Ohio State Buckeyes Earn Fourth-Consecutive Women’s Big Ten Title

2023 WOMEN’S BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

  1. Ohio State – 1425
  2. Indiana – 1291
  3. Michigan – 1108
  4. Wisconsin – 954
  5. Minnesota – 768.5
  6. Northwestern – 710
  7. Purdue – 492.5
  8. Penn State – 475
  9. Rutgers – 467.5
  10. Nebraska – 437
  11. Illinois – 215
  12. Iowa – 198

The Ohio State Buckeyes pulled away from Indiana on the final day of the 2023 Women’s Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships, winning the meet by over 100 points. The victory marks Ohio State’s fourth-straight women’s Big Ten title, which brings them within one title their program record for most consecutive Big Ten titles. The Michigan Wolverines hold the all-time record for consecutive Big Ten Women’s team titles, having strung off 12 straight conference victories from 1987 to 1998.

Ohio State used the same formula that’s been working for them for four years now to win this title. The Buckeyes simply have the best depth on their swimming roster in the conference. They only had one swimmer on the scoring roster who didn’t score points this year, which indicates they did a phenomenal job when it came to choosing who to swim exhibition and who to put on the scoring team. On top of that, Ohio State’s lowest scoring athlete, aside from the one swimmer who didn’t score any points, still provided 31 points to the team’s cause. A whopping 15 Buckeyes contributed 50+ points to the team score, the most of any team.

Here is the summary of Ohio State’s scoring athletes:

Junior Katherine Zenick led the way for the Buckeyes, scoring 91 points. Zenick won the 50 free and 100 fly, then came in third in the 100 free last night.

Here is a list of the Ohio State event winners:

  • 50 Free: Katherine Zenick – 21.85
  • 100 Free: Amy Fulmer – 47.02
  • 100 Fly: Katherine Zenick – 51.48
  • 100 Back: Nyah Funderburke – 51.52
  • 100 Breast: Hannah Bach – 58.19
  • 200 IM: Josie Panitz – 1:54.96
  • 400 IM: Felicia Pasadyn – 4:03.62
  • 200 Free Relay: Zenick, Funderburke, Ivan, Fulmer – 1:26.70
  • 400 Free Relay: Zenick, Russo, Ivan, Fulmer – 3:10.12
  • 200 Medley Relay: Funderburke, Bach, Zenick, Ivan – 1:33.95
  • 400 Medley Relay: Funderburke, Bach, Zenick, Fulmer – 3:26.68

Ohio State was also the highest-scoring relay team at these championships, winning four relays and coming in fourth in the 800 free relay.

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Joe
1 year ago

Does anyone know why Pasadyn didn’t swim the 500 or 2IM on day 2?

Just realized she doubled up the 2Fly w the 2bk. A little surprising when she is also qually strong in the 500 or the 2IM.

I wonder what she will swm at NCAAs

Last edited 1 year ago by Joe
Jim C
1 year ago

Definitely a great observation. Truly a tribute to the culture within, I agree. On paper, I think the new staff inherited a tremendous group of talented athletes, so much ado should be made of this current group of coaches a couple years down the road – staying power will depend whether or not they can capitalize on the current successes with their recruiting efforts. In other words, this new group is somewhat protected, and if they can use their experience to bring in a couple good classes, I can definitely see the success continuing. I do believe Indiana will be stronger next year than this year, but Ohio State (to me) has the pieces to withstand the push for another… Read more »

B1G!!!!
1 year ago

When Ohio State got a brand new staff the dialogue was grim. Everyone’s going to transfer the team will fall apart! Well… 0 transfers, 0 coaching based retirements and stronger than ever. Ignacio, Brian, and Trace had big shoes to fill and that they did. Gotta give credit to the team culture for being able to take on a massive transition. Culture wins meets. Buckeye love runs the show. Congrats ladies!

swim observer
Reply to  B1G!!!!
1 year ago

Great observation

Ball State Swim Guy
Reply to  B1G!!!!
1 year ago

Don’t forget Graham as well. Does more than any other volunteer assistant, excellent coach.

