2023 Women’s Big Ten Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2023 WOMEN’S BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, February 15 – Saturday, February 18, 2023
• Canham Natatorium, Ann Arbor, MI
• Defending Champions:
  • Women: Ohio State (3x)
• Live Results
• Live Video
• Championship Central
• Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Live Recap
• Fan Guide

Ohio State surged into the lead on Thursday night during a dominant performance in the 50 freestyle, but Indiana and Michigan remain right on the Buckeyes’ heels heading into third finals session of the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships.

There are seven events on Friday’s finals schedule — the 100 butterfly, 400 IM, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, 3-meter diving, and 200 free relay — so that means even more opportunities for scoring in this three-way race for the crown.

During prelims this morning, the Ohio State duo of Katherine Zenick (51.44) and Morgan Kraus (51.75) kicked things off by taking the top two seeds in the 100 fly.

Felicia Pasadyn, a fifth year who transferred to Ohio State from Harvard, led the 400 IM prelims this morning with a 4:09.02, dipping under 4:10 for the first time this season.

The 200 free is shaping up to be a rematch of last year’s race with Indiana’s Anna Peplowski (1:44.49) and Ohio State’s Amy Fulmer (1:44.59) once again vying for the top spot on the podium.

In the 100 breast, Ohio State’s Hannah Bach is in prime position to defend her title as the top seed (58.32), but she’ll have to hold off teammate Josie Panitz (58.67), who won the 200 IM last night.

After not making the Big Tens team for Ohio State last year, Nyah Funderburke now finds herself as the top seed for tonight’s 100 back final (51.44), ahead of defending champion Phoebe Bacon (51.58). Stay tuned for live updates below:

TEAM SCORES AFTER DAY 2

1. Ohio State – 441
2. Indiana – 429.5
3. Michigan – 423.5
4. Wisconsin – 347
5. Minnesota – 297
6. Northwestern – 244
7. Penn State – 200
8. Rutgers – 188
9. Nebraska – 164
10. Purdue – 151
11. Iowa – 107
12. Illinois – 106

100 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• Meet Record – 49.42, Maggie MacNeil (2020)
• Pool Record – 49.57, Maggie MacNeil (2019)
• 2022 Champion – Maggie MacNeil (Michigan), 49.74
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 50.92
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time – 52.35

Top 8:

1. Katherine Zenick (Ohio State) – 51.48
2. Morgan Kraus (Ohio State) – 51.58
3. Miriam Guevara (Northwestern) – 51.59
4. Mallory Jump (Wisconsin) – 52.15
5. Tristan Harrison (Ohio State) – 52.34
6. Brady Kendall (Michigan) – 52.46
7. Natalie Kan (Michigan) – 53.20
8. Aislinn Walsh (Ohio State) – 53.21

Ohio State junior Katherine Zenick kept her momentum going after yesterday’s 50 free win with another victory in the 100 fly (51.48). She was .04 seconds slower than her top-seeded time from prelims, but it was still a tenth clear of senior teammate Morgan Kraus (51.58), who edged Northwestern senior Miriam Guevara by .01 seconds for second place in a new lifetime best.

Zenick got out to quick start, reaching the midway point first in 23.68, before Kraus caught up down the stretch with a 27.19 split on her final 50.

“I was out a little bit faster than I wanted to be, and I definitely felt it on the back end,” Zenick said. “But I’m glad I put myself out there because I told my coach that I’d rather be fast and feel it on the back end than be out too slow.

“An avalanche starts with a snowflake,” Zenick added. “And yesterday, Josie Panitz winning the 200 IM just set our team in motion. Tonight, I wanted to keep the momentum going and I’m glad I did.”

Michigan freshman Brady Kendall couldn’t quite improve upon her personal-best 52.28 from prelims, but her sixth-place finish was still impressive for a rookie. Wolverine teammate Natalie Kan placed seventh (53.20) behind Kendall. Ohio State ended up with a 1-2-5-8 finish in the event thanks to Zenick, Kraus, Tristan Harrison (52.34), and Aislinn Walsh (53.21).

🥇CHAMP‼️

Katherine Zenick takes first in the 100 Fly! #GoBucks | #B1GWSD pic.twitter.com/7cITVYWw1z

— Ohio State Swim/Dive (@OhioStSwimDive) February 17, 2023

400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• Meet Record – 4:01.41, Allysa Vavra (2012)
• Pool Record – 4:03.64, Lindsey Clary (2016)
• 2022 Champion – Megan Van Berkom (Minnesota), 4:03.45
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 4:03.62
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time – 4:11.60

Top 8:

1. Felicia Pasadyn (Ohio State) – 4:03.62 *Pool Record
2. Megan Van Berkom (Minnesota) – 4:04.86
3. Kyra Sommerstad (Ohio State) – 4:10.34
4. Jessica Eden (Ohio State) – 4:10.85
5. Mariah Denigan (Indiana) – 4:11.25
6. Callahan Dunn (Wisconsin) – 4:11.46
7. Kathryn Ackerman (Michigan) – 4:11.55
8. Mac Looze (Indiana) – 4:11.78

Ohio State grad transfer Felicia Pasadyn posted a huge time drop to win the 400 IM title easily with a new Michigan pool record of 4:03.62. That time just barely snuck under the previous pool record of 4:03.64 belonging to former Buckeye standout Lindsey Clary from 2016.

