Huskers Return to Devaney to Face Kansas

After a vigorous period of Christmas training, the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska swimming and diving team will get back into regular season action this Saturday when it hosts the Kansas Jayhawks at the Devaney Natatorium at 2 p.m.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Saturday’s contest will mark the first regular season contest for Nebraska (3-2) since Dec. 2 when it defeated South DakotaState, 181-102, in Brookings, S.D. It will also be the first regular season home meet for NU since Oct. 28 in a 168-132 win over Arkansas.

 

The Huskers returned from a Christmas training trip in Florida last week where they competed in the Florida Atlantic Invitational and defeated IllinoisState (202-98), but dropped contests to host Florida Atlantic (187-104) and Pennsylvania (143-119). Kansas is 4-1 after swimming in San Luis Potosi, Mexico over Christmas break. The Jayhawks have earned victories against Nebraska-Omaha, South Dakota State and Northern Iowa, while its lone loss came at No. 24 Missouri.

 

Kansas leads the all-time series with Nebraska, 17-11, but it has seen a back and forth effect in recent years. Last season, the Jayhawks outscored Nebraska in Lawrence, 176-124, giving NU its first only two losses during the 2005-06 season. When the two teams last met in Lincoln on Jan. 15, 2005, the Huskers earned a 180-120 win. The home team has won the meet in each of the past three seasons.

 

At the 2006 Big 12 Championships, Kansas finished fourth with 439 points, followed by Nebraska in fifth (386.5). In 2005, Nebraska held the upper edge, placing third with 461 points, while KU was fourth (454).

 

Note: Saturday’s meet will be the first Big 12 contest for NU since hosting No. 5 Texas A&M on Oct. 14...This is the second to last home meet for Nebraska as Senior Day will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27 against No. 25 Missouri.

 

Last Year against the Jayhawks

Kate Wheeler and Lauren Bailey combined for five of Nebraska’s six total victories, but it wasn’t enough as the Huskers (6-1) suffered their first loss of the season to the Kansas Jayhawks, 176-124, on Saturday, Jan. 14 in Lawrence, Kan.

 

Despite over a month layoff from regular-season action, Nebraska came out strong, winning two of the first three events. Bailey won the first individual event of the day, as she moved to 3-0 on the year in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:06.21. The San Mateo, Calif., native swam away from the field by nearly seven seconds ahead of the competition. At the time, Bailey owned a team-high 13 total victories on the year. She also went on to win the 500-yard freestyle (4:56.99) and 400-yard individual medley in a pool record time of 4:25.63.

 

Wheeler and Lynn Siemert helped the Huskers gain momentum in the pool, as Wheeler won her second 200-yard freestyle of the season in 1:51.85, while Siemert won the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 24.36. Wheeler also won the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 52.52 to give her seven total victories on the season.

 

The Huskers also captured valuable runner-up finishes led by the Husker diving squad. Amie Buoy was runner-up on the one meter (249.45) after returning from an early-season wrist injury, while Courtney Jolly was second on the three meter (278.03).

 

Nebraska also got strong second-place finishes from senior Rachel Schlatter and junior Bailey Ingles. Schlatter was second in the 200-yard breaststroke (1:06.69) and Ingles in the 200-yard butterfly (2:07.85).

 

Review: Huskers Wrap Up Christmas Training in Florida

The Nebraska swimming and diving team wrapped up a week of Christmas training in southern Florida with the Florida Atlantic Invitational last Saturday, Jan. 7 in Boca Raton, Fla.

 

The Huskers were among four teams participating as they defeated IllinoisState (202-98), but fell short to talented Florida Atlantic (187-104) and Pennsylvania (143-109) teams.

 

Nebraska earned three event wins in the four-team, 16-event invite as senior Lauren Bailey won the 1,000 freestyle, 500 freestyle and 400 IM. Bailey was clocked in a time of 10:01.36 in the 1,000 free, 5:00.09 in the 500 free and then finished the 400 IM in 4:32.05, seven seconds ahead of sophomore teammate Christina Yemm (4:39.45), who also finished runner-up in the 100 butterfly (59.74).

 

2007 Husker Swim Camp with Pablo Morales

Nebraska swimming coach Pablo Morales will host the 2007 Husker Swim Camp this coming summer. Morales and assistant head coach Doug Humphrey will conduct camps during the following dates - June 10-15, June 17-22 and June 24-29.

 

To register and see more details, click “Camps” on the left side of this page. For questions, please call the swimming office at (402) 472-3186 or email the camp staff at huskerswimcamps@hotmail.com

 

“Our aim is to provide you with the best swim camp experience?period,” Morales said. “In 2007, for the first time, Husker Swim Camps will offer an all-inclusive camp format that combines the very best of what in the past has been our two separate and specialized stroke and training camp formats. No longer do our campers have to choose whether to focus on technique development or get that training camp experience, because now they will get it all in a single camp format. This change is designed to provide a more comprehensive, and, we believe, more attractive experience that includes two areas critical to the successful development of competitive swimmers. Along with the new format, Husker Swim Camps will continue to offer the very best in camp essentials and take great pride in providing unique and innovative elements to your water-time experience. Outside the pool, you will be exposed to a great lineup of presentations that complement the camp format. And, of course, we want to make sure you have fun along the way. In short, our objective is to provide a way for you to swim faster and increase your appreciation and enjoyment of competitive swimming. What you take with you will be memories of fun and friendship that will last a lifetime.”