Completed Event: Swimming and Diving versus Big 12 Duals on January 16, 2026 , , 5th, 781 points
Final
Swimming and Diving
Big 12 Duals
5th, 781 points
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Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclones Head to Big 12 Champsionships
02.23.2009 | Swimming and Diving
AMES, Iowa- The Iowa State swimming and diving team look to finish their season strong this week at the Big 12 Conference Championships at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Mo.
Big12sports.com will provide highlight packages after each day is completed and will be broadcasts on tape-delay by Fox Sports Net.
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At last seasons championships, the Cyclones finished fifth and edged out Nebraska by four points. ISU has posted a 6-5 dual meet record on the season, their most wins since 2002-03.
“I am very pleased with how we trained this year from the first day of practice,” said head coach Duane Sorenson. “We have been very consistent in our training and comparing our times from this year to last year we are ahead of schedule.”
“We are a lot bigger of a team,” said junior diver Tien Tran. “And we have a variety of girls on each board who can do well instead of just three solid divers. So hopefully we can be well-rounded on everything.”
ISU had many swimmers earn all-conference honors last season with senior Marni Benson earning honors in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, junior Abby Glaser in the 50 free and 100 butterfly, and sophomore Jeli Nixt in the 100 breast. The Cyclones also welcome back junior Frances Calzada into the fold after a knee injury prevented her form being able to compete at 100 percent during last season's championships.
“It is going to take a total team effort and we are going to be counting on our athletes that performed well last year to do well again,” said Sorenson. “Abby qualified for the finals of the 50 free and 100 fly and she won the consolation heat of the 100 free. Marni and Jeli both placed in the 100 breast last season. We are looking for Frances Calzada to be on form after having her knee injury last season. It is nice to have Krista Moyer back, after taking last year off, hopefully she will be up there.”
The Cyclone divers have enjoyed a successful season with the four returning divers setting a combined nine career bests going into the conference championships. The ISU freshmen have also continued to improve on their high scores on the season.
“I think as a group we have made tremendous progress,” said diving coach Jeff Warrick. “Our freshman have progressed the most and I am excited to see how they finish their season. Kali (Fryklund) is really fine tuning some dives that are really going to make a big difference. Tien is diving at a much higher and much more consistent level this season.”
Tran goes into the meet as one of the favorites on the 3-meter board and platform. Tran finished second on platform at the Big 12 Championships last season. Tran's 3-meter score of 338.55 is the third-highest among the Big 12 divers this season.
“Hopefully she is going to take it as a challenge and a great experience going head to head with great competition,” said Warrick. She can't control how the others dive and hopefully she puts together a great list of dives. She is having great practices and she looks like she is in the right mental set. We have talked about the physical, mental and emotional preparation. She just has to be confident and trust her training.”
“I try not to think about it really,” said Tran. “I just try to forget about my goals and expectations and try to relax and put it in the back of my mind.”
Both coaches have set high goals for their student-athletes.
“An ideal Championships would be everybody swimming to their lifetime best, breaking all the school records, and beating Nebraska and seeing how much we can close the gap on Kansas and Missouri,” said Sorenson.
“We want to set lots of personal bests and though it is going to be a challenge having at least two divers in each of the finals,” said Warrick. “That would be ideal but that is going to be tough and challenging and being able to help the whole team reach our goals to get towards the top of the Big 12.”
Players Mentioned
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Sprint Free/Fly
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