Wisconsin at Iowa (Men and Women)
Both Wisconsin and Iowa open their Big Ten schedules at Iowa’s gorgeous, two-year old facility this week.
Last season, the two squads split the titles, with the Iowa men winning 162-138, and the Wisconsin women winning in more dominating fashion 216-83.
The men’s meet will be even tighter than last season. Wisconsin will feature the reigning Big Ten swimmer of the week in Australian sophomore Daniel Lester. Last week against UW-Milwaukee, Lester popped an impressive early-season 48.33 in the 100 fly, which is the second best time in the nation this season behind Tom Shields of Cal. Last season, Lester finished 7th in the nation in the 200 fly as a freshman.
Iowa’s most impressive performance thus far this season is a 50.96 100 backstroke from freshman Dustin Rhoads. He will have a great race with Jesse Stipek of Wisconsin. Iowa should have the edge in the medley relay, but Wisconsin should be a little better in the free relays. This is going to be a tight meet, but I like the Badgers.
On the women’s side, Wisconsin is clearly the dominant team. They are led by senior backstroker Maggie Meyer, who was 6th at NCAA’s in the 100 last season, as has already gone a 54.53 “B” cut this season. Iowa’s best swimmer is probably veteran Katarina Tour, who went a 56.64 100 fly in their season-opening meet against Truman St.
Later in the season, a meet like this would be a prime candidate for off-events by Wisconsin, but this early in the year, it will likely be a blowout.
Live results for the meet, which starts Friday, October 15 at 5PM Central Time, are available at http://stats.iowaswimming.com/
Illinois at Toledo, Akron (Women)
The Illinois Fighting Illini travel to Toledo, Ohio to matchup against the Toledo Rockets on Friday at 4 Central Time.
Illinois comes into the meet after winning their first meet of the season big against future Big Ten foe Nebraska by a score of 189.5-110.5. They look to be on an upswing after finishing dead last at the Big Ten Championships last season. They return a lot of great sprinters, including all members of a 400 free relay that swam the 6th fastest time in school history last season (3:24.72). That includes a 52.41 anchor from freshman Courtney Pope, who is a former NCSA Junior National Champion in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relay.
Toledo is swimming their first intersquad meet after their most successful season in school history. They won their first ever MAC Championship last year, and had 17 NCAA B-cut times. Last season, Toledo set 8 school records, and return the MAC Co-Swimmer of the year Jacy Dyer. Last season, Dyer set the school record in every freestyle distance 200 yards or greater, includinga 1:47.6 in the 200 and a 4:44.2 500. She is aiming much higher this season, after finishing 11th in the 800 free at USA-Swimming long course nationals in August. She should expect to not only qualify for NCAA’s this year, she has an outside chance of scoring, especially in the 500. Look for a Toledo win.
Illinois will follow that meet up with a matchup against their second straight MAC opponent Akron on Saturday (Noon CT). Akron has a good, young sprint group returning, led by sophomore Katherine Miles. The freestyle relay could be quite a showdown here.
Iowa State and Minnesota (Women)
The Minnesota women’s team, which is already 2-0 in Big Ten competition after solid wins over Michigan and Michigan State, begin a streak of 5-straight home meets this week against Iowa State. The Gophers finished 12th at NCAA’s last year and look like a sure-fire top-10 team this season. Iowa State is kicking off their season after losing their best swimmer, Nan Liu, to graduation.
The best race here will be the breaststroke with Minnesota featuring the 4th and 10th place finishers in the 100 from last season (Jillian Tyler and Haley Spencer) against Iowa State’s Jeli Nixt, who had a season best of 1:01.64.
This meet will kick off on Saturday at 1 CT, and will also feature the Minnesota men in an intrasquad exhibition, since Iowa State does not have a women’s team.
Other Meets on the Scheduile
Penn State (M&W) travel to West Virginia (Big East)– Saturday, October 16, Noon (Eastern)
