Swimmers and Divers Close Out Regular Season Saturday
2/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 3, 2000
Up Next For Missouri
The Mizzou men's and women's swimming and diving teams will close out their regular season this Saturday, Feb. 5 at the MU Natatorium as they host the University of Evansville Purple Aces. For MU, it will mark their third consecutive home meet of the season after spending the first 3 ? month on the road. The meet begins a 1:00p.m. with the 200 medley relay where both the men's and women's teams have already set new pool records this season. In fact, Mizzou swimmers have set nine new pool records in 2000.
Seniors Take A Bow
There are ten Tigers who are competing in their final dual meet for the Black and Gold. Each one has accomplished a great deal and will be sorely missed during the 2000-2001 season in and out of the pool. The ten seniors saying goodbye are:
Julia Alexander (Columbia, Mo./Hickman) ends her career at Missouri this season after competing in the backstroke events for the past four years. Her accomplishments include competing in the 1999 Big 12 Championships in the 50 free, 100 back and 200 back. In 1998, Alexander placed third in the 100 back at the Miami Invitational helping Mizzou to their first invitational win. As a freshman, she placed in the consolation finals of the 200 back. She is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection who looks to close out her MU career is spectacular fashion. Alexander will earn her Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy. She is the daughter of Charles and Nell Alexander.
Rikki Janes (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Mt. Royal Saskatoon Sask) has etched her name into numerous record books as a Tiger backstroker. She holds school records in the 200 back and as members of the 200 and 400 medley relay teams as well as the pool record in the 200 back. Janes recorded a double victory against Iowa as well as swimming on MU's victorious 200 Medley Relay team that defeated Nebraska. She also holds the Black and Gold meet records in the 100 back and fly. At the 1999 Indiana Invite, Janes qualified for the 2000 Canadian Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200 back, 100 fly and 200 IM at the Indiana Invite on her way to four top-8 performances highlighted by a victory in the 100 back. Ranked second in the 100 back and fourth in the 200 IM on MU's All-Time top-five. Also ranked in the all-time top-five as a member of nine different relay teams. She is also a 10-time Canadian National qualifier. As a freshman, Janes recorded a NCAA provisional qualifying standard in the 100 back. She is currently earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in interdisciplinary studies. Janes is the daughter of Spencer and Diana Janes.
Erika Kalocinski (Willow Springs, Ill./Fenwick) is wrapping up her Mizzou career after only two years with the squad. She came to the Tigers after competing at the University of Wyoming during the first two years of her collegiate career. At her first Big 12 Championships in 1999, she placed 16th in both the 100 back and 200 fly. She has added depth to MU's lineup in both the back and fly events. During her senior campaign, she claimed her first Tiger victory winning the 200 fly against SMS. Kalocinski finished in the top-25 in three events at the Indiana Invite as Mizzou was able to repeat as champions. Kalocinski is completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She is the daughter of Tom and Linda Kalocinski.
Tawney Larm (West Chicago, Ill./Community) will leave the Missouri swim team with one of the most successful careers of any Tiger. In her four years in the black and gold, Larm has become a six-time school record hold and a All-Big 12 honoree. She became the Tigers most decorated athlete in the 30-year histoyr of the program even before her senior campaign. As a junior, the 1999-00 team captain, was named the co-MVP of the team while lowering three of her four school marks and attaining an NCAA provisional qualifying standard in the 200 IM at the Big 12 Championships. Larm has never finished out of the top-16 in either the IMs or the breast events at the conference championships. As the team captain for the 1999-2000 season, Larm has guided the team to several outstanding wins including victories over No. 16 Nebraska, Iowa and nationally ranked Illinois. She is currently ranked first in the 200 breast and 200 IM on MU's All-Time top-five and second in the 100 breast and 400 IM. Larm has been a member of 13 relays that are ranked in the all-time top-five. The breast and IM specialist is completing her academic career at Missouri, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Larm is the daughter of Gerald and Carl Larm.
Ryan Nevins (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa Township) completes his senior season as a co-captain of the men's swimming and diving team. Nevins competed in a wide range of events during his days in the black and gold including, the sprint free, back, fly and IM events. At the 1999 Indiana Invite, turned in five top-16 performances helping the team to a second place team finish. In each of his four years at Missouri, Nevins has been apart of two Tiger teams that defeated Kansas in dual meet action. Nevins will graduate from MU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary english education. He is the son of Michael and Joy Nevins.
Whitney Nigh (Castle Rock, Colo./Littleton) has delivered success as a sprinter for the women's swim team in each of her four years as a Tiger. She scored in her first-ever meet and claimed two 50 free victories as a freshman. The last two seasons at the Big 12 Championships, Nigh has turned in five top-16 performances. She swam on Mizzou's school record setting 200 free relay and has placed her name on the MU All-Time top-five list a total of five times. She is a three-time first team Academic All-Big 12 selection. Nigh has been one of the Black and Gold's "go-to" performers who has turned in on when it really counts in the big meet, including her 50 free win against Kansas from lane 8. The senior was also a key to MU's first-ever win over Nebraska and Iowa last weekend. She is ranked fifth in the 50 free and third in the 100 free on the all-time top-five while swimming on nine relays that are ranked in the top-fiveall-time Nigh will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business. She is the daughter of Jerry and Rosemary Nigh.
