Huskers Host Alumni Meet on Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

The <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska swimming and diving team is preparing for the Minnesota Invitational from Nov. 17-19 but it will first take a break from regular season action by hosting the sixth annual Alumni Meet at the Devaney Natatorium this Saturday, Nov. 4 at 8:30 a.m.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Head coach Pablo Morales and assistant coach Doug Humphrey, a former NU swimmer from 1992-1995, organized this event in 2001 and the response has been impressive from Husker alums.

 

Last year, 15 former men’s and swimmers came back to Lincoln, including nine All-Americans and 10 conference champions. Twelve returned in 2004 for a meet that has seen swimmers from as far back as 1947-48 (former men’s swimmer Bucky Greenberg).

 

Senior Lauren Bailey has led the Huskers to its even 2-2 record this season with a team-high eight wins. Bailey earned her first Big 12 Swimmer of the Week honor of her career on Oct. 22, and currently leads the conference in the 1,650 freestyle with an NCAA-provisional qualifying time of 16:48.46 that came against Texas on Oct. 14. She is also second in the 1,000 freestyle (10:10.15).                 

 

Humphrey is among those scheduled to compete on Saturday. A native of Omaha, Neb., Humphrey was a two-time Big Eight champion.

 

The Alumni Meet was created in an effort to connect the rich past of the Husker swimming and diving program with the present.

 

The Huskers will have a week off following this weekend before traveling to Minneapolis for the Minnesota Invitational Nov. 17-19. The MinnesotaAquaticCenter is also the site of the 2007 NCAA Championships.

 

Last Year: Nebraska Alumni Return to Face Huskers

Lincoln - The Nebraska swimming and diving program mixed the past with the present on Oct. 8, 2005 at the Devaney Natatorium by returning former Husker swimmers for the fifth annual Alumni Meet.

 

Former All-American Allen Kelsey led the talented Alumni squad to a 114-66 victory with his individual victories in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, events where he sits second on the Nebraska all-time charts.

 

Four other former Husker men’s All-Americans and conference champions also won events including Mike Irvin (100-yard fly), Sean Frampton (100-yard breast), Ryan Bell (50-yard fly) and Seddon Keyter (25-yard free). There were a total seven former men’s All-Americans and conference champions competing.

 

Bailey Ingles enjoyed the most success among the current Husker squad with her first-place finish in the 50-yard backstroke, followed by five teammates, while Lauren Bailey registered a runner-up finish in the 100-yard IM.

 

Two former women’s All-Americans returned in Carole Novinksi (Johnson) and Melanie Wirtner.

 

Review: Wheeler, Bailey Lead NU Over Lady Backs

Lincoln - Seniors Kate Wheeler and Lauren Bailey dominated the field as they combined for five wins to lead Nebraska to a 168-132 win over Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Devaney Natatorium.

 

The win moved Nebraska to 2-2 on the season and was the second in a row against the Lady Backs after a 181-115 victory in Fayetteville last October. With last Saturday’s meet, Wheeler and Bailey won 10 races in the two meets between NU and UA.

 

Bailey’s second and final win of the day clinched the victory for Nebraska as she cruised to a first-place finish in the 400-yard individual medley (4:28.11) in the second to last event. The Big 12 Swimmer of the Week for Oct. 22, Bailey also won the 200 free (1:52.92) and now has eight wins in 2006-07.

 

Wheeler had three of Nebraska’s eight event wins, including a season-best best time in the 100 free of 52.46. The Issaquah, Wash., native also won the 500 free (5:02.32) and 1,000 free (10:17.20).

 

While the veterans led the meet, a pair of newcomers also shined as freshmen Hailey Dean and Kaitlin Arntz each earned their first-career wins. Dean took the 100 breaststroke in a season-best time of 1:06.57 and Arntz won the 200 breaststroke in 2:22.25. Through four dual meets this season, three of the Huskers’ seven freshmen have already won their first races at the collegiate level (Mariah Hutchinson won the 100 fly at MissouriState).