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
New Kids On The Blocks Make Impact For Cyclones
11.02.2011 | Swimming and Diving
AMES, Iowa - It was clear on paper that the Iowa State swimming and diving team's 2011-12 recruiting class was going to have to make an impact early. With a senior class of 11 departing that was responsible for three of the squad's top event times, two school records and major roles in all five of the Cyclones' top relay squads in 2010-11, there was going to be room for newcomers to make an impact.
Four dual meets into the season, the new Cyclones have made their mark. The 12 newcomers to the Iowa State roster have been responsible for 23 of the 34 individual event wins collected by the Cyclones and four newcomers have been members of winning relay squads. Nine individual events have new Cyclones with the fastest time and five newcomers have contributed to the fastest relay teams this year.
A Division III All-American already, there is little surprise in the Iowa State camp at how Imelda Wistey has performed so far. The Grinnell transfer leads the Cyclones with 12 event victories (eight individual, four relay) and has posted Iowa State's top time in both the 100 and 200 breast along with swimming the breaststroke leg on the top 200 medley relay team. Wistey's 1:04.61 in the 100 breast at South Dakota State moved her up to 10th in school history in the event.
"Imelda has been competing well in the breaststroke events and did a nice job swimming the 100 fly this weekend," Iowa State head coach Duane Sorenson said. "We are proud of how she has done so far."
Amanda Paulson has been the leader in the sprint freestyle events this season. Paulson has collected 11 event wins (five individual, six relay) so far and is the top Cyclone in the 50 and 100 free events along with being a member of the top 200 medley and 400 free relay squads.
"We knew Amanda was talented when recruiting her and she has proven us right," Sorenson said. "She has done an outstanding job on the sprint free and she swam a great fly leg on our 200 medley relay team at South Dakota State."
Britta Sortland has not been far behind Paulson in the sprint events, second on the team in the 50 free along with fourth in the 100 free and fifth in the 100 fly, but her impact has been felt in the relay events. The Woodbury, Minn. native has posted three victories in relay events and is a member of all of Iowa State's fastest relay squads this season.
"Britta is a team player," Sorenson noted. "She always swims faster in her relay splits and we knew that coming in. She really gets up for the relays and we have to get her to do that in the individual events."
Elizabeth Kleiner has five event victories on the year, including three in the win at South Dakota State. Kleiner is Iowa State's leader in both the 500 free and 200 fly along with being a member of the top 400 free relay squad. Sarah Deis has three individual event wins on the season and has the Cyclones' top mark in the 200 free and 200 IM along with being a member of the fastest 200 free relay squad. Kristy Kunkel has two individual event wins and is the top Iowa State swimmer in the 200 back this season.
"They have to continue to take on the challenge of swimming the longer events," Sorenson said. "They see themselves as 200 and 500 free swimmers right now. We are also training them for the 400 IM because they are all talented at all four strokes. The intensity of the training that they do every day will make them that much better."
Bre Loeschke picked up her first career event win in the 200 back at South Dakota and is ranked second among the Cyclones in the 200 back and third in the 100 back.
In the diving well, Cyclone newcomers Megan Cohea and Dani Davis are both off to fine starts in their careers. Cohea is third on the Cyclones on 1-meter and 3-meter and Davis is fifth on the two boards.
The Cyclones are back in action Nov. 18-20 at the Northwestern Invitational.
Four dual meets into the season, the new Cyclones have made their mark. The 12 newcomers to the Iowa State roster have been responsible for 23 of the 34 individual event wins collected by the Cyclones and four newcomers have been members of winning relay squads. Nine individual events have new Cyclones with the fastest time and five newcomers have contributed to the fastest relay teams this year.
A Division III All-American already, there is little surprise in the Iowa State camp at how Imelda Wistey has performed so far. The Grinnell transfer leads the Cyclones with 12 event victories (eight individual, four relay) and has posted Iowa State's top time in both the 100 and 200 breast along with swimming the breaststroke leg on the top 200 medley relay team. Wistey's 1:04.61 in the 100 breast at South Dakota State moved her up to 10th in school history in the event.
"Imelda has been competing well in the breaststroke events and did a nice job swimming the 100 fly this weekend," Iowa State head coach Duane Sorenson said. "We are proud of how she has done so far."
Amanda Paulson has been the leader in the sprint freestyle events this season. Paulson has collected 11 event wins (five individual, six relay) so far and is the top Cyclone in the 50 and 100 free events along with being a member of the top 200 medley and 400 free relay squads.
"We knew Amanda was talented when recruiting her and she has proven us right," Sorenson said. "She has done an outstanding job on the sprint free and she swam a great fly leg on our 200 medley relay team at South Dakota State."
Britta Sortland has not been far behind Paulson in the sprint events, second on the team in the 50 free along with fourth in the 100 free and fifth in the 100 fly, but her impact has been felt in the relay events. The Woodbury, Minn. native has posted three victories in relay events and is a member of all of Iowa State's fastest relay squads this season.
"Britta is a team player," Sorenson noted. "She always swims faster in her relay splits and we knew that coming in. She really gets up for the relays and we have to get her to do that in the individual events."
Elizabeth Kleiner has five event victories on the year, including three in the win at South Dakota State. Kleiner is Iowa State's leader in both the 500 free and 200 fly along with being a member of the top 400 free relay squad. Sarah Deis has three individual event wins on the season and has the Cyclones' top mark in the 200 free and 200 IM along with being a member of the fastest 200 free relay squad. Kristy Kunkel has two individual event wins and is the top Iowa State swimmer in the 200 back this season.
"They have to continue to take on the challenge of swimming the longer events," Sorenson said. "They see themselves as 200 and 500 free swimmers right now. We are also training them for the 400 IM because they are all talented at all four strokes. The intensity of the training that they do every day will make them that much better."
Bre Loeschke picked up her first career event win in the 200 back at South Dakota and is ranked second among the Cyclones in the 200 back and third in the 100 back.
In the diving well, Cyclone newcomers Megan Cohea and Dani Davis are both off to fine starts in their careers. Cohea is third on the Cyclones on 1-meter and 3-meter and Davis is fifth on the two boards.
The Cyclones are back in action Nov. 18-20 at the Northwestern Invitational.
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Swimming and Diving
MD/IM
/ Swimming and Diving
MD/Fly/Back
/ Swimming and Diving
MD/IM
/ Swimming and Diving
Back/IM
/ Swimming and Diving
Sprint
/ Swimming and Diving
Sprint
/ Swimming and Diving
Breast/IM
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