Michelle Criss

2006-07 Season Outlook<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Michelle Criss enters her final season with the Huskers as one of the team's best freestyle swimmers. Her younger sister, Colleen, joins the team this season as a freshman. Michelle will be counted on to play a greater leadership role in 2006-07.

 

2005-06 (Junior)

Criss competed in the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle races. She had three third-place finishes in the 100-free during the regular season. She finished 14th in the event at the Minnesota Invitational. At the Big 12 Championships, Criss placed as high as 19th overall in the 200-free with a third-place finish in the bonus finals. On the year, she swam in six different races, including the 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard butterfly against <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Northern Iowa when she was the runner-up in both races.

 

2004-05 (Sophomore)

Criss specialized in freestyle events as a sophomore and set career bests in all three of the freestyle events in which she competed (50, 100 and 200).  Criss ranked as the No. 2 swimmer on the team in the 100- and 200-yard freestyles after posting times of 51.94 and 1:51.72 at the Big 12 Championships.  She finished 11th in the 100 free, her highest conference finish in her first two years, and also picked up a 14th-place finish in the 50 free.  Criss also proved to be a solid multi-event swimmer in her sophomore season, as she competed in the 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke, and 100- and 200-yard breaststroke in addition to her freestyle races.   

 

2003-04 (Freshman)

Criss was a key part of the Huskers' relay squads as a freshman.  She was also one of NU's top middle-distance freestylers, recording an 18th-place finish at the Big 12 Championships in the 200-yard free, finishing the event in a time of 1:52.89, a season-best mark.  Criss put points on the board for the Huskers throughout the season with wins against Southern Illinois (50-yard free, 24.74) and Nebraska-Omaha (100-yard free, 53.20).  Her 50-yard freestyle victory against Southern Illinois was a season-best time.  Criss also set season-bests in the 100-yard freestyle against IowaState (53.06), placing second, and recorded a season-best mark in the 500-yard freestyle (5:22.59) against Nebraska-Omaha.

 

Previous

A high school All-American in 2003, Criss was a member of four state championship teams at OmahaMarianHigh School under Coach Pat DiBiase. Criss won numerous individual and relay titles at Marian.  Criss also lettered in volleyball for the Crusaders and received four academic letters.

 

Personal

Michelle is the daughter of Sue and Steve Criss and was born on Nov. 24, 1984, in Omaha.  She has two sisters, Colleen and Karen, and one brother, Scott.  Michelle is double majoring in nutritional science and dietetics and dental hygiene at Nebraska.