University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Big Ten Championships
Gophers Fourth at B1G as Zhou, Waddell Honored
2/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Photo Gallery | Full List of Big Ten Awards
After Minnesota finished fourth at the 2017 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, Golden Gophers were named recipients of two major conference awards. Yu Zhou earned her third consecutive Big Ten Diver of the Championships accolade, and Tevyn Waddell became Minnesota's third Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
The Gophers added four medals on Saturday night to bring their meet total to 13. They scored 1086 total points in West Lafayette, Ind., to finish behind Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. The Wolverines compiled 1287 points for the win.
"If you told me we would swim and dive like that I would have thought we would challenge for the title," Minnesota head coach Kelly Kremer said. "The fact that we were in a tight battle and ended up in fourth speaks to the quality of this conference. Everyone really showed up this year. It was fun! I would like to give a huge thank you to our student-athletes, parents and fans. You gave everything you had and made this a very memorable and fun week."
Zoe Avestruz, Lindsey Horejsi and Danielle Nack joined Zhou and Waddell on the All-Big Ten First Team. Kierra Smith received a nod to the Second Team, and Breanne Siwicki was Minnesota's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
In a showdown between the 2015 and 2016 NCAA champions, Smith broke her own Minnesota record and won silver in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:04.37, the No. 5 time recorded in the history of the event. She and Indiana's Lilly King, both 2016 Olympians, beat the existing Big Ten record as King won in 2:04.03. Smith caught up to King going into the final 25 yards but was edged out at the end.
Lindsey Horejsi set a personal record in the same final, finishing fourth in 2:08.89. Rachel Munson notched a ninth-place finish in 2:11.46, with Kaela Marcus coming in 14th in 2:12.94.
"Kierra Smith and Lindsey Horejsi were awesome tonight," Kremer said. "Most coaches would love to coach one athlete like them in a career. I'm lucky."
Yu Zhou won her ninth career Big Ten medal in as many attempts when she took third in platform diving with a score of 362.25. Lexi Tenenbaum closed out her last Big Ten meet with a 338.60 for fifth place. Morgan Justus (224.10), Mariam Khamis (213.15) and Beth Etterman (212.25) also scored on the platform, finishing in 19th, 22nd and 23rd, respectively. Zhou won both springboard events earlier in the meet.
"Yu Zhou and the rest of our divers are unreal," Kremer said. "I'm proud we have a true swimming and diving team."
Avestruz earned her first individual Big Ten medal with a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle. She set a personal record with a 48.33 in prelims, and posted a 48.37 in the final.
The Gophers' 400 freestyle relay claimed third place in an NCAA "B" qualifying time of 3:15.91. Danielle Nack, Avestruz, Chantal Nack and Tevyn Waddell swam the final event of the championship meet.
"This quartet of swimmers was awesome this week," Kremer said. "The next stop is NCAAs."
Danielle Nack placed fifth in the 200 butterfly in 1:57.02. It was her third individual "A" final of the meet.
Waddell, the 100 backstroke champion, finished sixth in the 200 back in a personal-record 1:54.40. Chantal Nack finished just behind her teammate in 1:55.15, also a PR. Waddell earned four relay medals in addition to Friday's individual gold.
"Tevyn is just getting started," Kremer said. "She should be proud of how she carries herself. She has earned the success."
Siwicki led the Gophers' scoring in the 1,650 freestyle, finishing 13th in 16:23.33. Erin Emery (16:31.07) and Lauren Lalumiere (personal-best 16:33.94) also earned points in 17th and 18th.
Gophers' Final Medal Count (13)
Gold (4)
200 medley relay: Tevyn Waddell, Lindsey Horejsi, Danielle Nack, Zoe Avestruz (Day 1)
1-meter diving: Yu Zhou (Day 2)
100 backstroke: Tevyn Waddell (Day 3)
3-meter diving: Yu Zhou (Day 3)
Silver (3)
400 medley relay: Tevyn Waddell, Kierra Smith, Danielle Nack, Zoe Avestruz (Day 2)
100 breaststroke: Lindsey Horejsi (Day 3)
200 breaststroke: Kierra Smith (Day 4)
Bronze (6)
800 free relay: Danielle Nack, Chantal Nack, Tevyn Waddell, Zoe Avestruz (Day 1)
100 breaststroke: Kierra Smith (Day 3)
3-meter diving: Sarah Bacon (Day 3)
100 freestyle: Zoe Avestruz (Day 4)
Platform diving: Yu Zhou (Day 4)
400 free relay: Danielle Nack, Zoe Avestruz, Chantal Nack, Tevyn Waddell (Day 4)
Big Ten Awards
Diver of the Championships: Yu Zhou (third year in a row)
Freshman of the Year: Tevyn Waddell
All-Big Ten First Team: Zoe Avestruz, Lindsey Horejsi, Danielle Nack, Tevyn Waddell, Yu Zhou
All-Big Ten Second Team: Kierra Smith
Sportsmanship Award: Breanne Siwicki
WATCH: Kierra breaks her own school record in a showdown with King. https://t.co/9TugyVYOem
- Minnesota Swimming (@GopherSwimDive) February 19, 2017
Players Mentioned
