Huskers Set to Compete in Two Meets

Nebraska at US Open
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Date: Dec 4 – Dec. 7
 
Nebraska at Minnesota Invitational
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Date: Dec. 5 – Dec. 7
 
Lincoln -- The Husker swimming and diving team begins a busy winter period with two meets this week. Six Husker swimmers will be competing at the U.S. Open in Atlanta, Ga., from Dec. 4 – Dec. 7, while the NU diving squad will be in Minneapolis for the Minnesota Invitational from Dec. 5 – Dec. 7.
 
The U.S. Open is a highly prestigious event that will feature many of the nation's top swimmers. Six Huskers qualified for the long-course meet. Junior captain Autumn Haebig will be competing in four events: 400-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle. Fellow junior captain Izzie Murray will swim the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly, and Katelyn Kilpatrick will join Haebig in the 400-meter freestyle. Kilpatrick will also compete in the 1500-meter freestyle, as will Audrey Coffey. Maggie Berning will join Murray in the 200-meter butterfly. Tori Beeler will compete in three events: 200-meter individual medley, 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter breaststroke.
 
At the Minnesota Invitational, sophomore Husker diver Hallie Roman will be competing for NU. All-American diver Abigail Knapton, who is taking a redshirt senior season to focus on qualifying for the 2020 Olympics, will be competing unattached at the meet.
 
Last time out: Huskers Place Fourth in Mizzou Invite
 
After a four-day road trip in Missouri, the Nebraska swimming and diving team closed out the Mizzou Invite with a fourth place finish out of 13 competitors. The Huskers scored 384 total points in the invitational, falling just behind Missouri (942.5), Arkansas (659) and San Diego State (585).

Madison Coughlen kept the ignition running from earlier in the day, winning the 200 butterfly (1:57.39), which currently stands as the seventh best time in the country for the race. Maggie Berning wasn't too far behind, finishing in fifth place (2:00.73), giving Nebraska two top-five finishes in the race. Berkeley Livingston was the next to finish, placing in 10th (2:01.81) for the Huskers. Kimberly Lanaghen landed in 14th (2:05.55) for the team, as Taylor Acheson wasn't too far behind in 20th (2:07.16). Mira Rhodes and Izzie Murray rounded out the race, Rhodes finishing in 27th (2:10.02) while Murray finished in 31st (2:12.27).

Four Husker long distance swimmers finished in the top 15 in the 1650 freestyle, led by sophomore Audrey Coffey. Coffey raced to a third place finish (16:35.62) in the mile, while Katelyn Kilpatrick was only three spots behind in sixth (16:42.76). Rachel Powers also closed in with an eighth place finish (16:47.67) and freshman Molly Rosenthal was the final Husker to finish, grabbing 13th place (16:57.92), concluding another solid race for Nebraska.

In the 200 breaststroke, senior Tori Beeler finished in 12th place (2:16.61), good for fourth in the B-Final. Closely behind was Gwen Worlton who finished in 18th (2:17.44), while Gabby Baratta landed in 21st (2:21.50).

In more short-distance races, Autumn Haebig swam to a 12th place (50.40) in the 100 freestyle. Carla Gonzalez followed up with a solid 19th place finish (51.06), as both swimmers enjoyed increased times from the prelims.

In the final individual swimming race of the invite, Jessica Pentlarge was the first of two Huskers to finish in the 200 backstroke. Pentlarge grabbed 14th place (2:01.95), as teammate Lindsey Stalheim captured the 22nd spot (2:02.68).

On the board this evening, Hallie Roman dove to a solid 10th place finish (198.55) in the platform dive, capping off a solid week of diving for the Huskers.

In the only relay of the night, the 400 free relay, the Nebraska A relay featuring Pentlarge, Haebig, Gonzalez and Beeler grabbed fifth place (3:23.02) in what was another good relay finish this week. Following up, the Nebraska B relay with Barth, Marvin, Stalheim and Savitt swam to a 21st place finish (3:30.90), capping off a fantastic week of swimming in Missouri.

The Husker swimmers and divers will be back in action from December 4-7 for the U.S Open in Atlanta, Georgia. The next meet at the Devaney Natatorium will take place on Saturday, January 18th, beginning at 11 a.m.