Swimming and Diving Season Preview: Butterfly and Backstroke

10.06.2010 | Swimming and Diving

By: cyclones.com

This is the second article of a four-part series previewing the Iowa State swimming and diving team going into the 2010-11 season. The season kicks off Friday at the annual intrasquad meet at 6 p.m. at Beyer Pool. Admission is free.

AMES, Iowa – What do the 100 and 200-yard butterfly and the 100 and 200-yard backstroke have in common for the Iowa State swimming and diving team? The fastest times of the 2009-10 season were put up by Nan Liu. However, the Cyclone camp has plenty of options to follow in Liu's footsteps.

Liu, who graduated in May, was one of the nation's best last season in the 100 fly, finishing 27th at the 2010 NCAA Championships in the event. The Cyclones also lose Abby Glaser, who held the school record in the 100 fly before Liu's breakthrough. Iowa State will have a top swimmer to count on in sophomore Elena Carvell.

“We have a transfer from the University of Wisconsin in Elena Carvell who is an excellent butterfly swimmer,” Iowa State head coach Duane Sorenson said. “We are looking for big things out of her.”

Carvell posted a 55.53 in the 100 fly in practice prior to the Big 12 Championships last season, the eighth fastest time in school history.

There are other options as well for Sorenson as sophomore Sarah Norris returns to the fold and incoming freshman Carissa Poeschel prepares to make an impact.

“Carissa Poeschel is also a very good butterflier and Sarah Norris has some good speed,” Sorenson stated. “We lost some great butterfly swimmers but we have some good swimmers coming in their place.”

The area where the Cyclones will be looking for Poeschel to make her greatest impact is in the 200-yard butterfly. She and sophomore Tiana Wollin will be Iowa State's top options in the event.

“Carissa has the times to be very competitive in dual meets and the Big 12,” Sorenson said. “Tiana Wollin, who came out of nowhere last year, is another person we are expecting big things from.”

Liu possessed both backstroke school records as well in her time as a Cyclone. It will be up to sophomore Dani Harris to pick up Liu's top spot, sporting a personal best of 55.98 in the 100-yard backstroke last season. Senior Megan Thompson and Norris will also be options in the shorter distance.

“We are not going to be as deep in the backstroke events with Nan gone but we are going to be real solid,” Sorenson noted.

Harris became the fourth Cyclone in school history to go under two minutes in the 200-yard backstroke last season with her 1:59.59 in the consolation finals at the Big 12 Championships and will be Iowa State's top option in the event. Senior Chelsea Tomek will look to become the fifth Cyclone to break the two minute barrier this season, after going 2:01.07 at the Big 12 Championships in February.

“Dani Harris is a great 200 backstroker and Chelsea Tomek had a great Big 12 Chamionships.,” Sorenson said. “We can also throw Sarah Norris in there to have a nice improvement.”

Senior Jenny Vondenkamp holds the eighth-fastest time in school history in the 200. Senior Amy Bauer put through a solid performance in the 200 back last season at the Big 12 Championships with a time of 2:05.71. Iowa State also welcomes junior Liz Holman back into the fold after she missed last season with an injury.