIU, WIU at House of Champions (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Omaha at Kansas Classic (Lawrence, Kan.)
November 23: IUPUI, EIU, WIU at House of Champions (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Omaha at Kansas Classic (Lawrence, Kan.)
Summit League Swimmers of the Week
This week USD swept the awards for swimmer of the week. Sam Schutt wins her fifth career and second-straight swimmer of the week award. Schutt currently holds the league best time in the 500 free at 5:01.55. Sophomore Jacob Knowles wins his second career swimmer of the week award. At the Border Battle, Knowles won the 200 breast in a time of 2:13.19 and took second the 100 breast with a time of 1:00.47.
Katya Vakshteyn is a freshman middle-distance freestyler at South Dakota State University. Prior to college, she spent 10 years training with the Kansas City Blazers and was a high school state runner-up in the 200 free in Kansas.