Jan. 30, 2003
COLUMBIA, Mo. -
The University of Missouri men's and women's swimming and diving teams will both end their respected seasons with a nonconference dual meet in Iowa City, Iowa against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday, January 31. The start time of the dual is 5:00 p.m.
The 21st-ranked women's team (12-1, 4-0 Big 12) hopes to end their spectacular season with another dual victory. This season the women's team has established school bests in dual wins with 12. For the second season in a row the Tigers went undefeated in conference action. Over the past two seasons they are 8-0 in conference duals. They have been ranked all season, peaking at No. 19 in the CSCAA poll on November 27, the highest ranking in school history. They finished second at the Minnesota Invite and finished third at the Big 12 Relays. The team broke three school records this season, two University Natatorium pool records and a pool record at the IMPE Pool in Champaign, Illinois.
The men's team (5-4, 0-1 Big 12) will end their season at .500 or better for the fifth season in a row. They finished fourth at the Minnesota Invite. They broke two school diving records and one pool diving record. The team won two Big 12 Swimmer of the Month awards and three Big 12 Diver of the Month awards, including Evan Watters winning twice.
The Iowa women's team is 7-3 in duals this season and 2-3 in the Big Ten Conference. They are coming off wins against Illinois and Ohio State this past weekend in a triangular meet in Champaign, Illinois. Head Coach Garland O'Keeffe is in her third season and has compiled a record of 17-15 while at Iowa. Sophomore Jennifer Skolaski is the top swimmer for the Lady Hawkeyes. She ranks among the country's best in the 500 and 1,000 freestyles and is the reigning Big Ten Swimmer of the Week after her performance in Champaign. She won three individual events (100 backstroke, 500 and 1,000 freestyles) and one relay event (400 freestyle relay).
The Iowa men's team is 1-3 in duals and 0-3 in the Big 12. This past weekend they lost to seventh-ranked Minnesota 195.5-103.5 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Head Coach John Davey is in his fourth season as Hawkeye head coach, he is the only Big Ten athlete in any sport to ever be named conference Athlete of the Year in their sport four consecutive years. Jason Snider is the top male swimmer for the Hawkeyes. Against Minnesota, Snider won both the 100 and 200 butterflys. Last season the Tigers lost to the Hawkeyes, 165-133 in Columbia.
The Iowa diving team is considered one the best in the Big Ten. Diving coach Bob Rydze has both the men's and women's reigning Big Ten Divers of the Week in Timo Klami and Lisette Planken. Both are NCAA Zone qualifiers.
NOTES FROM THE DECK: The Tigers swimming and diving team has cancelled its scheduled dual against Evansville on February 8.