Huskers Defeat Rutgers to Close Dual Season

Nebraska added five titles in the second session on Saturday to end the dual season with a 210-143 victory over Rutgers. 

"What a great couple of days," Nebraska head coach Pablo Morales said. "It was the perfect challenge for us going into Big Tens and our girls responded and competed really well. Rutgers has a great diving program including a former Husker coach and diver so it was great having them back in Nebraska. They brought a great level of competition for our divers."

After ending the first session on Friday night with a 75-27 lead, the Huskers (7-1, Big Ten 3-1) dominated from the start on Saturday. Nebraska claimed the top four spots in the mile, an effort that was led by senior Audrey Coffey (16:45.02). Junior Molly Rosenthal swam to a runner-up finish (16:52.81), freshman Ilaria Murzilli placed third with a 17:01.47 and senior Rachel Powers took fourth (17:04.26).

Sophomore Ella Stein led a Huskers sweep in the 100 breaststroke by swimming a season-best time of 1:02.72 to win the event. A trio of NU freshman completed the sweep, with Sydney McCracken taking second with a 1:02.96, JoJo Randby placing third with a 1:03.22 and Maia Hall taking fourth with a 1:03.37. 

Randby (Omaha, Neb.) also captured a runner-up finish in the 50 freestyle (23.70).

Senior Madesyn Ronquillio notched her 10th backstroke victory of the season with a win in the 100 backstroke (55.55), while sophomore Gabby Donahue finished third with a 55.99.

After winning the 200 IM on Friday, junior Berkeley Livingston continued her success swimming in the individual medleys with a big victory in the 400 IM (4:19.89). Sophomore Sarah Barton finished as runner-up (4:24.41), while freshman Madison Lloyd (4:24.70) took third to make it another Big Red sweep.

Livingston (Lincoln, Neb.) added a runner-up finish in the 100 butterfly with a 55.76, while junior Kaitlyn Barth took third with a 55.97.

Reigning 200 freestyle Big Ten Champion, Autumn Haebig, earned the 200 free title with a 1:47.57. Sophomore Lexi Kucera swam to third in the event with a 1:49.71.

The Huskers notched two runner-up finishes in relay action on Saturday. Junior Emily Haimes joined Haebig, Stein and Kucera to swim a 3:42.70 in the 400 medley relay to place second. In the last event of the dual, Haebig and Randby teamed with freshman Beatriz Padron and senior Shannon Stott in the 400 freestyle relay (3:25.40).

Senior Sara Troyer added a second-place finish on the boards, scoring a 333.30 on the three-meter.

The Huskers are looking to carry the momentum into the Big Ten Championships. The conference meet will take place from Feb. 16-19 in Madison, Wis.

Nebraska 210, Rutgers 143
Jan. 28-29, 2022
Lincoln, Nebraska (Devaney Natatorium)

Nebraska Champions
200 Backstroke - Madesyn Ronquillio (1:58.19)
500 Freestyle - Autumn Haebig (4:46.81)
200 IM - Berkeley Livingston (2:02.59)
200 Breaststroke - Maia Hall (2:14.44)
200 Freestyle Relay - Nebraska - Randby, Kucera, Haimes, Haebig (1:32.97)
200 Freestyle - Autumn Haebig (1:47.57)
100 Breaststroke - Ella Stein (1:02.72)
1650 Freestyle - Audrey Coffey (16:45.02)
100 Backstroke - Madesyn Ronquillio (55.55)
400 IM - Berkeley Livingston (4:19.89)