Huskers Fly By Hawkeyes – University of Nebraska

The Nebraska swimming and diving team produced its largest margin of victory in a Big Ten Conference dual in history, racing to a 193-59 victory over Iowa at Devaney Natatorium on Saturday.

Senior Shannon Stott (200 fly, 500 free) and sophomore Lexi Kucera (50 free, 100 fly) each captured a pair of individual titles, while Kucera was also part of Nebraska’s winning 200 medley relay.

The Huskers dominated from start to finish to improve to 2-0 on the young season. Nebraska captured 15 victories in 16 events.

Nebraska’s freshmen enjoyed an excellent showing in their first Big Ten appearances, accounting for four individual titles. Beatriz Padron won the 200 freestyle, while Madison Lloyd swam to victory in the 200 backstroke. Maia Hall and JoJo Randy took the top two spots in the 100 breaststroke, while Milica Opacic captured the 100 freestyle crown.

Kucera (Hutchinson, Minn.) teamed with senior Madesyn Ronquillio (Tracy, Calif.), sophomore Ella Stein (Hudson, Wis.) and Randby (Omaha, Neb.) to claim the first win of the day in the 200-yard medley relay to get the Big Red off to a fast start, while Autumn Haebig took second 

Senior Audrey Coffey then cruised to victory in the 1,000-yard freestyle, before the Huskers swept the top three spots in the 200 free with win by Padron and second (Molly Rosenthal) and third-place (Rachel Powers) finishes.

In the 200 back, sophomore Gabby Donahue supported Lloyd’s victory with a second-place swim, while junior Emily Haimes added a runner-up finish of her own behind only Opacic in the 100 free.

Padron (Belen, Costa Rica) added a second-place finish in the 100 butterfly and win in the 400 freestyle relay alongside Haimes, Rosenthal and junior Kaitlyn Barth. Lloyd (Kingwood, Texas) contributed a runner-up finish in the 100 backstroke.

Rosenthal capped a strong day with a runner-up finish in the 500 freestyle, while junior Berkeley Livingston finished third in the event to complete a Husker top-three sweep behind the strength of Stott’s victory. Livingston (Lincoln, Neb.) also contributed a title of her own, in the 200 IM.

Stein (Hudson, Wis.) won the 200 breaststroke, followed by Aleksandra Olesiak for the Hawkeyes. Freshman Sydney McCracken swam to a third-place finish in the event. 

On the diving side, senior Sara Troyer (Goshen, Ind.) won the three-meter dive and placed third in the one-meter. The total team effort was the first 100-plus point victory for Nebraska over a Power Five Conference team since a 200-100 win over Iowa State on Jan. 28, 2012.

The Huskers hope to build on this momentum as they head into an action packed with road duals at Minnesota (Oct. 29) and Iowa State (Oct. 30).

Nebraska 193, Iowa 59

Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021

Devaney Natatorium

(16 Events)

Husker Champions

200 Medley Relay – Madesyn Ronquillio, Ella Stein, Lexi Kucera, JoJo Randby (1:44.63)

1,000 Freestyle – Audrey Coffey (10:13.16)

200 Freestyle – Beatriz Padron (1:54.01)

100 Backstroke – Madesyn Ronquillio (55.48)

100 Breaststroke – Maia Hall (1:04.88)

200 Butterfly – Shannon Stott (2:02.98)

50 Freestyle – Lexi Kucera (23.89)

3 Meter Diving – Sara Troyer (337.73)

100 Freestyle – Milica Opacic (51.38)

200 Backstroke – Madesyn Lloyd (2:02.62)

200 Breaststroke – Ella Stein (2:22.79)

500 Freestyle – Shannon Stott (5:00.14)

100 Butterfly – Lexi Kucera (56.49)

200 IM – Berkeley Livingston (2:07.40)

400 Freestyle Relay – Beatriz Padron, Molly Rosenthal, Kaitlyn Barth, Emily Haimes (3:34.35)