Michigan
Big Ten Championships
Wolverines Take Second at Big Ten Championships
2/22/2020 11:13:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
» Michigan finished second at the Big Ten Championships (1,306.5 points). Ohio State won the team title (1,503.5 points).
» Maggie MacNeil won her third individual event title of the championships, setting new Big Ten, Big Ten Championships, U-M and pool records (46.57). She was named Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships.
» Olivia Carter won the 200-yard butterfly, setting new Big Ten, Big Ten Championships, U-M and pool records (1:53.28).
» Six of the team's seven divers scored on platform, led by Christy Cutshaw, who was seventh. Over the three days of diving, U-M scored 195 points, third-most of any team at this year's meet
Site: Iowa City, Iowa (Campus Recreation and Wellness Center)
Event: Big Ten Championships (Day 4 of 4)
U-M Team Standing: 2nd place of 13 Teams (1,306.5 points)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 1 -- at OSU Last Chance Meet (Columbus, Ohio), TBA
• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Behind record-setting, title-winning performances from sophomores Olivia Carter (200-yard butterfly) and Maggie MacNeil (100-yard freestyle), the No. 5-ranked University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team ended the Big Ten Championships on a high note, finishing second (1,306.5 points) in the team race on Saturday (Feb. 22) at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. Ohio State claimed the team title (1503.5 points).
In the swimming pool, U-M won eight Big Ten titles (five individual, three relays) and a total of 18 medals. Individually, MacNeil won three events (50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly) and was named Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships, while Carter (200-yard butterfly) and senior Miranda Tucker (100-yard breaststroke) also stood atop the podium. The Wolverines also won both medley relays at the Big Ten Championships for the first time in 20 years. Additionally, Kaitlynn Sims was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
The Wolverines had a great week in the diving well, accumulating 195 points, the third-most of any team at the Big Ten Championships. Michigan had finalists in each of the three diving events for the first time in six years (Carey Chen, 2014). Junior Nikki Canale made finals on both one-meter and three-meter, becoming the first Michigan diver to accomplish that feat in four years (Sarah Kamstra, 2016), while junior Christy Cutshaw was the team's first finalist on tower in six years (Chen).
"First, we want to congratulate Ohio State on an incredible meet. They swam well and were great competitors," said head coach Mike Bottom. "We put up the best we could do. We had best times in almost every event. We won the last freestyle relay with our medley relay. They never ever gave up even when the points said we couldn't win, and that's a credit to the character of our athletes."
"It was a team effort by all the divers," added diving coach Mike Hilde. "Everyone scored this week. The upperclassmen led the way and advanced everyone along. I think last year's performance left us dissatisfied, but they trained well all year and dove with a ton of confidence. I'm very proud of them, but we have more work to do."
MacNeil finished off the trifecta on Saturday, winning the 100-yard freestyle and setting new Big Ten, Big Ten Championships, U-M and pool records (46.57). She inched by the old school record of 46.64, set last year by alum Siobhán Haughey, and also became the first woman to break 47 seconds in the event at the Big Ten Championships. Not to be overlooked was junior Daria Pyshnenko, who became the sixth woman in program history to break 48 seconds with a bronze-medal finish (47.90). Freshman Katii Tang chipped in a few points with a 23rd-place finish (50.51).
WATCH: Maggie MacNeil wins her third Big Ten title of the week, smashing Big Ten, Big Ten Championships, U-M and school records (46.57). #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/CbIiPlDKOw
— Michigan Swimming & Diving (@umichswimdive) February 23, 2020
The Wolverines loaded up in the 200-yard butterfly, as six swimmers made it back for finals. Carter, the transfer from Georgia competing at her first Big Ten Championships, announced her arrival by setting new Big Ten, meet and U-M records (1:53.28). Sophomore Victoria Kwan was the runner-up, dropping three seconds from her old career best (1:54.17), while senior Vanessa Krause, the Big Ten champion in this event from 2018, was fifth (1:54.61). Junior Sierra Schmidt, an hour after swimming the mile, was back in the water for the consolation final, toughing out a 15th-place finish (1:59.22). Junior Kate Krolikowski (18th, 1:59.30) and freshman Megan Glass (19th, 1:59.35) added points in the 'C' final.
The Wolverines finished up the meet on a winning note, leading wire-to-wire to take the 400-yard freestyle relay behind MacNeil, Carter, Tucker and Pyshnenko (3:11.94). MacNeil split 46.94 on the leadoff leg, while Pyshnenko anchored in 47.27. It was the program's third consecutive win in the event.
A pair of distance swimmers won medals in the 1,650-yard freestyle, as Schmidt won silver (15:48.53), and Sims won bronze (15:49.83). They were the third- and fourth-fastest times in school history.
The divers ended the week on a high note, as six of the team's seven student-athletes scored on platform, combining for 70 points. Cutshaw made it through to the platform final for the first time in her career, taking seventh (254.90). Three others were in the consolation, led by junior Camryn McPherson, who finished 10th (230.30). Canale capped her week with a 13th-place finish (210.00), while sophomore Allie Klein was 14th (202.00). Freshmen Paige Sundermann (23rd, 182.15) and Lucy Hogan (24th, 181.15) rounded out the scorers.
All four swimmers in the 200-yard backstroke made it back, headlined by senior Chloe Hicks, who took third and became the third woman in school history to crack 1:53.00 (1:52.92). Senior Jacqui Schafer (11th, 1:55.68) and sophomore Katie Minnich (13th, 1:55.85) both had solid swims in the consolation final. Freshman Mariella Venter was the last qualifier out of the preliminaries, but went on to win the bonus final from lane eight, shaving two seconds off her time from the morning (1:55.84).
