2021 BIG TEN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
- When: Tuesday, February 23rd to Saturday, February 27th | Prelims 11am | Finals 6:30pm (5pm Tuesday) CT
- Where: Minneapolis, MN (Central Time Zone) / Diving @ Purdue University
- Defending Champion: Ohio State (1x) (results)
- Live Results
- Streaming: Big Ten Network
- Championship Central
Even on a day that didn’t project to be one of Ohio State’s best, the Buckeyes were relentless during the third finals session last night. Every time a Buckeye dives in, we see a swimmer on a mission.
As OSU and Michigan distanced themselves from the rest of the pack, Indiana is trying to stamp out Northwestern, while Wisconsin is firmly in fifth (despite star Phoebe Bacon having no individual events yesterday).
Today, we’ll see prelims of the 100 back, 100 breast and 200 fly. The 100 breast is an event where the Big Ten is nationally very impressive, and there will likely be at least three women under 59 at some point today.
TEAM SCORES (through 3 mtr diving)
- Ohio State 771
- Michigan of 650
- Indiana 530
- Northwestern 424.5
- Wisconsin 327
- Minnesota 289
- Nebraska 276
- Iowa 246.5
- Pennsylvania State University 189
- Purdue University 185
- Michigan State University 127
- Illinois 109
- Rutgers University 30
100 BACK – PRELIMS
- Big Ten meet record – 49.18, Beata Nelson (Wisconsin) – 2019
- Big Ten record – 49.85, Beata Nelson (Wisconsin) – 2020
- 2020 NCAA invite time – 52.73
- Defending champion: Beata Nelson (Wisconsin), 49.85
Top 8
- Phoebe Bacon (Wisconsin) – 52.22
- Emily Crane (Ohio State) – 52.61
- Mara Newman (Wisconsin) – 52.90
- Miriam Guevara (Northwestern) – 53.10
- Mariella Venter (Michigan) – 53.23
- Emma Lepisova (Northwestern) – 53.30
- Marie Schobel (Penn State) – 53.46
- Emily Cook (Minnesota) – 53.52
In the final heat, Wisconsin freshman Phoebe Bacon cruised to the top time, posting a 52.22. She held off OSU junior Emily Crane (52.61) down the final 15 yards. Michigan sophomore Mariella Venter touched in third in that het, going 53.23 to earn a spot in the A-final.
In heat six, Wisconsin junior Mara Newman picked up the first sub-53 of the morning, dropping a 52.90 ahead of Northwestern sophomore Emma Lepisova (53.30). That’s Newman’s best time, and her first best time since 2019.
Out of heat two, Northwestern junior Miriam Guevara posted a lifetime best 53.10, taking .10 off of her old best. That time would hold up for fourth overall this morning, giving NU two A-finalists alongside Wisconsin’s two. The Badgers will have an opportunity to go 1-2 tonight with Bacon and Newman.
100 BREAST – PRELIMS
- Big Ten meet record – 55.88, Lilly King (Indiana) – 2019
- Big Ten record – 55.88, Lilly King (Indiana) – 2019
- 2020 NCAA invite time – 59.98
- Defending champion: Miranda Tucker (Michigan), 58.15
Top 8
- Hannah Bach (Ohio State) – 58.40
- Hannah Brunzell (Northwestern) – 59.44
- Sophie Angus (Northwestern) – 59.45
- Emily Weiss (Indiana) – 59.61
- Noelle Peplowski (Indiana) – 59.93
- Erin Szara (Michigan State) – 1:00.30
- Hannah Gresser (Ohio State) – 1:00.47
- Leah Baker (Ohio State) – 1:00.60
In heat four, Hannah Bach of Ohio State sliced three-tenths off of her old best, clocking a big 58.40, as Indiana sophomore Emily Weiss was 59.61 for second. Bach’s time would stand through the final two heats, and she’s a full second better than anyone else going into the A-final.
In the next heat, Northwestern sophomore Hannah Brunzell lunged for the win at 59.44, edging out Michigan State senior Erin Szara (1:00.30). Szara was 16th in this event last year, and she ties her own MSU record with her swim this morning.
Northwestern senior Sophie Angus took the final heat, going 59.45, just ahead of Indiana junior Noelle Peplowski (59.93).
The Buckeyes got two more in at seventh and eighth, with senior Hanna Gresser (1:00.47) and sophomore Leah Baker (1:00.60), respectively. That’s Baker’s first time under 1:01.
200 FLY – PRELIMS
- Big Ten meet record – 1:53.28, Olivia Carter (Michigan)
- Big Ten record – 1:53.28, Olivia Carter (Michigan)
- 2020 NCAA invite time – 1:56.06
- Defending champion: Olivia Carter (Michigan), 1:53.28
Top 8
- Olivia Carter (Michigan) – 1:53.61
- Miriam Guevara (Northwestern) – 1:56.12
- Sophie Housey (Michigan) – 1:57.41
- Victoria Kwan (Michigan) – 1:57.55
- Alex Reddington (Wisconsin) – 1:57.88
- Alyssa Graves (Iowa) – 1:58.49
- Katherine Trace (Ohio State) – 1:58.76
- Megan Glass (Michigan) – 1:58.82
In heat five, Wisconsin senior Alex Reddington surged over the back-half, dropping a 1:57.88 for the top time by almost a second after that heat.
Michigan junior Olivia Carter dusted the penultimate heat, posting a 1:53.61 to scare her own conference and meet record.
The last season saw Northwestern junior Miriam Guevara take the win at 1:56.12, her second swim of the session after the 100 back. She finished ahead of Michigan freshman Sophie Housey (1:57.41), who turned in a lifetime best.
Michigan had a whopping four swimmers into the A-final, with junior Victoria Kwan (1:57.55) and sophomore Megan Glass (1:58.82) joining Carter and Housey.
Iowa freshman Alyssa Graves broke two minutes for the first time ever, going 1:58.49 to sail into the A-final.
Brooke Matthias’s goggles broke while the backstroker was swimming and she went to get a new pair and slipped. She did indeed dislocate her shoulder very badly on the fall. She is out the rest of the meet. Very unfortunate
Baker did not even make OSU’s conference team last year and is now seeded 8th for the A-final in the 100 breast. Great swim, Leah!
camera operator is having fun with the zoom between events
Anyone: why did Penn State not finish the 400 Medley Relay? Backstroke time listed and then the relay did not finish.
Third swimmer slipped and got injured just as the race was starting. I heard it was a potential dislocated shoulder. I have not heard anything else on condition of the swimmer. Fingers crossed she is okay. They looked great and were holding their own in that heat as well.
Thanks for the information.
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Locked & loaded! Hair dyed, face and chest painted ready to go! Good luck to all, especially my IU Hoosiers, lead by my good friend, mentor, spiritual advisor and GOAT Coach, Ray Looze!