Swimmers Continue to Impress, Divers Conclude Invite

Topeka, Kan.- Nebraska’s swimmers continued competition at the Big Challenge Saturday morning and evening. On day two, the Huskers were led by Taryn Collura and Jordan Ehly with each of them earning victories for NU.  Nebraska remains in first-place with 689.5 points. Kansas trails the Huskers with 589 points, with Illinois following with 503.5 points.

Nebraska began Saturday evening’s session with a second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Jacqueline Juffer, Ehly, Erin Oeltjen and Collura finished in a time of 1:41.36

Anna McDonald and Samantha Hardewig led the way for Nebraska in the 400-yard individual medley. McDonald finished in second-place swimming a career-best time of 4:21.48, while Hardewig finished in third-place in a career-best time of 4:21.84.

400-Yard Individual Medley

2. Anna McDonald – 4:21.48 (Career Best)
3. Samantha Hardewig – 4:21.84 (Career Best)
8. Jordan Ehly – 4:25.16 
9. Julia Roller – 4:25.57 (Season Best)
10. Bridget Pacilio – 4:25.97 (Career Best)
14. Brooke Holmes – 4:29.30
16. Michaela Cunningham – 4:34.19
17. Aimee Fischer – 4:25.87 (Career Best)

Collura picked up a victory in the 100-yard butterfly for Nebraska. Collura swam a season-best time of 53.62 to earn the crown.  Nebraska swept the top-three spots with Deveaux (54.30) and Dana Posthuma (54.45) claiming second and third, respectively, after swimming career-best times.

100-Yard Butterfly

1. Taryn Collura – 53.62 (Season Best)
2. Bria Deveaux – 54.30 (Career Best)
3. Dana Posthuma – 54.45 (Career Best)
6. Erin Oeltjen – 54.92 (Career Best)
19. Lindsay Helferich – 57.51
24. Alexandra Bilunas – 1:00.81

In the 200-yard freestyle, Katt Sickle picked up a second-place finish swimming a career-best time of 1:49.11. Cassie Brassard also had a strong showing in the event swimming a time of 1:50.85 earning a seventh-place finish.

200-Yard Freestyle

2. Katt Sickle – 1:49.11 (Career Best)
7. Cassie Brassard – 1:50.85
14. Kaylyn Flatt – 1:52.84
15. Julia Roller – 1:53.29

Jordan Ehly and Katie Ditter led Nebraska in the 100-yard breaststroke. Ehly captured a first-place finish swimming a time of 1:02.81, while Ditter finished in third-place with a time of 1:02.94.  Hardewig (1:05.49) and Posthuma (1:05.85) also swam career-bests in the 100-yard breaststroke.

100-Yard Breaststroke

1. Jordan Ehly – 1:02.82
3. Katie Ditter – 1:02.94
15. Krista Van Wie – 1:05.39
18. Samantha Hardewig  - 1:05.49 (Career Best)
19. Dana Posthuma – 1:05.85 (Career Best)
27. Michaela Cunningham – 1:08.14

Jacqueline Juffer notched a second-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke swimming a time of 54.99. Morgan McCafferty was also a strong performer for the Huskers swimming a time of 55.29 earning third-place. Helferich (57.21), Jeschke (57.50) and Oeltjen (56.13) all swam season best times Saturday evening in the event.

100-Yard Backstroke

2. Jacqueline Juffer – 54.99
3. Morgan McCafferty -55.29
5. Erin Oeltjen – 56.13 (Season Best)
6. Cassie Brassard – 56.15
14. Anna McDonald – 57.35
17. Lindsay Helferich – 57.21 (Season Best)
18. Jacqueline Jeschke – 57.50 (Season Best)

Nebraska finished off Saturday evening’s events with a strong showing in the 800-yard freestyle relay. The team of Collura, Brassard, Deveaux and Sickle swam a time of 7:19.77 earning a second-place finish.

Nebraska’s swimmers will be back in action Sunday morning at 9 a.m. to begin the final day of the Big Challenge. Prelims will begin in the morning with finals following at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Check back into Huskers.com for any and all updates regarding the Nebraska swimming team.

College Station, Texas- The Nebraska diving team wrapped up competition at the Art Adamson Invite Saturday afternoon. A trio of divers finished in the top-six in the platform dive for Nebraska.

Nicole Schwery was Nebraska’s top finisher earning a fourth-place finish posting a score of 244.45. Katrina Voge finished right behind Schwery in fifth-place with a score of 219.65, while Francesca Giganti rounded at the top-six with a score of 213.10.

Nebraska’s divers will be back in action Friday, Dec. 4 when they travel to Iowa City, Iowa to compete at the Iowa Invitational. That meet will run from Friday, Dec. 4 to Sunday, Dec. 6. Check back into Huskers.com for any and all updates regarding the Nebraska diving team.