Huskers Wrap Up Christmas Training in Florida

Boca Raton, Fla. ? The Nebraska swimming and diving team wrapped up a week of Christmas training in southern Florida with the Florida Atlantic Invitational on Saturday afternoon in Boca Raton, Fla.

 

The Huskers were among four teams participating as they defeated IllinoisState (202-98), but fell short to talented Florida Atlantic (187-104) and Pennsylvania (143-109) teams. Nebraska and Florida Atlantic had previously faced off this season at the Minnesota Invitational when the Huskers finished fifth (320.5) and the Owls were sixth (275). FAU is the defending Sun Belt Conference champions, while Penn is 5-2 on the season. Nebraska’s victory over IllinoisState came over a Redbird squad that defeated Northern Iowa in October, a Jan. 19 opponent of the Huskers.

 

Nebraska earned three event wins in the four-team, 16-event invite as senior Lauren Bailey won the 1,000 freestyle, 500 freestyle and 400 IM. Bailey was clocked in a time of 10:01.36 in the 1,000 free, 5:00.09 in the 500 free and then finished the 400 IM in 4:32.05, seven seconds ahead of sophomore teammate Christina Yemm (4:39.45), who also finished runner-up in the 100 butterfly (59.74).

 

The Huskers achieved a pair of third-place finishes as well from freshmen Kelsey Ida in the 100 backstroke (1:00.13) and Kaitlin Arntz in the 200 breaststroke (2:28.31).

 

On the day, Nebraska had 15 top-five finishes in individual event races, including fourth-place showings from Ida (200 backstroke, 2:12.58), freshman Mariah Hutchinson (200 butterfly, 2:10.23), sophomore Jenna Stroud (100 freestyle, 54.29), junior Lynn Siemert (50 freestyle, 24.93) and seniors Kate Wheeler (500 freestyle, 5:11.51) and Bailey Ingles (100 butterfly, 1:00.94). The Huskers also finished third in the 200 medley relay (Ida, Arntz, Hutchinson, Stroud).

 

Nebraska will now gear up for conference competition as the Huskers (3-2) welcome Kansas (3-1) to the Devaney Natatorium this Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.

 

Team Scores 

Nebraska 202, Illinois State 98

Florida Atlantic 187, Nebraska 104

Pennsylvania 143, Nebraska 119