Husker Swimmers and Divers Defeat Cyclones

Lincoln?The Nebraska swimming and diving team improved to 7-2 on the season when it defeated Iowa State at the Bob Devaney Sports Center pool on Saturday afternoon by a score of 171.5-126.5 in its final regular-season dual of the 2003-2004 season.

The Huskers, who improved to a 23-4 all-time against the Cyclones, won nine of the 16 events contested before exhibitioning the last two events of the afternoon. NU was led by freshmen Kate Wheeler and Lauren Bailey, who each took home a pair of wins. Wheeler touched the wall first in the 1650-yard free in a time of 17:01.20 before catching another first-place finish in the 500-yard free (5:02.98). Bailey also had strong performances, finishing first in both the 200-yard free (1:51.09) and the 200-yard back (2:05.99).

Head Coach Pablo Morales was pleased with the team’s performance.

"Last year, we traveled to Ames and struggled when they swam lights out," Morales said, "The meet went better than expected. We expected a dogfight and thought it might come down to the relay at the end, but we responded to the challenge and kept up our momentum."

The Huskers also scored solid points from the diving well. Sophomore Amie Buoy won the three-meter springboard contest with a score of 471.88. Junior Laura Lunn also scored points in the diving well for the Huskers, taking second-place in both the one- and three-meter springboard contests with scores of 453.07 on the three-meter springboard and 253.80 on the one-meter springboard.

Senior Angie Matheu also had impressive swims on Senior Day, as she finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:05.28 before grabbing a third-place finish in the 200-yard breast (2:25.66).

Other first-place finishes for the Huskers included freshmen Bailey Ingles (200-yard fly, 2:06.22) and Mallory Keathley (100-yard fly, 57.84).

The Huskers return to action on Feb. 25 when the team travels to Austin, Texas to compete in the Big 12 Championship.