University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
South Dakota
Players Mentioned
No. 24 Gophers Open 2025-26 Season Against Nebraska and South Dakota
10/9/2025 11:22:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota swimming and diving programs are set to begin their 2025-26 campaigns at home in the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center this Friday. The men's program will face off against the University of South Dakota, while the women's program will take on both the University of Nebraska and the University of South Dakota. The meet will kick off with Diving events beginning at 3:30 PM, followed by Swimming events beginning at 4:00 PM.
MEET INFORMATION
No. 24 Minnesota vs. Nebraska / South Dakota
Friday, Oct. 10
3:30 PM / 4:00 PM
Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center
Minneapolis, Minn.
MEN'S PROGRAM
The Gopher men's program returns 19 athletes to the roster, five of which competed at the 2024-25 NCAA Championships last season. The team ranked at No. 24 in the first College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) poll of the season last week.
Drew Bennett has been named a Big Ten Diver to Watch after an All American Honorable Mention season, placing 14th on platform at the 2024-25 NCAA Championships. The veteran diver was named Big Ten Diver of the Week once throughout his junior season while climbing up the program record books, moving up to ninth all time in the 3-meter (415.15) and seventh all time in the 1-meter (399.95).
Daniel Eichel closed out a strong freshman season last year, competing on the 800 free relay squad for the Gophers in the 2024-25 NCAA Championships. Eichel ranks second in team history for the 200 free (1:34.00), fourth in the 500 free (4:17.28), and fifth in the 200 fly (1:43.72), and was named a 2025 CSCAA Spring Scholar All American First Team.
Jacob Johnson enters the season as a Big Ten Swimmer to Watch after tallying a record breaking season for the Gophers, setting the program record for the 200 fly (1:39.96) while also sitting at eighth all time in the 50 free (19.26). Johnson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week four times throughout 2024-25, capping off his rookie campaign with Big Ten All Freshman team honors, Second Team All Big Ten honors, and All American honors in the 200 fly taking tenth in the 200 fly at the NCAA Championships.
Joe Polyak competed in the 100 breast, 200 breast, and 200 IM prelims for the Gophers at the 2024-25 NCAA Championships, and closed out his freshman year with Big Ten All-Freshman team honors. Polyak now ranks third in school history in the 100 breast (52.44) and 200 breast (1:52.58), sixth in the 200 IM (1:44.91), and 12th in the 400 IM (3:48.40).
YuTong Wang earned Second Team All Big Ten honors for his efforts in 2024-25, competing in the 1-meter and 3-meter prelims for the Gophers at last year's NCAA Championships. The two time All-American and former Big Ten champion continues to hold the school record in both the 1-meter (435.15) and 3-meter (472.05).
The roster will also feature six freshmen and one junior transfer: Jack Hackler, Ethan Kosin, Jackson Scheiber, Oliver Schimberg, Ethan Schutten, Zed Warain, and John Watson. This newcomer class adds seven swimmers to the team.
WOMEN'S PROGRAM
The Gopher women's program returns 24 athletes to the roster, five of which competed at the 2024-25 NCAA Championships last season. The team also ranked at No. 24 in the first College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) poll of the season last week.
Addie Albrecht placed 29th on the 1-meter (259.00) at her second career NCAA Championship appearance last season. The Academic All Big Ten honoree collected seven top three finishes throughout 2024-25 in the 1-meter and 3-meter events.
Vivi Del Angel returns as one of the Gophers' Divers to Watch after also earning the award last season. The former national champion closed out the 2024-25 season placing third and posting the second highest score in program history (371.50) in platform at last year's NCAA Championships while earning All American honors in platform and the 1-meter.
Katie McCarthy returns as one of the Gophers' Swimmers to Watch after earning the award last season. The Edina, Minn. native placed 25th at the 2024-25 NCAA Championships in the 500 free prelims with a time of 4:39.71, a personal record and the eighth fastest time in program history. McCarthy etched her name in the program record books for three other events, sitting at seventh all time in the 1000 free (9:40.68), seventh in the 400 IM (4:10.36), and seventh in the 1650 free (16:05.75).
Elna Widerstrom placed 32nd in the 1-meter prelims (252.80) for the Gophers at the 2024-25 NCAA Championships and was named an Academic All Big Ten honoree to close out her sophomore season. The 2024 All-American currently ranks 11th in team history in the 1-meter (318.15), and ninth in the 3-meter (354.65).
Ava Yablonski currently holds the school record for the 100 back (51.61), ranks sixth in the 100 fly (52.59), and fourth in the 200 back (1:53.69). Yablonski placed 30th in the 100 back prelims (51.88) and 38th in the 200 back prelims (1:54.34) at the 2024-25 NCAA Championships, capping off the year with Academic All Big Ten honors.
The roster will also feature four freshmen: Kayla Barr, Emma Fellman, Finnly Jollands, and Cassie Kaplan. This newcomer class adds three swimmers and one diver to the team.
UP NEXT
The Gophers will head to Atlanta, Georgia for their first road contest of the season next weekend, taking on The Dual Meet Tournament at Georgia Tech on Friday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Oct. 18.