Pasadyn dropped nearly five seconds, improving upon her previous-best 4:08.25 from last year’s NCAA Championships. Her new lifetime best would have placed fifth at last year’s NCAAs.

Megan Van Berkom‘s runner-up finish in 4:04.86 represented the best showing from a Minnesota swimmer so far this meet. Van Berkom also took third place in Thursday’s 200 IM. She was dead even with Pasadyn with 100 yards to go before Pasadyn pulled away with a blazing 27.90 split on the final 50.

The Buckeyes again displayed their depth with junior Kyra Sommerstad (4:10.34) and freshman Jessica Eden (4:10.85) going 4-5 behind Van Berkom. Eden shaved more than four seconds off her lifetime best during prelims with a 4:09.77, qualifying second behind Pasadyn, but she couldn’t quite replicate the feat in the finals.

Felicia Pasadyn wins the 400 individual medley; Ohio State's second win of the evening and sixth of these championships. pic.twitter.com/mO8O0vgVcX

— Ohio State Swim/Dive (@OhioStSwimDive) February 17, 2023

200 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• Meet Record – 1:41.57, Siobhan Haughey (2019)
• Pool Record – 1:43.51, Siobhan Haughey (2016)
• 2022 Champion – Amy Fulmer (Ohio State), 1:43.73
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:42.84
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time – 1:45.42

Top 8:

1. Anna Peplowski (Indiana) – 1:43.33
2. Amy Fulmer (Ohio State) – 1:43.45
3. Katie Crom (Michigan) – 1:44.11
4. Abby Carlson (Wisconsin) – 1:44.29
5. Ashley Strouse (Northwestern) – 1:45.72
6. Blair Stoneburg (Wisconsin) – 1:45.92
7. Catherine Meisner (Penn State) – 1:45.96
8. Shannon Stott (Nebraska) – 1:46.54

Indiana sophomore Anna Peplowski avenged her close loss to Ohio State senior Amy Fulmer from last year with this victory in a personal-best time of 1:43.33. The showdown lived up to the hype as the two were neck and neck the whole way, separated by just .12 seconds at the finish. Fulmer also set a new lifetime best by .01 seconds.

Michigan freshman Katie Crom also clocked a new personal best, dropping .78 seconds off her previous best from last November. Wisconsin sophomore Abby Carlson, last night’s 500 free champion, claimed fourth place with new lifetime best of 1:44.29, lowering her previous mark of 1:44.65 from prelims this morning.

WHAT A RACE‼️@Anna_Peplowski is the #B1GSD Champion! pic.twitter.com/DWd6jikI8P

— Indiana Swim & Dive (@IndianaSwimDive) February 17, 2023

100 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• Meet Record – 55.88, Lilly King (2019)
• Pool Record – 57.35, Lilly King (2016)
• 2022 Champion – Hannah Bach (Ohio State), 57.61
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 58.10
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time – 59.87

Top 8:

1. Hannah Bach (Ohio State) – 58.19
2. Josie Panitz (Ohio State) – 58.29
3. Letitia Sim (Michigan) – 58.71
4. Noelle Peplowski (Indiana) – 59.10
5. Hannah Brunzell (Northwestern) – 59.76
6. Hazal Ozkan (Wisconsin) – 59.97
7. Jojo Randby (Nebraska) – 1:00.07
8. Elizabeth Moore (Wisconsin) – 1:00.62

Ohio State senior Hannah Bach just barely beat out classmate Josie Panitz for the 100 breast title as the duo achieved a season-long goal with their 1-2 finish.

“All year we’ve been talking about going 1-2 in this race,” said Bach, the Buckeyes’ third individual champion of the evening so far. “I knew if she was right there with me and I was right there with her, that we’d would do it. It was either her or me, and I was going to be happy either way.”

Panitz, Thursday’s 200 IM winner, was .11 seconds slower than Bach reacting off the blocks, which proved to be the difference in the race.

Michigan sophomore Letitia Sim rounded out the podium with a third-place finish in 58.71, slightly off her personal-best 58.34 from last year’s NCAAs. Indiana fifth year Noelle Peplowski (59.10), Northwestern senior Hannah Brunzell (59.76), and Wisconsin freshman Hazal Ozkan (59.97) were the other swimmers in the field who broke the one-minute barrier.