Fresh off her title-winning swim in the 100-yard breaststroke last night, Tucker was the team's lone representative in the 200-yard breaststroke, holding the eighth and final spot in preliminaries. She moved up in the finals, finishing fourth (2:07.73).
Select student-athletes looking to improve their odds of making the NCAA Championships will compete at the OSU Last Chance Meet next Sunday (March 1) in Columbus, Ohio.
Michigan Big Ten Champions (8)
Maggie MacNeil (3): 50-yard Freestyle, 100-yard Freestyle, 100-yard Butterfly
Olivia Carter (1): 200-yard Butterfly
Miranda Tucker (1): 100-yard Breaststroke
400-yard Freestyle Relay: Maggie MacNeil, Olivia Carter, Miranda Tucker, Daria Pyshnenko
200-yard Medley Relay: Maggie MacNeil, Miranda Tucker, Claire Maiocco, Daria Pyshnenko
400-yard Medley Relay: Maggie MacNeil, Miranda Tucker, Olivia Carter, Daria Pyshnenko
Big Ten Award Winners
Swimmer of the Championships: MAGGIE MACNEIL, Michigan
Diver of the Championships: Emily Bretscher, Purdue
Freshman of the Year: KAITLYNN SIMS, Michigan
U-M Sportsmanship Award Honoree: JACQUI SCHAFER
2019-20 Michigan All-Big Ten Selections
First Team: Olivia Carter, Maggie MacNeil, Claire Maiocco, Daria Pyshnenko, Miranda Tucker
Second Team: Vanessa Krause, Victoria Kwan, Sierra Schmidt
Career Bests
1650-yard Freestyle: Sierra Schmidt (15:48.53 -- No. 3 at U-M)
1650-yard Freestyle: Kaitlynn Sims (15:49.83 -- No. 4 at U-M)
200-yard Backstroke: Chloe Hicks (1:52.92 -- No. 3 at U-M)
200-yard Backstroke: Mariella Venter (1:55.84)
200-yard Backstroke: Katie Minnich (1:55.85)
100-yard Freestyle: Maggie MacNeil (46.57 -- No. 1 at U-M)
100-yard Freestyle: Daria Pyshnenko (47.90 -- No. 6 at U-M)
100-yard Freestyle: Katii Tang (50.24)
100-yard Freestyle: Sophia Kudryashova (50.78)
200-yard Breaststroke: Mariella Venter (2:15.27)
200-yard Butterfly: Victoria Kwan (1:54.17 -- No. 3 at U-M)
200-yard Butterfly: Megan Glass (1:59.35)
Results
Team Standings
1. Ohio State 1503.5 2. MICHIGAN 1306.5 3. Indiana 964 4. Northwestern 907.5 5. Wisconsin 734 6. Minnesota 617 7. Purdue 602 8. Penn State 517.5 9. Iowa 430 10. Nebraska 385 11. Rutgers 291 12. Michigan State 203 13. Illinois 193
1650-yard Freestyle
1. Molly Kowal, OSU 15:43.17*%P 2. Sierra Schmidt, U-M 15:48.53* 3. Kaitlynn Sims, U-M 15:49.83*
200-yard Backstroke
1. Beata Nelson, WISC 1:48.73*P 3. Chloe Hicks, U-M 1:52.92# 11. Jacqui Schafer, U-M 1:55.68# 13. Katie Minnich, U-M 1:55.85# 17. Mariella Venter, U-M 1:55.84#
100-yard Freestyle
1. Maggie MacNeil, U-M 46.57*B%MP 3. Daria Pyshnenko, U-M 47.90# 23. Katii Tang, U-M 50.51 (50.24) 38. Madeleine Bauer, U-M 50.67 40. Claire Maiocco, U-M 50.77 41. Sophia Kudryashova, U-M 50.78
200-yard Breaststroke
1. Calypso Sheridan, NU 2:06.85# 4. Miranda Tucker, U-M 2:07.97# 25. Mariella Venter, U-M 2:15.27 28. Caroline Sisson, U-M 2:15.85
200-yard Butterfly
1. Olivia Carter, U-M 1:53.28#B%MP 2. Victoria Kwan, U-M 1:54.17# 5. Vanessa Krause, U-M 1:54.61# 15. Sierra Schmidt, U-M 1:59.22 (1:58.16#) 18. Kate Krolikowski, U-M 1:59.30 (1:59.02#) 19. Megan Glass, U-M 1:59.35 26. Alexis Margett, U-M 2:00.79 29. Emma Cleason, U-M 2:01.06 42. Octavia Lau, U-M 2:03.76
Platform Diving
1. Markie Hopkins, NU 285.45^ 7. Christy Cutshaw, U-M 254.90^ 10. Camryn McPherson, U-M 230.30^ 13. Nikki Canale, U-M 210.00 14. Allie Klein, U-M 202.00 23. Paige Sundermann, U-M 182.15 24. Lucy Hogan, U-M 181.15 36. Lauren Cheetham, U-M 150.55
400-yard Freestyle Relay
1. MICHIGAN 3:11.94* (Maggie MacNeil, Olivia Carter Miranda Tucker, Daria Pyshnenko)
* NCAA 'A' standard
# NCAA 'B' standard
^ NCAA Zone Diving standard
A American Record
N NCAA Record
B Big Ten Record
% Big Ten Championships Record
M University of Michigan Record
P Pool Record
Players Mentioned
