Huskers Rally Around Jorgenson’s Top-Three Finish

After three days of competition, the Big Red claimed a top-three finish at the 2026 Big Ten Swim and Dive Championships in Minneapolis, Minn. Senior Gena Jorgenson’s efforts in the 500 free helped the team to 277.5 total team points and tenth-place overall. 

With a fourth-place finish in the 500 free prelims, Gena Jorgenson collected a time fit for an A final cut. Her 4:41.06 marked her second-best mark in the event for the season. In the finals, the two-time All-American notched a third-place time of 4:39.15, the best of her career. She set the school record in the event at the 2025 conference championships, further cementing her place in school history.  

The current school record holder in the 50 free, Beatrix Tanko, worked her way to a time of 22.29 in the morning prelims. Dropping a tenth of a second, Tanko finished in 14th to close out individual events for the day. 

Sophomores Virginia Consiglio and Katy Zboinski used their efforts in prelims for a spot in the C finals. Consigilo competed in the 100 back, while Zboinski raced in the 200 breast. Consiglio currently holds the fourth-fastest time for the school from her efforts against Rutgers at the end of the season, nearly surpassing her record time of 53.54, finishing 19th with a 53.58. Zboinski finished in the final with a 2:14.49, 24th-place swim. 

Senior Giulia Marchi was awarded as a Big Ten Women’s Swim and Dive Sportsmanship honoree for Nebraska after her swim in the 500 free prelims. She finished in 35th place, clocking 4:54.02. From Asola, Italy, Marchi made her first Big Ten final on day two of competition, where she swam a personal best time of 1:47.25 in the 200 free. 

Four swimmers hit their personal best marks, with Natalie Dunaway leading the pack in the 50 free. After constant improvement throughout the season, the freshman from Kansas City, Mo., earned the sixth-fastest time in Big Red history through her personal best time of 22.76. 

Jenna Gogel, hailing from Bentonville, Ark., dropped 2.55 seconds from her previous career-best to achieve a lifetime best in the 200 breast with a 31st-place, 2:16.20. Fellow sophomore Aurora Zanin dropped 2.92 seconds from her previous career time of 4:56.48 to accomplish a time of 4:53.56 in the 500 free prelims. 

After a finals appearance in the 100 breast, Amelia Riggott followed her momentum to the third day of the championship to trim 1.89 seconds in the event to execute a 2:18.12 in prelims. 

On the three-meter board, Abby Baxter brought the best finish for Nebraska with a score of 264.35. The junior diver finished 17th in the C finals of the event. 

Anchoring a team of Consiglio, Riggott and Tanko, Marchi added a strong split in the 100 free with a time of 49.28 in the 400 medley relay. The European squad finished first in their heat and ninth overall, with a time of 3:37.27. 

The Huskers will return tomorrow at 10 a.m. for swimming prelims and noon for diving prelims. The 1,650 freestyle will begin at 3:15 p.m., followed by diving consultations at 5 p.m. and final events at 5:30 p.m. The day will conclude with the 400 freestyle relay and the official awards ceremony.

The final day can be followed along on Big Ten Plus for all subscribers or on the Meet Mobile app, where live results will be posted. 

Big Ten Championships
Minneapolis, Minn. (Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center)
February 18-21, 2026

Order of Events
Saturday, Feb. 21
200 IM
100 Freestyle
200 Butterfly
200 Backstroke
1,650 Freestyle
400 Freestyle Relay
Platform Diving

Team Scores

1. Michigan (883)
2. Ohio State(714.5)
3. Indiana (694)
4. Wisconsin (650)
5. USC (516.5)
6. Minnesota (489)
7. UCLA (423.5)
8. Purdue (301)
9. Northwestern (295)
10. Nebraska (277.5)
11. Rutgers (265.5)
12. Iowa (215)
13. Penn State (162)
14. Illinois (149.5)