Huskers Split Up to Texas, South Dakota

The <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska swimming and diving team gets back into action following Thanksgiving break as the Husker divers will travel to the Texas Invitational and the swimmers head to Brookings, S.D. to take on the South Dakota State Jackrabbits this week.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The divers will open the Texas Invite on Thursday at 2:30 p.m., when they compete on the three-meter board. The one-meter competition is Friday at 12:30 p.m., before they close out the three-day meet on the platform Saturday at 10:45 a.m. The Husker swimmers’ dual with SDSU will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

 

Nebraska is 2-2 this season and recently had a solid fifth-place team finish at the Minnesota Invitational Nov. 17-19. However, this will mark the first meet this year in which the swimmers and divers are not competing together.

 

The NU diving team was set to compete at the Texas Invitational last season but was then forced to cancel its trip due to numerous injuries. In 2004-05, the Huskers (swimming and diving) placed seventh as a team at the Texas Invite with 214 points.

 

South Dakota State is 1-3 in dual meets this season and finished 11th out of 12 teams at the Minnesota Invitational in which the Huskers competed. The Jackrabbits’ lone win came against Northern Iowa, 163-124, on Nov. 11. In the same meet, SDSU lost to Northern Colorado (197.50-101.50). The Jackrabbits’ first two losses of the season came to Big 12 opponents, Kansas (227-71) and IowaState (190-95).

 

The Huskers hold a 2-0 all-time advantage over SDSU, including an 87-23 win last November at the Devaney Natatorium. In that meet, Lauren Bailey won two events ? the 500 and 1,000 freestyle.

 

Nebraska will have its longest break of the season after this week’s action as it will not have another meet until Saturday, Jan. 13 when it hosts its first Big 12 meet against Kansas.

 

Nebraska, SDSU Face Similar Competition

Of South DakotaState’s four opponents on the 2006-07 season, the Huskers will face three after Christmas break, starting with Kansas on Jan. 13. Nebraska will then take on Northern Iowa in Cedar Rapids on Jan. 19 and IowaState in Ames on Jan. 20.

 

Last Year: Nebraska Defeats SDSU in Double Dual, 87-23

The Nebraska swimming and diving team won eight of 13 events behind two wins each from Lauren Bailey and Amie Buoy as it defeated both MissouriState and South DakotaState at the Devaney Natatorium on Nov. 5, 2005.

 

Buoy’s wins on the one- (251.17) and three-meter (287.70) were her seventh and eighth straight victories of the year as the Huskers moved to 5-0 in dual competitions by outscoring the Bears 74-26 and the Jackrabbits 87-23.

 

Bailey swam both her victories in season-best times with a 9:59.98 in the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:59.98) and a 4:57.36 in the 500-yard freestyle to pace the Huskers in the pool.

 

Nebraska also saw success from a pair of Illinois natives as Lynn Siemert (24.49) edged out Kate Dulgar in the 50-yard freestyle and Christina Yemm won the 100-yard butterfly in a career-best 58.67.

 

Co-captain Kate Wheeler and Esmie Holderman won the remaining individual victories for the Huskers, Wheeler in the 100-yard freestyle (52.66) and Holderman in the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.94). Wheeler also swam a career-best time of 10:04.78 to place second behind Bailey in the 1,000-yard freestyle.

 

The 200-yard medley relay team (Bailey Ingles, Rachel Schlatter, Alex King and Siemert) also took first in a season-best 1:47.89.

 

Huskers Add Class of Eight

Head Coach Pablo Morales and the Nebraska coaching staff have announced that seven swimmers and one diver have signed National Letters-of-Intent to join the Nebraska swimming and diving team in 2007-08.

 

The eight-person class hails from seven different states and includes Jess Andrews (Gillete, Wyo.), Mariesa Cloud (Maple Valley, Wash.), Julie Giehl (Boulder, Colo.), Kelsey Gruschecky (West Newton, Pa.), Blaine Hoppenrath (Kansas City, Mo.), Brandie Kavalec (Loveland, Colo.), Meredith Matthies (Wichita, Kan.) and Rachell McClain (Henderson, Nev.).

 

“We are very excited about this class of signees,” Morales said. “They are not only outstanding in the pool and classroom, but also outstanding people who will bring a lot to our program. As a class, it is already quite accomplished, but still demonstrates tremendous potential for improvement. It represents a great start to our recruiting efforts this year.”

 

Jess Andrews (Gillette, Wyo./CampbellCounty)

Andrews, one of Wyoming’s best high school swimmers, is a freestyle and butterfly specialist. She was named the Wyoming Class 4A Swimmer of the Year in 2006 and was also voted the Swimmer of the Meet at the 2006 Wyoming State Championships after winning the gold in the 50 free and 100 butterfly. Andrews received High School All-America consideration.

 

Mariesa Cloud (Maple Valley, Wash./Tahoma)

Cloud is a three-time Washington Class 4A state champion. At the 2006 state meet, she scored the second-highest one-meter score in Class 4A history with a total of 451.85. She received High School All-America honors.

 

Julie Giehl (Boulder, Colo./Fairview)

Giehl competed in Colorado’s largest high school class size (5A) and finished third at the 2006 state meet in the 200 free. For her efforts, she earned consideration for High School All-America honors. She is currently third in FairfieldHigh School history in the 200 free.

 

Kelsey Grushecky (West Newton, Pa./Yough)

Grushecky will be the first Pennsylvania native on the Husker roster since Beth Karaica in 1999-2000. A YMCA National Qualifier, Grushecky was the 2005 Pennsylvania Class AA state champion in the 100 butterfly. She was named a High School All-American in the same season.

 

Blaine Hoppenrath (Kansas City, Mo./Liberty)

Hoppenrath is a middle-distance freestyler from just down the road in Kansas City, Mo. At the 2006 Missouri state meet, Hoppenrath placed third in the 500 freestyle. She is a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, while competing for her club team, the Kansas City Blazers. She was named the 2005 Most Inspirational Swimmer of the Year.

 

Brandie Kavalec (Loveland, Colo./Mountain View)

Kavalec is a six-time Colorado Class 4A state medalist in the freestyle and backstroke events. At Mountain ViewHigh School, Kavalec holds every school record except the 50 freestyle. She is a U.S. Open and Junior National Qualifier.

 

Meredith Matthies (Wichita, Kan./Kapaun Mount Carmel)

Matthies is a middle freestyle swimmer who recently won the 100 free Kansas state title at KapaunMount CarmelHigh School. The championship helped her to be named a first-team all-state selection. She is also a USA Swimming National Qualifier.

 

Rachel McClain (Henderson, Nev./Coronado)

McClain has earned high honors in backstroke and individual medley events at CoronadoHigh School in Henderson, Nev. She was state runner-up in the 400-IM last year and was named a High School All-American in the 100 backstroke. She is also a Junior National Qualifier.