Huskers Look to Make History on Senior Day

The undefeated Nebraska swimming and diving team will look to continue its historic run this Saturday when it hosts Missouri at the Devaney Center Pool at 1 p.m.

The 2004-05 Huskers became the first women's swimming and diving team in school history to start 8-0 following last Saturday's win over Iowa State. This Saturday, they will look to complete the first 9-0 season in school history.

Nebraska improved to 8-0 after three duals in two days last weekend that included wins over Nebraska-Omaha (66-38), Northern Colorado (83-24) and Iowa State (189-110). The victory over the Cyclones was Morales' first conference win on the road and also moved NU's Big 12 mark to 2-0 on the year.

The last undefeated season by Nebraska came from the 1997-98 Huskers who went 7-0, including a Big 12 title. The last undefeated conference season was a 4-0 Big 12 mark in 2000-01. That NU team finished second at the Big 12 Championships and 23rd at the NCAA Championships.

The Huskers will also honor lone senior Diana Torres this Saturday, who will compete in her final home meet for Nebraska. The Bogota, Columbia native joined the Huskers in 2001-02, the same year Morales took the head coaching position at NU.

Following this meet, Nebraska will begin immediate preparation for the Big 12 Championships, hosted by Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, from Feb. 23-26.

2004-05 Huskers Make History

After defeating three opponents last weekend, the 2004-05 squad has become the first NU women's swimming and diving team to start 8-0 in school history.

Only the 1975-76 and 1997-98 teams have finished the season undefeated, both of which were 7-0. The 1975-76 squad was the first year of NU swimming and diving.

"Dual meets is one aspect of our season where we want to finish up well. But they are part of a larger goal which is to step up and perform well at the Big 12 Championships."

Huskers Bid Farewell to Torres

Senior Diana Torres will take to the Devaney Center Pool for the final time this Saturday, following four years of contribution to the Nebraska swimming and diving program.

Torres added a spark to Morales' squad four years ago, and has become a butterfly specialist, while also competing in backstroke, freestyle and individual medley races.

At the 2003 Big 12 Championships, Torres' time of 57.24 in the 100-yard butterfly moved her into the 18th spot on Nebraska's all-time list. She also sits 21st in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:05.43, also set at the 2003 Big 12 Championships.

Torres also swims for the Columbian National Team, as a member of the Comfenalco Club team. She won a sliver medal in the 200-yard butterfly and finished second in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2001 CentroAmerican Games and finished third in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly at the 2002 SouthAmerican games in Brasil.  Torres' has also controlled the 100- and 200-yard butterfly races at the Columbian National Games, taking first in both events the last three years.

Diana is a native of Bogota, Columbia, and is the daughter of Omaira and Ivan Torres.

Scouting the Competition

The Missouri Tigers enter Saturday's match against the Huskers with a 5-2 dual record in the 2004-05 season.

Missouri and Nebraska faced each other at the Big 12 Relays on Oct. 15 when the Tigers tied for third with 60 points and the Huskers placed fifth with 39 points.

All five of Missouri's dual wins this season have come against opponents Nebraska has also faced: Kansas (157-144), Southern Illinois (149-94), Truman State (180-24), Southwest Missouri State (170-73) and Iowa State (188-107).

"Missouri is one of those teams that is coming into Devaney with a strong lineup," said Morales. "I expect a lot of big things from them. If both teams are ready to perform it is going to be a great meet. It very well could be the type of close meet we were expecting from Truman State and Kansas."

Nebraska leads the all-time series versus Missouri 18-6. The Tigers defeated the Huskers last season 162-138 in Columbia, Mo.

Recap: Huskers Start 8-0 for First Time in School History

The Nebraska swimming and diving team improved to 8-0 for the first time in the program's history with a 189-110 rout of Iowa State on Jan. 29.

Sophomore Kate Wheeler led the charge for Nebraska, winning the 100-yard freestyle (53.39), 500-yard freestyle (5:02.47) and 200-yard freestyle (1:52.68). Freshman Lynn Siemert’s began the day with a victory in the 50-yard freestyle as NU swept the freestyle events.

Nebraska was also dominant in the butterfly races, as senior Diana Torres led a trio of Nebraska swimmers to the top three spots in the 100-yard fly with a time of 58.21. Freshman Betsy Grover then took the top spot in the 200-yard fly in 2:05.86.

Junior co-captains Mackenzie Clark and Rachel Schlatter also performed well. Clark took first in the 1,650-yard freestyle in a season-best 16:58.05. Clark was followed by sophomore teammates Lauren Bailey (17:08.54) and Casey Schnack (17:16.06) as Nebraska swept the top three spots. Schlatter took first place in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:26.49, ahead of Iowa State’s Krista Fehl by three seconds.

Junior Amie Buoy continued to lead the diving squad, winning the three-meter with a score of 287.62.

On Friday, Jan. 28, the Huskers moved to 7-0 with an 83-24 victory over Northern Colorado and a 66-38 defeat of Nebraska-Omaha.

Sophomore Kate Wheeler highlighted the meet with career-best time of 10:00.00 in the 1000-yard freestyle for first place.

Sophomore Lauren Bailey also set a career-best while taking first in the 200-yard IM in 2:07.47.

Senior Diana Torres competed in the 200-yard freestyle for the first time this season and picked up a victory in 1:55.46.

Omaha natives Michelle Criss and Bailey Ingles performed well in front of their hometown fans, as Ingles won the 100-yard backstroke in a career-best time of 1:00.56 and Criss earned second place in the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.41).

Also earning victories for the Big Red swimmers were Emily Becker (500-free), Alex King (100-fly) and Katie Bowden (100-free).

Sophomore Danielle Stansbury took the honors for the divers, winning the three-meter dive with a score of 252.45. It was the Lincoln natives first victory of the year.