University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
B1G Championships
Gophers Win 4th Straight B1G Championship
2/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 21, 2015
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Complete ResultsÂ
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Minnesota claimed its fourth-straight Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championship Saturday night at Ohio State's McCorkle Aquatic Pavillion, totaling 618.5 points over the four day meet. Indiana was a close second with 591 points, testing Minnesota after the 200 backstroke finals where the Hoosiers had five swimmers in the Championship final. The Gophers relied on depth to pull through, with the seniors on the Minnesota squad winning the crown each of their four years, leaving a great legacy. The University of Michigan was third with 478.5 points and Wisconsin was fourth with 448 points. This is the University of Minnesota's seventh team title overall, which ranks second behind Michigan's 14. The Gophers became the first University of Minnesota women's athletic program to win four consecutive Big Ten titles.Â
The Gophers took home five individual titles including the 400 individual medley with freshman Brooke Zeiger, Kierra Smith's sweep of the 100 and 200 breaststroke events for the second-straight year and one-meter and three-meter diving events from sophomore Yu Zhou.Â
Wisconsin's Ivy Martin was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships for the second straight year, while Golden Gopher Yu Zhou was selected as Big Ten Diver of the Championships. Zhou took home the gold on the one-meter and three-meter diving events and placed second in platform diving. Indiana's Kennedy Goss was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.Â
The Golden Gophers began the final night of competition with the 1650 freestyle. Freshman Brooke Zeiger took home the bronze with a time of 16:03.94. Teammate Samantha Harding followed for fourth with a time of 16:06.71. Kiera Janzen finished tenth with a time of 16:12.48 in the 1650. Freshman Brooke Lorentzen also scored for the Gophers, placing 14th with a time of 16:21.19. Sophomore Breanne Siwicki competed in the 1650, placing 24th with a time of 16:44.72.Â
With no swimmers competing in tonight's 200 backstroke finals, the Indiana Hoosiers made their move. Indiana had an impressive five swimmers in the Championship final, including the first-place finish from Brooklyn Snodgrass.Â
Junior Lauren Votava led Minnesota to a fourth place finish in the 100 freestyle. Votava finished with a 48.64, while senior Becca Weiland finished eighth with a time of 48.99. Competing in the consolation final of the 100 free was senior Jessica Plant, who placed 15th with a time of 50.02. Sophomores Abigail Raatz and Maddie Hoch raced in the C final of the 100 free. Raatz placed 17th with a time of 49.59. Hoch finished 20th with a 50.09.Â
Kierra Smith defended her Big Ten title in the 200 breaststroke, posting a time of 2:05.69. The time was a new Big Ten record, meet record and pool record at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. The junior has swept the breaststroke events for the past two years.Â
Freshman Danielle Nack posted an incredible 1:56.31 to record a personal best and take home the silver medal. Devin Ste. Marie had a 1:57.06 for fifth place to collect more points for Minnesota.Â
Minnesota had three divers in the platform diving Championships, the most of any team. Yu Zhou, who claimed the Big Ten titles on both the one-meter and three-meter boards took home the silver medal with 371.80 points, securing her as the Big Ten Diver of the Championships. Lexi Tenenbaum finished fifth with a score of 312 points and Jessica Ramberg finished seventh after totaling 286.10 points. During the consolation final of platform diving, senior Katy Etterman placed 13th with 286 points.Â
To finish the meet, Wisconsin picked up the win in the 400 freestyle relay, giving the Badgers four out five relay wins. The Minnesota relay team of Lauren Votava, Rebecca Weiland, Jessica Plant and Tori Simenec finished fourth with a time of 3:16.30.Â
The University of Minnesota will head to Greensboro, North Carolina to compete at the 2015 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships from March 19-21. More information to follow.Â
Final Team Standings
1. Minnesota, 618.5
2. Indiana, 591
3. Michigan, 478.5
4. Wisconsin, 448
5. Purdue, 388
6. Ohio State, 350
7. Penn State, 334
8. Iowa, 223
9. Nebraska, 143
10. Northwestern, 138
11. Rutgers, 112
12. Illinois, 73
13. Michigan State, 65
2015 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Awards
Diver of the Championships
Yu Zhou, MinnesotaÂ
Freshman of the Year
Kennedy Goss, IndianaÂ
Swimmer of the Championships
Ivy Martin, Wisconsin
Note: The Big Ten coaches voted to decide Big Ten Coach of the Year and Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year after the NCAA Championships.
2015 First Team All-Big Ten
Jessica Parratto. Indiana
Gia Dalesandro, Indiana
Kennedy Goss, Indiana
Haley Lips, Indiana
Brooklynn Snodgrass, Indiana
Grace Vertigans, Indiana
Rebecca Stoughton, Iowa
Clara Smiddy, Michigan
Kierra Smith, Minnesota
Brooke Zeiger, Minnesota
Yu Zhou, Minnesota
Dana Grindall, Wisconsin
Aja Van Hout, Wisconsin
Chase Kinney, Wisconsin
Ivy Martin, Wisconsin
Anna Meinholz, Wisconsin
Annie Tamblyn, Wisconsin
2015 Second Team All-Big Ten
Alexandria Deloof, Michigan
Gabrielle Deloof, Michigan
Madeline Frost, Michigan
Claudia Goswell, Michigan
Emily Kopas, Michigan
Zoe Mattingly, Michigan
Gillian Ryan, Michigan
Katy Etterman, MinnesotaÂ
Danielle Nack, MinnesotaÂ
Rebecca Weiland, Minnesota
Lindsey Clary, Ohio State
Rachael Dzierzak, Ohio State
Zhesi Li, Ohio State
Ashley Vance, Ohio State
Alyson Ackman, Penn State
Carolyn Fittin, Penn State
Katelyn Miller, Penn State
Kaitlin Saloky Penn State
Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Illinois - Megan Marchuk
Indiana - Samantha Lisy
Iowa - Pam Breitrick
Michigan - Molly Schaefer
Michigan State - Cristee Cordes
Minnesota - Christie Clarke
Nebraska - Ciara Jenkins
Northwestern - Emily Launer
Ohio State - Camey Rabold
Penn State - Megan Siverling
Purdue - Francesca Marr
Rutgers - Greta Leberfinger
Wisconsin - Aja Van Hout
Players Mentioned
