Swimming and Diving Season Preview: Breaststroke and IM

10.07.2010 | Swimming and Diving

By: cyclones.com

This is the third 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 – The breaststroke events have been a strength of the Cyclones in the Duane Sorenson era at Iowa State. Since 1998, Iowa State has collected All-Big 12 honors in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke 19 times. The 2010-11 Cyclones look to be in good position to increase that number with all of their point scoring swimmers in the breast events returning to the pool.

The breaststroke group starts at the top with senior Jeli Nixt. Nixt took down school records in both breaststroke events at last year's conference meet and earned NCAA 'B' cuts with times of 1:01.64 in the 100-yard and 2:15.46 in the 200-yard event. She will be looking to take the next step this season and qualify for the NCAA Championships.

“We would like for her to go out and get lifetime best times again and end her career on a high note and make it to the NCAA meet,” Sorenson commented. “She is coming off an injury in which twisted up her knee and opposite ankle. She has done rehab all fall and just got back into training. Hopefully she will get a little stronger and get back to where she was and break her school records.”

The depth is aplenty for the Cyclones as well. Sophomore Marley Suckow scored points for the Cyclones at the Big 12 Championships in the 100 and 200 breast with finishes of 10th and 13th, respectively. Senior team captain Lindsey Frodyma also scored for Iowa State at the conference championships with her 16th place finish in the 100 breast. The Cyclones also have further depth in Dani Harris if called upon. Harris swam to the 12th fastest time in school history in the 100 breast (1:06.11) and fifth-fastest in the 200 breast (2:17.25) during her freshman season.

“That is one of the luxuries that we have with those three,” Sorenson said. “It is certainly one of the strengths of our team.”

Sorenson also has a freshman beginning her journey to become the next great Iowa State breaststroke swimmer in Emily Wiltsie. The freshman from Mason City was a two-time IGHSAU champion in the 100-yard breast and was team captain of the 2009 state champions from Mason City.

“Emily was a high school state champion and she has potential to be one of our top 200 breaststrokers,” Sprenson noted. “With those five women, we have a lot of options.”

The 200 IM is an event where Harris will have to make an impact. The sophomore was the top Cyclone in her debut season posting a 2:02.92, the third fastest time in school history.

“Of course Dani Harris will be the leader in the 200 IM but we have a number of people we can throw into that event,” Sorenson said. “Amy Bauer, Jackie Itzen, Tiana Wollin among others. We have a chance for those kids to step up and be strong second and third swimmers behind Dani.”

Bauer is Iowa State's top returner in the 400 IM. The senior made a dramatic in-season improvement in the event last year, going 4:34.28 at the Big 12 Championships after going 4:40.84 only three months earlier. Itzen will also be near the top for the Cyclones in the race.

“It is an event you have to train for all year even though you will only swim it once or twice,” Sorenson noted. “Amy Bauer is our strongest person coming back. Jackie Itzen has had some nice time drops in that event and we have some younger people we are going to try in that event.”

Sorenson will also be looking toward Meredith Doran, whom he believes has the ability to contribute in the event.

“Meredith is such an aerobic swimmer,” Sorenson stated. “The 400 IM is an aerobic race so if we can clean up her backstroke and breaststroke for her she can do a nice job in that event.”

It will be a challenge for the junior from The Woodlands, Texas as she has not swam the 400 IM in competition during her first two years in Ames.