FTB
Reply to  B1G!!!!
1 year ago

Recruiting is KING! Sounds like the previous staff did their job, and did it well! Recruited, developed, coached kids up and were in line with the culture! The buckeyes were set up for success! What will next year bring with hot IU, MI, WI teams? Time will tell

Go the Distance
Reply to  FTB
1 year ago

Don’t know who you are related to on the previous staff, but the kids love the new coaches and are fully invested. Would not be surprised if OSU Women achieve their best ever NCAA finish in 2023.

LIGMA
Reply to  FTB
1 year ago

Lol right so the only a previous staff is responsible for the current success? FYI out of the teams you listed only IU increased their point total from last year. V “hot”.

Jim C
Reply to  B1G!!!!
1 year ago

Definitely a great observation. Truly a tribute to the culture within, I agree. On paper, I think the new staff inherited a tremendous group of talented athletes, so much ado should be made of this current group of coaches a couple years down the road—staying power will depend whether or not they can capitalize on the current successes with their recruiting efforts. In other words, this new group is somewhat protected, and if they can use their experience to bring in a couple good classes, I can definitely see the success continuing. I do believe Indiana will be stronger next year than this year, but Ohio State (to me) has the pieces to withstand the push for another year. After… Read more »

Go the Distance
1 year ago

Combined with the OSU point scorers is great senior leadership from Meredith Moellering, Sarah Turchanik and Leah Baker. Big contributors to team success.

GoBucks
Reply to  Go the Distance
1 year ago

I think you’re forgetting Amy Fulmer, Hannah Bach and Josie Panitz – seniors, all top scorers, mentors to younger classmen and actually contributed to the team success.

Feeling blue…
1 year ago

Michigan out coached yet another season. When Michigan only has one breaststroker yet half of the team are backstrokers and not one is able to make the final heat. Those are all coaching issues. These coaching issues impact half of the stroke events and all medley relays. Maybe walking into a pool with the updated pool records will be a good coaching reminder to focus on the health of the athletes (physical and mental) or maybe it’s time to throw in the towel for The Team. Seriously year over year the top scorers for Michigan are underclassmen – what is happening to these same athletes as they continue to train with the program and become upperclassmen (if they even choose… Read more »

Andrew
Reply to  Feeling blue…
1 year ago

i agree with this statement, but the Michigan women did outperform my expectations slightly.

that being said, my expectations were quite low for Mich Women and them finishing 3rd is more of a testament to Wisconsin having a bad meet than Michigan having a good meet

Anonymous Aquaticus
Reply to  Feeling blue…
1 year ago

Does that mean Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Penn State, Rutgers, Nebraska, Illinois, and Iowa were out-coached too?

John Paul
Reply to  Anonymous Aquaticus
1 year ago

No it means that Mike Bottom’s career and his inability to deal with the mental health of his athletes has run its course and he needs to go.

And it needs to happen now before somebody else gets hurt.

B1G!!!!
Reply to  John Paul
1 year ago

does anyone know what happened to the michigan swimmer during the mile? she stopped at the 1100 and then continued but was rushed into the locker room after.

Meeeee
Reply to  John Paul
1 year ago

So what are you accusing him of? I think I know and it goes too far.

swimapologist
Reply to  Meeeee
1 year ago

Meeee thinks someone went “too far”?

Damn are we getting punked?

Former Big10
Reply to  Anonymous Aquaticus
1 year ago

Does Iowa have a coach?

This guy trolls every michigan article I swear.
Reply to  Feeling blue…
1 year ago

Smurf

cynthia curran
Reply to  Feeling blue…
1 year ago

I think Michigan did well with Katie Crom that won the 200 fly and got 3rd in both the 200 yard freestyle and 500 yard freestyle the best swim for Crom since she upset his swimmers at Mission Viejo two years ago.