HUskers Cruise Past Cyclones

Lincoln, Neb. -- The Nebraska men and women's swimming and diving teams dealt conference rival Iowa State a pair of dual losses as the Huskers honored 14 seniors at the Devaney Center on Saturday afternoon.

On the women's side, 16th-ranked Nebraska (2-6, 1-1) won 11 of the first 12 events en route to 183-114 win over the Cyclones.

Five different Huskers won a pair events, including senior All-Americans Helene Muller and Stacey Sedlacek. Muller touched the wall first in the 50-meter freestyle (26.65) and the 400-meter freestyle (4:20.99), while Sedlacek won the 100-meter free (59.32), 200-meter free (2:07.46) and finished second to Muller in the 50-meter event (27.38).

Freshman Elvira Fischer secured victories in the 100- (1:12.82) and 200- (2:34.00) meter breaststroke races. Junior diver Tami Bernth assisted NU by sweeping the one- (269.84) and three- (282.90) meter springboard competitions. Junior All-American Shandra Johnson won both the 100-meter (1:03.48) and 200-meter (2:17.69) backstroke races.

Other event winners for NU included senior Beth Hunsicker (800-meter freestyle, 9:08.17) and the Husker's 200-meter medley relay squad of Christine Troy, Keri Hehn, Karin Larka and Muller (1:59.75).

In men's action, senior All-Americans Michael Windisch, Erik Cook, Valery Kalmikovs and Adam Pine were showcased as the 17th-ranked Huskers to a cruised to a 168-129 victory over the 25th-ranked Cyclones.

Windisch won three events for the Huskers, including the 400-meter freestyle (3:57.91), 800-meter freestyle (8:13.21) and 200-meter butterfly (2:02.96). Cook posted victories in the one- (364.27) and three- (379.19) meter diving events. Kalmikovs won the 200-meter breastroke (2:18.12) and the 200-meter IM (2:06.00). Pine secured a victory in the 100-meter butterfly (53.71), finished second in the 50-meter freestyle (23.08) and joined Erik Wiken, Carlos Oliva and Javier Botello on NU's winning 200-meter medley relay (1:42.40).

In addition, Oliva won the 100-meter breaststroke (1:03.79) and Botello placed first in the 200-meter freestyle (1:51.23). Nebraska Head Coach was happy with both teams following the meet, while he said the focus lies ahead at the upcoming Big 12 and NCAA Championships.
"We are having more and more people step up right now," Bentz said.

"They are training hard and getting ready for the conference and national championships. We're pleased with the improvement in the times and the races. If our times and races are improving, then we are moving as planned."The Nebraska women's swimming and diving team will be in College Station, Texas, on Feb.17-19, for the Big 12 Championships. The Husker men's squad will host the University of South Dakota in a dual matchup on Feb. 5, at the Devaney Sports Center, before heading to College Station on March 2, for their respective conference meet.