Nebraska Swimming Goes Back-to-Back with South Dakota and South Dakota State

Nebraska at South Dakota

Friday, November 19

6 p.m. |  DakotaDome Pool

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Nebraska at South Dakota State

Saturday, November 20

2 p.m. | Stanley J. Marshall HPER Center Pool 

The Nebraska swimming team (3-2) is on the road for the third time this season as they take on South Dakota (0-5, Nov. 19) and South Dakota State (3-5, Nov. 20). The Huskers will be without their diving squad over the weekend as they are taking part in the Phill Hansel Cougar Classic Invitational at the University of Houston.

The Huskers are a combined 9-0 against both South Dakota and South Dakota State. The Huskers own six wins over the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State and are 3-0 against the South Dakota Coyotes.

Following the brief road trip, the Huskers will have a two-week layoff until they suit up for the Missouri Invitational In Columbia, Mo., running from Dec. 3-5.

Pool Points:

Eight different Huskers have earned first-place finishes so far this season. Leading the first-place finishers is Shannon Guy with three, and Ariel Weech, Bailey Pons and Kelsey Larson with two wins each.

Nebraska is looking for their fourth duel win of the season, which would match last year's season total. Nebraska will have four duels left this season after USD and SDSU.

Review: Wyoming and North Dakota

The Nebraska swimming and diving team defeated North Dakota 217.5-82.5 but fell to Wyoming 177-123. Wyoming also defeated North Dakota 231-69 Friday evening at the Devaney Natatorium.

The duels leave Nebraska with a 2-2 record heading into back-to-back road duals Nov. 19-20 at South Dakota and South Dakota State, respectively.

Husker wins on the day included Bailey Pons in the women's 1000-yard freestyle, Blaine Hoppenrath in the 200-yard butterfly and Shannon Guy in the 100-yard butterfly. Nebraska finished second or better in 10 events on the night, and swept the 100-yard butterfly on the efforts of Shannon Guy, Lexie Halberstadt and Kelsey Grushecky.

The Wyoming Cowgirls won 11 events on the day, leading them to the large margin of victory over North Dakota, and a narrow win over Nebraska.

Nebraska takes to the road Nov. 19-20 before traveling to the Missouri Invitational (Dec. 3-5). Nebraska will then enjoy the holiday break before heading to Mesa, Ariz., for the Citrus Classic.

USD and SDSU Last Season:

USD: The Nebraska swimming and diving team defeated South Dakota 187-102 on Saturday morning at the Devaney Natatorium. The Huskers improved to 2-1 on the season with their second straight dual win. Brandie Kavalec led NU with three event wins as the Huskers won all 16 events on the day. 

The Huskers got out of the gates quickly, building up a 108-23 lead going into the first diving break. Seven different Huskers won the first seven events to build the quick lead, including senior Hailey Dean's victory in the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.53), her third event win of the season. The Huskers finished 1-2-3 in five of the seven events.

Kaitlan Walker won the three meter dive for Nebraska with a score of 282.75, with D'Arcy Schmidt coming in second and Amy Herman finishing third.

Mariah Hutchinson continued Nebraska's winning streak after the diving break, winning the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.93. Ellan Dufour earned her third win of the year in the 200-yard backstroke and Dean earned her second win of the day in the 200-yard breaststroke.

The Huskers swam exhibition for the final four swimming events after building a sizable lead. Kavalec won the 500-yard freestyle and Kaitlin Arntz took first in the 100-yard buttefly, although both events weren't scored for the Huskers.

Walker won the one meter dive with a score of 246.67 as she swept the diving events. The Huskers had the top times in the last two events of the day, the 200-yard IM (Kavalec) and the 400-yard freestyle relay, capping off a perfect day for the team in which it won all 16 events.

The Husker swimmers are off next weekend as the divers head to Minneapolis, Minn., for a divers-only dual with Minnesota as part of the Minnesota Grand Prix from Nov. 13-15. The team returns to the Devaney Natatorium the following weekend for the third annual Husker Invitational from Nov. 19-22.

SDSU: The Nebraska swimming and diving team notched its third dual win of the season with a 182-110 win over South Dakota State on Saturday at the Devaney Natatorium. The Huskers improved to 3-1 on the season, while SDSU fell to 3-5-1.

Nebraska won the six of the first seven events before the first diving break, as Husker seniors Mariah Hutchinson, Kaitlin Arntz, Kelsey Ida and Hailey Dean each had an event win. Nebraska held a 103-28 lead going into the break.

D'Arcy Schmidt continued Nebraska's winning ways with a win on the one meter dive, scoring 263.10. Amy Herman came in second for NU with a score of 257.03.

Hutchinson earned her second victory of the day following the diving break, winning the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.68. The Huskers took the first five spots of the event for their best finish of the meet.

The Husker divers continued their excellent day with a big showing on the three meter board. Schmidt won her second event of the day with a score of 286.35, just edging out Herman who scored 285.45, a career-best score. Kaitlan Walker wasn't far behind in third place, finishing with a score of 275.79.

South Dakota State's Katie Budahl led the Jackrabbits with two event wins, in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes.

The Huskers don't have another home meet for over a month and a half, as they will take on Iowa State at the Devaney Natatorium on Jan. 30.