Hannah Bach wins the 100 breaststroke for a third consecutive year with a time of 58.19 with Josie Panitz right with her in second place in 58.29. pic.twitter.com/jpEpuH4WI3

— Ohio State Swim/Dive (@OhioStSwimDive) February 17, 2023

100 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• Meet Record – 49.70, Beata Nelson (2020)
• Pool Record – 51.10, Maggie MacNeil (2020)
• 2022 Champion – Phoebe Bacon (Wisconsin), 51.58
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 50.89
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time – 52.46

Top 8:

1. Nyah Funderburke (Ohio State) – 51.52
2. Anna Peplowski (Indiana) – 51.72
3. Phoebe Bacon (Wisconsin) – 51.96
4. Morgan Kraus (Ohio State) – 52.31
5. Miriam Guevara (Northwestern) – 52.34
6. Mack McConagha (Wisconsin) – 52.45
7. River Rodriguez (Minnesota) – 52.89
8. Tristan Harrison (Ohio State) – 52.94

Ohio State sophomore Nyah Funderburke went from being left off the Buckeyes’ Big Ten Championships roster last year to topping the podium this year. Funderburke had to hold off 200 free champion Anna Peplowski of Indiana (51.72) as well as defending 100 back champion Phoebe Bacon of Wisconsin (51.96) to secure Ohio State’s fourth win of the day and eighth of the meet.

“I really just wanted to focus on my underwaters this race,” Funderburke said. “I know that’s my specialty and I know these other girls are great at it, too. It’s such an unreal experience, the energy, the environment. Gotta bring your A game, and that’s what I did. I’m just so excited, it still feels unreal to me.”

Funderburke was .08 seconds slower than her lifetime best from prelims this morning, but it was still enough to edge Peplowski and Bacon, the only other swimmers sub-52 in the final. Like Peplowski, Kraus, Guevara, and Harrison were also swimming this event on the back end of a double.

Sophomore Nyah Funderburke secures the 8th win of these championships for the Buckeyes: the 100 backstroke in a time of 51.52. pic.twitter.com/P9iAGTyzXo

— Ohio State Swim/Dive (@OhioStSwimDive) February 17, 2023

3-METER DIVING – FINALS

• Meet Record — 436.70, Sarah Bacon (2022)
• 2022 Champion — Sarah Bacon (Minnesota), 436.70

Top 8:

1. Anne Fowler (Indiana) – 385.55
2. Lena Hentschel (Ohio State) – 373.05
3. Skyler Liu (Indiana) – 356.10
4. Joy Zhu (Minnesota) – 349.35
5. Sophia McAfee (Purdue) – 347.30
6. Jen Sonnenberg (Purdue) – 339.70
7. Daphne Wils (Penn State) – 330.90
8. Vivi Del Angel (Minnesota) – 303.00

Indiana sophomore Anne Fowler outscored Ohio State freshman Lena Hentschel by 12.5 points to clinch her second Big Ten title of the week following her 1-meter win on Thursday. Fowler placed fifth in this event last year as a freshman.

Indiana took two spots on the podium here thanks to freshman Skyler Liu, who edged Minnesota senior Joy Zhu by less than seven points.

🥇 BIG TEN CHAMPION 🥇

A day after winning on 1m, Anne Fowler gets her second-career #B1GSD 3m title! pic.twitter.com/mdjWZj1PBK

— Indiana Swim & Dive (@IndianaSwimDive) February 18, 2023

200 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINALS

• Meet Record — 1:26.74, Michigan (2022)
• Pool Record — 1:28.29, Ohio State (2016)
• 2022 Champion — Michigan, 1:26.74
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut — 1:28.43

Top 8:

1. Ohio State – 1:26.70 *Meet Record, Pool Record
2. Indiana – 1:27.70
3. Michigan – 1:27.91
4. Penn State – 1:29.50
5. Minnesota – 1:29.50
6. Northwestern – 1:29.86
7. Wisconsin – 1:30.52
8. Purdue – 1:30.74

It was a fitting end to Ohio State’s big night as the Buckeyes capped the session with a 1:26.70, breaking both the meet and pool records in the process. The previous Big Ten Championships meet record was set by Michigan last year at 1:26.74.

50 free individual champion Katherine Zenick led off the winning relay with a 22.08 split, sophomore Nyah Funderburke followed with a 21.86 split, sophomore Teresa Ivan came next with a 21.69, and senior Amy Fulmer anchored with a 21.07 — the fastest split in the field by a few tenths of a second.

Indiana (1:27.70) and Michigan (1:27.91) were also under the previous pool record from 2016, a 1:28.29 belonging to Ohio State.

Ohio State sets an Ohio State, Canham Natatorium and Big Ten championship record with its win in the 200 free relay in 1:26.70. pic.twitter.com/TjFnnd3ekO

— Ohio State Swim/Dive (@OhioStSwimDive) February 18, 2023

TEAM SCORES AFTER DAY 3

1. Ohio State – 934
2. Indiana – 848.5
3. Michigan – 773
4. Wisconsin – 649
5. Minnesota – 529.5
6. Northwestern – 464.5
7. Penn State – 375
8. Rutgers – 318.5
9. Purdue – 311
10. Nebraska – 299
11. Iowa – 163
12. Illinois – 155

The gap between first and third place was less than 20 points before the session, but now Ohio State has distanced itself from the pack on Day 3 thanks to five victories in seven events tonight. Meanwhile, Indiana picked up the other two wins, pulling away from Michigan in the battle for second place.