Huskers Race Past Mavericks to Start 2020

The Nebraska swimming and diving team started the new decade off on a high note, defeating the Omaha Mavericks 202-94. Not much was going to be able to stop the Huskers strong performance today, as the swimmers and divers combined for 15 first place finishes out of 16 total races and events. 

Lindsey Stalheim paved the way for the Huskers this morning, capturing a team-high three victories. She lead the way in both backstrokes, finishing in first place in the 100 (57.95) and the 200 (2:07.15). She was followed by Berkeley Livingston who finished second in the 100 back (59.16) and Madison Coughlen, who placed third in the 200 back (2:11.13). In Stalheim's third win, she swam the best time in the 100 butterfly (59.07).

In the 200 butterfly, it was Maggie Berning who captured first place (2:06.20). Freshman Kimberly Lanaghen finished right after Berning, swimming to a solid second place finish (2:08.48) in the race.

In the distance freestyle events, the Huskers continued their success. The first three places in the 1000 free were captured bu Husker swimmers. It was Rachel Powers  who lead the way (10:21.28), taking home the victory. Molly Rosenthal swam to a good second place finish (10:26.12), while Katelyn Kilpatrick was just behind, grabbing third (10:26.43).

Sophomore Audrey Coffey won the 500 freestyle (4:57.37) in a tight race. She narrowly beat out teammate Autumn Haebig, who was right behind her and finished in second (4:58.45). Coffey grabbed another victory earlier in the morning in the 200 freestyle (1:52.52). In that race, she was followed up by Jessica Pentlarge in second (1:54.27) and Madison Coughlen in third (1:55.19).

In the short freestyle races, it was Tori Beeler grabbing first place in the 100 free (53:02). She grabbed her first victory of the meet in another close race, where teammates Jessica Pentlarge and Carla Gonzalez tied for second (53.44).

In the 50 free, it was another Husker sweep of the first three places. Autumn Haebig jumped in on the victory action (24.21), while Tori Beeler finished in second (24.52) and Kaitlyn Barth in third (25.08).

Madison Coughlen was victorious in the 400 IM, a race where she has done exceptionally well all season long. 

Senior Gwen Worlton swam to a first place finish in the 200 breast (2:21.67), while fellow teammates Berkeley Livingston (2:26.94) and Gabby Baratta (2:28.42) followed up in third and fourth places, respectively. In the 100 breast, it was Savannah Savitt who raced to a solid second place finish (1:07.34) and Gabby Baratta landing in fourth (1:09.54).

On the diving boards this morning, Sara Troyer continued her successful season by sweeping the one meter (270.98) and three meter dives (323.85) with good scores. Hallie Roman dove to a second place finish in the three meter dive (259.73), while it was Grace Tiernon grabbing third (224.10).

Relays this morning were another area of Husker dominance. The 400 medley relay started the meet off this morning, with the Nebraska A team swimming strongly to first place (3:54.24) with Haebig, Worlton, Murray and Marvin all leading the charge. The Nebraska B relay consisting of Gonzalez, Beeler, Coughlen and Lanaghen finished in second (3:57.50). To end the meet, the Nebraska A relay was victorious in the 200 yard freestyle relay (1:37.66) with Beeler, Gonzalez, Savitt and Haebig.

Nebraska stole the show against it's instate school Omaha and won convincingly, improving the Huskers all-time series lead over the Mavericks to 23-0. Nebraska continues to have a successful season, improving to 4-1 in duals this year. The Huskers will have their first Big Ten test of the season next weekend, as they take on the 4-5-1 Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, January 25 at 11 AM at the Devaney Natatorium for "Senior Day".