University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Gear Up For Big Ten Championships
2/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 17, 2015
| Minnesota (8-1, 4-0 B1G) at 2015 Big Ten Championships | |
| Date | February 18-21, 2015 |
| Time | Preliminaries - 11 a.m. EST | Finals - 6:30 p.m. EST |
| Location | Columbus, Ohio | McCorkle Aquatic Pavillion |
| Tickets | Click Here |
| Championship Central | Click Here |
| Television | BTN - Aired on tape delay Feb. 22, 2015 | 9:00 a.m. EST |
| Schedule | Click Here |
| Live Results | | Diving |
| Live Video | Click Here |
| Social Media | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
| Championship Notes | Click Here |
| Psych Sheet | Click Here |
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Head coach Kelly Kremer and the Golden Gophers will head to Ohio State today as they look to win their fourth-straight Big Ten Championship. Competition will begin Wednesday night on Feb. 18 at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion and will run through Saturday, Feb. 21.
A CHANCE AT HISTORY
No Gopher women's athletic program has won four-straight conference titles, with Gopher men's tennis program being the last to win four in a row (1992, `93, `94, `95) for the University of Minnesota.
2014 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
The Minnesota women made it a three-peat when they tallied 760 points over second-place Indiana (649 points) at the 2014 Big Ten Women's Swimming & Diving Championship to claim their third-straight crown. Maggie Keefer split the Diver of the Championships title with Purdue's Casey Matthews, while Kelly Kremer was named Swimming Coach of the Year for the fourth time.
IN THE RANKS
The Golden Gophers are currenlty ranked No. 14 in the latest College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) poll. They hold the highest ranking among Big Ten teams as of Feb. 16, 2015.
SENIOR STARS
Ten talented seniors are hungry to add a fourth and final conference championship ring to their collection this weekend. Due to their varied skills, head coach Kelly Kremer labeled the the class a leadership council for the team early in the season.
"There's a reason this women's senior class has won three-straight B1G Championships," Kremer said. "It's more than putting points on the board - their leadership has been top-notch."
Seniors Kiera Janzen, Jessica Plant and Tori Simenec were selected for the 2014 First Team All-Big Ten last year. While Rebecca Weiland and Blake Zeiger were named to the 2014 Second Team All-Big Ten.
Janzen is a six-time All-American and currently holds this season's top-times in the 1650 freestyle for Minnesota. At the 2014 Big Ten Championships, Janzen helped the Gophers earn Big Ten gold in the 800 freestyle relay. She also placed fifth in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free and ninth in the 1650.
Plant is a four-time All-American and is a very versatile freestyle swimmer. At the 2014 Big Ten Championships she placed 12th in the 500 freestyle, second in the 200 freestyle, and 15th in the 100 freestyle, and also earned a first place finish and a new school record in the 800 freestyle relay with 7:00.04.
Simenec currently holds the Gophers top-season times in the 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle and 200 IM. At the 2014 B1G Championships she placed 4th in the 100 fly, 12th in the 200 fly, 6th in the 200 IM, and 1st in the 800 free relay. Simenec is most eager for back-to-back races in the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle this Friday, and is very excited for the challenge.
Last year at NCAAs, Weiland broke the Minnesota school record in the 50 freestyle with a 22.13. She currently holds the team's top times in the 50 freestyle and 100 fly for the season. At the 2014 Big Ten Championships, Weiland finished 3rd in the 200 Medley Relay, 2nd in the 200 Free Relay, 2nd in the 50 Free, 3rd in the 400 Medley Relay, 3rd in the 100 Fly, 5th in the 100 Free, 2nd in the 400 Free Relay.
Zeiger placed 2nd in the 200 free relay, 2nd in the 400 free relay, 11th in the 100 free, placed 13th in the 100 fly, and placed 7th in the 50 free at the 2014 Big Ten Conference Championships. In her senior season, Blake has been joined by younger sister Brooke Zeiger, who will lead the freshman squad at the Big Ten Championships.
Katy Etterman is the lone senior diver that will compete for Minnesota. Etterman placed ninth on the platform, fifth on the three-meter and 19th on the one-meter.
Minnesota seniors Heidi Busack, Christie Clarke, Chloe Portela and Devin Ste. Marie will also compete at the Big Ten Championships.
JUNIORS BACK AT IT
Although much smaller than the senior class, the junior Gophers will play an integral part to this weekend's Championships.
Kierra Smith posted a 2:05.12 in the 200 breaststroke at the 2014 Arena Grand Prix in Minneapolis, taking down the Minnesota record in the event, and posting the top time in the nation. Smith led The Gophers as the top point scorer for the University of Minnesota (55 points) at the 2014 Big Ten Championships after sweeping the 100 and 200 breaststroke titles. She will be redshirting next season to fully prepare for the 2016 Olympics for Canada and will return for her senior season in 2016-17 and is looking to accomplish great things with the rest of the season.
Teammate Lauren Votava has proven to be a versatile swimmer in sprint to middle-distance freestyle events. She was named to the 2014 First Team All-Big Ten and was a key athlete for the Gophers in their NCAA Championships relay events.
Samantha Harding had a breakout season last year picking up two silver finishes in the 500 and 1650 freestyle at the 2014 Big Ten Championships.
Apart from All-American Maggie Keefer, Jessica Ramberg was the only other diver to represent the Gophers at the 2014 NCAA Championships. This season, Ramberg was named Big Ten Diver of the Week after her performance at the Jean Freeman Invite.
SECOND YEAR SQUAD
In her freshman season, Breanne Siwicki was the sole rookie for Minnesota at the 2014 NCAA Championships. At Big Tens, she placed 3rd in the 1650 free, placed 5th in the 400 IM, and placed 13th in the 200 IM.
In her first season as a Golden Gopher, sophomore Yu Zhou has already been named Big Ten Diver of the Week three times, most recently on Feb. 10. She will add great depth to the Gophers as they take on the one-meter, three-meter and platform events this weekend.
Maddie Hoch, Ellen Bloom, Katelyn Holmquist, Abigail Raatz, Allison Schumacher and Lexi Tenenbaum represent the other Gopher sophomores that will compete this week.
FRESH TALENT
Two freshmen on the Minnesota squad have claimed conference accolades in their rookie season. Brooke Zeiger will join sister Blake Zeiger at the championships, Brooke was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice, after the Wisconsin dual and Arena Grand Prix in Minneapolis. This season, the freshman has posted first-place finishes in over five different individual events and currently holds the team's season top times in the 500 free, 1000 free, 200 back and 400 IM.
Danielle Nack was awarded with the Big Ten Freshman of the Week title after her performance at the Big Ten Triple Duals against Purdue and Northwestern.
Brooke Lorentzen, Isabel Wyer, Rae Bullinger and Bridgette Grobe round out the Gopher freshmen that will be competing at Championships.
Players Mentioned
