University of Missouri
IowaSt
Tigers Take Down Iowa State in Ames
1/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 26, 2002
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri women's swimming and diving team improved to 8-0 in dual meet competition on Saturday afternoon by defeating the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, Iowa by a score of 167-133. The Tigers can clinch an undefeated season next Saturday afternoon in Columbia with a victory against the University of Evansville. The meet begins at 2:00 p.m. at the University Natatorium.
As expected, the Tigers and Cyclones fought it out to the finish. Missouri used a 1-2-3 sweep in the 500 freestyle and victories in both diving events to seal the victory. Junior Katy Chandler led the Tigers with a first place finish in the 500 freestyle. Senior Molly Vetter came in second place, followed sophomore Lizza Igoe.
Missouri got off to a fast start by taking first and third in the 200 medley relay. Igoe followed that up with a big win in the 1000 freestyle. The Phoenix, Ariz. native edged out two Iowa State swimmers at the wall to claim the victory in a time of 10:24.66.
Sophomore Andrea Nigh did her part in keeping momentum on Mizzou's side. Nigh won an extremely fast 50 freestyle race in a time of 23.70, her fastest in-season time of the year. She later won the 100 freestyle, making her the only double-winner on the day for the Tigers.
Sarah Lo took home first place honors in the 100 backstroke in a time of 57.00. Freshman Amanda Morford came in third, providing much needed points for Missouri.
While Missouri controlled the 100-yard strokes in the long order meet, Iowa State was able to hang with the Tigers by claiming the 200-yard strokes. Missouri got outstanding performances by freshman Mariona Costa and junior Leslie Hoh in the 200 breaststroke, but the Cyclones Petra Plaminkova ended up winning the event. She also edged out Costa in a fantastic race in the 100 breaststroke.
"Iowa State was ready for us today," said Head Coach Brian Hoffer. "They swam well and gave us everything they had."
While the sweep in the 500 freestyle was the turning point for Mizzou, no two events were bigger than the diving events. In two of the closest competitions of the season, the Tigers came out on top on both boards. Freshman Amanda Maret won the one-meter board while senior Erin Wilke, in her final road dual of her career, came up huge by winning the three-meter competition. It was Wilke's performance in the platform diving competition last year at the Big 12 Championships that gave the Tigers the momentum to top Iowa State in the final event of the evening for fourth place.
"I am very happy with what took place on the diving boards today," said Hoffer. "It was great to win both boards, and for Erin Wilke to step up the way she did is just awesome."
The Tigers put the icing on the cake by winning the final event of the day, the 200 freestyle relay to clinch the victory.
"Obviously, winning both diving competitions and both relays were huge," said Hoffer. "We got some big touches in the some real close races today, and to do that on the road is significant. In close meets like today, the home team usually gets the touches. We were able to bring enough energy on the road and we made it happen today."
