University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Set for 2016 B1G Championships
2/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 15, 2016
| 2016 B1G Women's Swimming and Diving Championships | |
| Date | Friday, Feb. 17 - Saturday, Feb. 20 |
| Time | Prelims: 10 a.m. CT | Finals: 5:30 p.m. CT |
| Location | Ann Arbor, Mich. | Canham Natatorium |
| Tickets | All-Session Pass |
| Championships Central | mgoblue.com/go/swim |
| Live Stats | | Diving |
| Broadcast | BTN Plus | BTN2Go |
| Meet Notes | Minnesota  |
| Social Media | @GopherSwimDive | Facebook | Instagram |
The Golden Gophers (8-1-1) will travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the 2016 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships this Wednesday, Feb. 17 through Saturday, Feb. 20. Here are five things to watch for:
1 The Golden Gophers made history last year when they became the first women's program at the University of Minnesota to win four consecutive Big Ten Conference Championships (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015). While the Gophers have graduated one of the most talented classes the program has seen, the new Maroon and Gold team will look to remain fighting for the top places.
2 The 2015 NCAA and Big Ten Diver of the Year returns. Yu Zhou made a statement in her first season at Minnesota winning both springboard events, and earning silver on platform at the conference meet. Zhou went on to win the 2015 national title on the 3-meter springboard and was the only diver to place in the top five in each event. This season Zhou has been named B1G Diver of the Week eight times, totaling 11 times during her collegiate career. Lexi Tenenbaum (two-time B1G Diver of the Week) and Jessica Ramberg (two-time NCAA Championships participant) add strong depth.
3 Minnesota's B1G travel squad features 15 freshmen, over half of the Gophers' team. The Golden Gophers rookie class was ranked No. 9 nationally by SwimSwam. Zoe Avestruz's best time in the 100 backstroke is faster than the current school record (51.98). Rachel Munson currently holds the squad's top times in both the 100-yard and 200-yard breast events and has been named the B1G Freshman of the Week twice this season. Avestruz and Munson will lead off for the Gophers in the medley relays.
4 Minnesota's squad boasts four student-athletes that hold school records. At last season's B1G Championships, Brooke Zeiger shattered the 400-yard individual medley school record (4:03.28) and won gold as a rookie. Lauren Votava is a part of Minnesota's record-holding 200 free relay and 800 free relay; the senior will be a big player in this championships season as well. Yu Zhou holds the Maroon and Gold platform record (371.80). Danielle Nack has broken both the Gophers 100-meter and 200-meter long course records in the past year. The sophomore will look to get her name on the short course records list next.
5 The 2016 B1G Championships will include scoring through the top-24 this year, unlike recent scoring only including the top-16. This will give programs, including Minnesota, the chance to get more student-athletes active in the evening sessions and scoring points, pushing a heavier focus on depth to win the title.
2015 B1G Championships Rewind
• Minnesota's fourth-straight B1G crown (1999, 2000, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
• Gophers total 618.50 points
• Five individual B1G Titles (100 breast, 200 breast, 400 IM, 1-meter, 3-meter)
• 24 top-five finishes, including each relay
• B1G Diver of the Championships (Yu Zhou)
• Three Gophers named to First Team All-Big Ten (Kierra Smith, Brooke Zeiger, Yu Zhou)
• Three Gophers named to Second Team All-Big Ten (Katy Etterman, Danielle Nack, Rebecca Weiland)
Scouting the B1G Conference
• There are currently seven B1G teams in the CSCAA NCAA Division I Top-25 (February 16, 2016). The 2016 B1G Women's Swimming and Diving Championships host, University of Michigan, holds the highest ranking amongst conference competitors (No. 3). Minnesota is currently ranked No. 22.
Miscellaneous Notes
• The Golden Gophers earned CSCAA Scholar All-America Honors after maintaining a team GPA of 3.28 during the fall semester.
• Minnesota has earned 13 B1G Weekly Honors, including nine B1G Diver of the Week awards (8 Yu Zhou, 1 Lexi Tenenbaum). Samantha Harding and Brooke Zeiger have each been named B1G Swimmer of the Week this season, and Rachel Munson has earned the B1G Freshman of the Week twice).
• Head coach Kelly Kremer was named the 2015 B1G Swimming Coach of the Year for fifth time after a first-place finish at the conference meet, and coaching Minnesota's third breaststroke NCAA Champion in the past five years
• Wenbo Chen was selected as the 2015 NCAA and B1G Diving Coach of the Year. Chen coached four divers at the 2015 NCAA Championships, tied for the most in the nation, including NCAA Diver of the Year and 3-meter national champion Yu Zhou.
Players Mentioned
