Session 7: Huskers Finish Sixth at Big 12 Championships

Columbia, Mo. - Mariah Hutchinson finished fourth in the 200 Butterfly for Nebraska, highlighting the final session of the Big 12 Championships as Nebraska wrapped up its season with a sixth-place finish (298 points) at the meet. Nebraska saved its best meet for last, as 82 career-best times were set during the week, with nearly every single member of the team having their best performance of their careers in at least one event, and most in two or three events. The Nebraska swimmers also combined to set 26 top-10 times in NU history.

The platform diving prelims and finals took place in between the morning and evening sessions. Senior Courtney Jolly was a late scratch due to an ankle injury, leaving Nebraska with two divers in the competition, Emily Burbach and D'Arcy Schmidt. Burbach got 11th place with a score of 193.10, while Schmidt took 19th with a score of 155.40.

The final session opened up with the 200 Backstroke, where Rachell McClain and Caroline Shea got the Huskers on the board with a 13th- and 16th-place finish, respectively. Karen Criss finished fourth in the C Finals, while Christina Yemm finished fifth and Brandie Kavalec finished eighth.

Next up on the schedule was the 100 Freestyle, where the Huskers again had two swimmers in the B Finals, Jenna Stroud and Jess Andrews. Both improved on their career-best times they set earlier in the day, as Stroud finished sixth in the race with a time of 50.41, while Andrews finished just behind her in seventh with a 50.46. Jenny Toler set a career-best with a 50.51 in the C Finals, where she finished third.

Brandie Kavalec finished ninth for the Huskers in the 1,650 Freestyle, swimming a career-best time of 16:55.60. Mailene Leslie took 11th and Blaine Hoppenrath got 13th, as the Huskers got three of the top 13 spots in the race. All five Huskers who swam the race set new career-bests.

The 200 Breaststroke saw the first Husker in an A Final for the meet, as Kaitlin Arntz swam the eighth-fastest preliminary time in the morning session. It was the third straight year Arntz had made it to the A Finals in the 200 Breast, and after finishing eighth her first two years, she improved a spot and claimed seventh this year, netting 12 points for the Huskers. Colleen Criss finished 6th and Julie Giehl 8th in the C Finals, with Criss setting a new career-best.

The 200 Butterfly was the most successful event for Nebraska in the prelims, as the Huskers had three of the top 12 times, including Mariah Hutchinson, who made it into the A Finals with the fourth-fastest preliminary time. The three swimmers didn't disappoint in the finals session, as Hutchinson came in fourth, swimming in a time of 1:59.27, beating her time of 1:59.46 in the prelims and giving her an NCAA provisional-qualifying time. After finishing sixth at the Big 12s in the 200 Fly in her first two seasons at Nebraska, Hutchinson broke through to the top five in 2009.

Kelsey Grushecky also set a career-best in the 200 Fly when she came in first in the B Finals with a time of 1:59.36, also an NCAA provisional-qualifying time, and fourth on the NU all-time list. Blaine Hoppenrath finished fourth in the B finals, and Nebraska once again had three of the top 12 finishers in the finals. The three swimmers now own the 3rd- (Hutchinson), 4th- (Grushecky) and 5th- (Hoppenrath) fastest 200 Fly times in school history after their fantastic weekend.

The meet closed with the 400 Freestyle Relay, where the Huskers went five-for-five in season-best relay times, as the team of Mariah Hutchinson, Jess Andrews, Jenny Toler and Jenna Stroud swam a 3:20.13, finishing a half-second behind fourth-place Missouri. The time was the third-best time in school history as the Huskers closed the meet on a high note.

Five seniors performed for the Huskers for the final time this week, as Nebraska said goodbye to C.J. Bray, Courtney Jolly, Jenna Stroud, Jenny Toler and Christina Yemm. Jolly showed grit and determination during the week by diving in the one and three meter on an ankle she could barely walk on, while the four swimmers each swam career-best times in every event they competed in while leaving their mark in the all-time NU top-10 in at least one event.

Final Team Standings
1. Texas (893)
2. Texas A&M (831)
3. Missouri (584)
4. Kansas (491)
5. Iowa State (334)
6. Nebraska (298)

Results
Platform Diving
1. Jessica Livingston, Texas (343.40)
11. Emily Burbach (193.10)
19. D'Arcy Schmidt (155.40)

200 Backstroke
1. Kathleen Hersey, Texas (1:52.58)
13. Rachell McClain (2:01.53)*
16. Caroline Shea (2:03.11)
20. Karen Criss (2:02.49)*
21. Christina Yemm (2:02.69)*
24. Brandie Kavalec (2:06.35)

100 Freestyle
1. Karlee Bispo, Texas (48.03)
14. Jenna Stroud (50.41)*
15. Jess Andrews (50.46)*
19. Jenny Toler (50.51)* --9th all-time

1,650 Freestyle
1. Susana Escobar, Texas (16:13.53)
9. Brandie Kavalec (16:55.60)*
11. Mailene Leslie (16:59.80)*
13. Blaine Hoppenrath (17:02.73)*
17. Riley Seidel (17:36.68)*
19. Bobbi Balogh (18:13.84)*

200 Breaststroke
1. Kayla Durnil, Missouri (2:11.20)
7. Kaitlin Arntz (2:16.64)
22. Colleen Criss (2:21.66)*
24. Julie Giehl (2:23.89)

200 Butterfly
1. Leah Gingrich, Texas (1:55.18)
4. Mariah Hutchinson (1:59.27)*
9. Kelsey Grushecky (1:59.36)* --4th all-time
12. Blaine Hoppenrath (2:01.15)
24. Meredith Matthies (2:08.67)

400 Freestyle Relay
1. Texas (3:13.62)
5. Nebraska (3:20.13)# --3rd all-time
Mariah Hutchinson, Jess Andrews, Jenny Toler, Jenna Stroud

# season-best time
* career-best time

Reviewing the Big 12 Championships
Career-best times set: 82
NU Top-10 Career-best times set: 26
Top-10 Finishes: 9
Highest Finish: Mariah Hutchinson, 200 Fly (4th)