Amanda Smiley (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) closed out her Missouri career after a spectacular run. Due to a shoulder injury, Smiley was forced to retire following the Indiana Invite in December. Prior to her senior season, Smiley was one of MU's most consistent performers at the conference championships. She swam in three consolation finals as a junior and twice as a sophomore. Smiley is ranked in the MU All-Time top five in both backstroke events. She was the teams recipient of the Most Improved award following the 1998-99 season. The senior is also a first-team Academic All-Conference honoree. Smiley will earn her degree Bachelor of Arts degree in interdisciplinary studies. She is the daughter of David and Holly Smiley.
Randy Swift (Folsom, Calif./Folsom) is a fifth-year senior who is finishing up his fourth year of competition for Missouri. He represents Mizzou in the IM and distance free events after turning his focus toward the freestyle events during his junior campaign. Claimed the 500 free against Rolla a few weeks ago. After redshirting his freshman season following a sever case of mono, Swift returned to turn in six top-8 performances at the December Invitationals. At the 1999 conference championships, he placed in the top-16 in both the 400 IM and 1650 free. He is currently ranked third all-time in the 400 IM. Swift will complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in language arts education this spring. He is the son of Edward and Arlene Christofferson.
Cristina Souza (Vila Vehla E. Santo, Brazil/Sagrado Coracao de Maria) finishes up her days as a Tiger swim team member with several outstanding performances to date. Souza has stepped up big for Missouri throughout her career including her fifth place performance in the 500 free at the 1999 Big 12 Championships. She has finished in the top-16 seven different times and won multiple events in dual meet action including her 500 free victory at the Illinois Dual Extravangza against Southern Illinois and Northern Texas. Souza also turned in key performances this past weekend in MU's two wins over Iowa and nationally ranked Nebraska. Souza is currently ranked fourth in the 200 free, third in the 500 free, fourth in the 1,000 free and second in the 200 fly in MU's All-Time top-five list and has also swam on four 800 free relays that are in the top-five. She is completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in international business. Souza is the daughter of Geraldo Elizo and Heloisa Nogueira da Gama de Souza.
Kristin Ziemke (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) started her senior season in grand fashion being named as one of Missouri's three Nation's Bank Community Champions. She won the honor based on her outstanding efforts in the pool as well as in the classroom and the community. As a Tiger, Ziemke has been a consistent breaststroker, who will be sorely missed. She had an outstanding 1999 Big 12 Championships finishing in the top-16 in both breast events. She won her recorded her first dual victory as a sophomore in the 100 breast against Truman State and followed it up with her second win the following meet in the 100 breast against Arkansas. She placed in the consolation finals at the conference championships as a sophomore and looks to close out her MU career in grand fashion. Ziemke is a first team Academic All-Big 12 honoree earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education. She is the daughter of Terry and Carole Ziemke.
Women Defeat Iowa in Home Opener
After falling to Iowa last season, 175-121, Mizzou made up for the loss last Friday night (Jan. 28) as they defeated the Hawakeyes 167-131. Not only did the Tigers win the meet, they swam some of their fastest times of the season on their way to crushing five pool. MU opened the meet winning the 200 medley relay smashing the pool record by nearly 2 ? seconds. Not only did the team of senior Rikki Janes, freshman Leslie Hoh, junior Jeanna Willi and freshman Ellen Cross swim Mizzou's fastest time of the season, they nearly swam the fastest time in school history as they were less than three tenths of a second off the school record.
Leslie Hoh was a one woman show on Friday evening. In her first home meet as a Tiger, Hoh set three pool records in her three individual events as well as establishing a new school record. Her school record came in the 100 breast as she became the first Black and Gold swimmer under the 1:05 barrier in the event. The freshman's other pool records came in the 200 breast and the 200 IM later in the evening.
Tigers Stun No. 16 Nebraska
After the MU women defeated Iowa, they were not quite sure what to expect when Nebraska came to town less than 24 hours later. In their biggest win in school history, the Black and Gold women defeated the nationally ranked Huskers 123-120. It marked the first time Missouri has ever defeated a conference school other than Iowa State.
All Mizzou was looking to do was keep it close after their emotional victory over the Hawkeyes. That is exactly what they did as they headed into the final two events down only 14 points. After a 1-3-5 finish in the 100 breast by Hoh, senior captain Tawney Larm and freshman Tiffany Bohon, MU had a shot if they claimed the top two places in the final relay. After one of NU's two relay's was disqualified for a fall start, Missouri had to keep its starts clean and the victory was theirs for the taking.
Junior Kim Lambert, freshman Ellen Cross, senior Whitney Nigh and sophomore Tara Brooks teamed up to win the 200 free relay. The foursome of freshman Chrissy Frieh, junior Kara Bramer, sophomore Molly Vetter and senior Rikki Janes came in second giving MU its three point victory.
Men's Win Streak Stops At Five
The Tiger men were not as fortunate as the women against the Huskers as Mizzou fell 142-99 ending their winning streak. MU competed well against NU, but their lack of depth was evident. Missouri claimed two individual wins as junior Aaron Lo won the 50 free and freshman Radu Miclaus was victorious in the 100 fly. It was Lo's seventh 50 win of the season and his 15 win overall. For Miclaus, his time of 49.84 was the fastest time he has swam to date as a Tiger. It also marked his third 100 fly victory and 11th overall win of the 1999-2000 season.
