University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Open Season at Wisconsin
10/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
The University of Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team opens the 2009-10 season on the road at Wisconsin, Friday in Madison, Wis. Minnesota hosted the Badgers at the Quad Duals last season, defeating Wisconsin 191-160. The last time Minnesota competed in Madison was January 2007 at the Big Ten Triple Duals against Purdue University and Wisconsin. Wisconsin won that meet 220-131.
Co-head coaches Kelly Kremer and Terry Nieszner start their sixth season in charge of the Minnesota swimming and diving program. During their tenure, the Gophers won the Big Ten Championship in 2008 and finished in the top-15 at the NCAA Championships the past three years.
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
Minnesota returns eight All-Americans from last year’s squad in Megan Braun, Alison Eggers, Kaylee Jamison, Meagan Radecke, Ashley Steenvoorden, Jillian Tyler, Castina Wabeke and Hannah Whitehead.
LAST YEAR VS WISCONSIN
The No. 10th-ranked Gophers defeated the No. 16 Wisconsin as well as Purdue and Illinois to improve to 8-0. There were individual wins by Ashley Steenvoorden, Jenny Shaughnessy, Meredith McCarthy and Kaylee Jamison. Minnesota dominated the middle-distance freestyle events taking 1-2-3-4 in both the 500 and 1000 free. The Gophers also edged out Wisconsin in the 400 freestyle relay to take first place.
2009 SEASON RECAP
Minnesota had their best finish at the NCAA Championships since the 1991-92 season with an 11-place finish last season. The Gophers finished second behind Indiana University at the Big Ten Championships, but led the Big Ten in sending a school-record 15 swimmers to NCAAs. Earning first-team All-Big Ten was Megan Braun, Stacy Busack, Alison Eggers, Kaylee Jamison, Christine Jennings, Yuen Kobayashi, Meredith McCarthy, Meagan Radecke, Jenny Shaughnessy, Ashley Steenvoorden and Jillian Tyler. The Gophers won the 200 free relay, the 400 free relay, the 800 free relay, the 200 fly (Megan Braun), the 100 free (Stacy Busack), the 200 free (Meredith McCarthy), the 200 and 400 IM (Jenny Shaughnessy), the 1650 free (Ashley Steenvoorden) and the 100 breast (Jillian Tyler) during the course of the Big Ten Championship.
Players Mentioned
