University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host Wisconsin, "Pack the Pool" on Friday
10/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
“Minnesota and Wisconsin are two great Big Ten teams and both are well-rounded programs,” said Golden Gopher co-head coach Kelly Kremer. “There an opportunity to see great racing in every event on Friday.”
The Gopher women are 3-0 in dual meet this season, including a 2-0 mark in the Big Ten Conference. Minnesota opened its season by picking up two road victories at Michigan and Michigan State; then defeated Iowa State at home two weeks ago.
Senior Jillian Tyler won three individual events versus Michigan and was part of winning relays in both meets against Conference opponents to capture Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honors for the first week of the season. Tyler swept the breaststroke events, clocking a time of 1:00.86 in her specialty the 100-yard breaststroke, and adding her second title in the 200-yard breast in 2:13.59. She also won the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2:05.03.
Junior Hannah Whitehead enjoyed a big opening weekend as well, winning the 200 free against both Michigan and Michigan State.
The Gophers rested most of their top swimmers in the dual meet versus Iowa State and featured their young depth as a team. Eleven different swimmers won individual events in the meet.
True freshman Maggie Keefer won her third consecutive dual-meet crown in 1-meter diving and was rewarded with Big Ten Diver of the Week honors on Oct. 19.
Minnesota and Wisconsin swam against each other in two dual meets a year ago, each team picking up a victory. The Gophers opened the 2009 season with a 179-121 win in the Badgers’ home pool, but Wisconsin evened the season series with a 179-151 victory in quad-dual competition in January. At the Big Ten Championships, Minnesota finished second while Wisconsin was sixth.
The Badgers enter Friday’s meet with a 2-0 dual-meet record in 2010-11, starting the season with wins over Milwaukee (166-66) and Iowa (208-92).
The marquee events in the Minnesota/Wisconsin dual will likely be the 100 and 200 breaststroke races where All-Americans Tyler and Haley Spencer for the Gophers will battle Badger All-American Ashley Wanland.
Players Mentioned
