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
Iowa State Hosts Kansas on Senior Day
02.01.2012 | Swimming and Diving
AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State swimming and diving team makes its final appearance of the season at Beyer Pool this weekend with a Big 12 dual meet against the Kansas Jayhawks. The two-day dual starts on Friday at 5 p.m. CST with 1-meter diving prelims. Saturday swimming and diving begins at 9 a.m. with 3-meter diving prelims. Prior to the swimming events beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, the five senior members of the Cyclone squad will be honored.
"For both teams, the meet format with 50s and 150s of the races allows the teams to swim at a faster pace," head coach Duane Sorenson said. "We are looking to get out and be at our taper-type times at the 150s. The 50s are a straight sprint, we rarely get this opportunity to race the short races. This is an opportunity to race and not be too concerned with your times."
Mandi Caudle has been an important asset for the coaches during her time at Iowa State. A consistent presence in the freestyle and butterfly events, Caudle has been someone the coaches can trust with leading a sprints group heavily based on underclassmen.
"Mandi has been a great leader in our sprint group," Sorenson observed. "Mandi has led our young sprinters along, keeping them on task with what they are supposed to do and what our drills were. When Kelly and I have not been able to be with them, she was able to lead the drills and workouts."
Meredith Doran has been a crucial piece to Iowa State's distance puzzle the last four seasons. Doran has continued to improve throughout her career and as the season has gone along. She will have another chance to finish strong with the Big 12 Championships less than three weeks away.
"Meredith has been a mainstay in our distance program since the day she got here," Sorenson noted. "She has been reliable in the 500 and the 1000. She has been a tremendous worker in practice. When we have a big meet or a big taper meet, she has come through and shined. We are proud of her and what she accomplished."
Liz Holman has been another important Cyclone both in and out of the pool. Already a vital piece to the Iowa State backstroke group, Sorenson complimented Holman's efforts as a captain to go with her ambitions in the pool.
"Liz has been great as a captain," Sorenson said. "Her back injury after her freshman year set her back but she came back last season and did a nice job. At the moment, she is swimming faster than she ever has before. She has been a great team leader, very vocal and she knows how to get the team going."
Two divers will also be competing in their final meet at Beyer Pool this weekend. Jenn Botsch has fought off numerous injuries throughout her Iowa State career and has continued to perform and put up good scores for the Cyclones.
"Jenn has worked really hard," diving coach Jeff Warrick said. "She has had some struggles with injuries and things like that but she has persevered through it."
Sarah Nelson seized the opportunity to become Iowa State's top diver two seasons ago and has continued to raise the bar for herself and her teammates during her career at Iowa State. Nelson is one of four Cyclone divers in program history to hold a spot in the all-time top-10 for 1-meter, 3-meter and platform.
"Sarah has been a great team person," Warrick said. "She has been real positive and real fun to work with."
This weekend's meet features the prelim-finals format similar to what both teams will see at the Big 12 Championships. Each team will complete a six-dive list in prelims and the top-three divers from each team will advance to the finals during the meet.
"It gives them a chance to put them in a situation where if they don't perform, they won't dive," Warrick noted. "It also gives the ones who make it a chance to make some improvements in the finals. The second day, they have to get up early with a 7:30 a.m. warm up. They have to be ready to go."
"For both teams, the meet format with 50s and 150s of the races allows the teams to swim at a faster pace," head coach Duane Sorenson said. "We are looking to get out and be at our taper-type times at the 150s. The 50s are a straight sprint, we rarely get this opportunity to race the short races. This is an opportunity to race and not be too concerned with your times."
Mandi Caudle has been an important asset for the coaches during her time at Iowa State. A consistent presence in the freestyle and butterfly events, Caudle has been someone the coaches can trust with leading a sprints group heavily based on underclassmen.
"Mandi has been a great leader in our sprint group," Sorenson observed. "Mandi has led our young sprinters along, keeping them on task with what they are supposed to do and what our drills were. When Kelly and I have not been able to be with them, she was able to lead the drills and workouts."
Meredith Doran has been a crucial piece to Iowa State's distance puzzle the last four seasons. Doran has continued to improve throughout her career and as the season has gone along. She will have another chance to finish strong with the Big 12 Championships less than three weeks away.
"Meredith has been a mainstay in our distance program since the day she got here," Sorenson noted. "She has been reliable in the 500 and the 1000. She has been a tremendous worker in practice. When we have a big meet or a big taper meet, she has come through and shined. We are proud of her and what she accomplished."
Liz Holman has been another important Cyclone both in and out of the pool. Already a vital piece to the Iowa State backstroke group, Sorenson complimented Holman's efforts as a captain to go with her ambitions in the pool.
"Liz has been great as a captain," Sorenson said. "Her back injury after her freshman year set her back but she came back last season and did a nice job. At the moment, she is swimming faster than she ever has before. She has been a great team leader, very vocal and she knows how to get the team going."
Two divers will also be competing in their final meet at Beyer Pool this weekend. Jenn Botsch has fought off numerous injuries throughout her Iowa State career and has continued to perform and put up good scores for the Cyclones.
"Jenn has worked really hard," diving coach Jeff Warrick said. "She has had some struggles with injuries and things like that but she has persevered through it."
Sarah Nelson seized the opportunity to become Iowa State's top diver two seasons ago and has continued to raise the bar for herself and her teammates during her career at Iowa State. Nelson is one of four Cyclone divers in program history to hold a spot in the all-time top-10 for 1-meter, 3-meter and platform.
"Sarah has been a great team person," Warrick said. "She has been real positive and real fun to work with."
This weekend's meet features the prelim-finals format similar to what both teams will see at the Big 12 Championships. Each team will complete a six-dive list in prelims and the top-three divers from each team will advance to the finals during the meet.
"It gives them a chance to put them in a situation where if they don't perform, they won't dive," Warrick noted. "It also gives the ones who make it a chance to make some improvements in the finals. The second day, they have to get up early with a 7:30 a.m. warm up. They have to be ready to go."
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Swimming and DivingDiving
/ Swimming and Diving
Sprint Free/Fly
/ Swimming and DivingSprint Free/Fly
/ Swimming and Diving
Middle Distance
/ Swimming and DivingMiddle Distance
/ Swimming and Diving
Backstroke
/ Swimming and DivingBackstroke
/ Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Swimming and DivingDiving
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