Cyclones Start Season Strong, Top SDSU 203-91

Friday, October 17

Ames, Iowa

6:00 PM

Iowa State

203

South Dakota State

Cyclones Start Season Strong, Top SDSU 203-91

10.17.2014 | Swimming and Diving

RESULTS

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State swimming and diving team started the 2014-15 season strong with a 203-91 win over South Dakota State Friday in Beyer Hall, pushing the all-time series record to 10-0.

The Cyclones got off to a quick start sweeping six of the first seven races, taking a 106-25 lead into the diving well for the one-meter event. Iowa State went on to take first-place in all 16 events on the evening.

“We knew we would be a little bit stronger than South Dakota State,” head swimming coach Duane Sorenson said. “We challenged our women to standup, race and push each other. I'm really pleased with how we improved off our intra squad meet.”

Redshirt senior Carissa Poeschel was back in the water for Iowa State after missing all of last year due to ankle surgery. Poeschel had a convincing performance with three top-three performances in the 400 medley relay, 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle relay.

“At this point in the season, I actually feel like I'm ahead of where I usually am, and I'm happy with that,” Poeschel said.

The Cyclones owned the diving well as Elyse Brouillette and Julie Dickinson took first and second-place, respectively, in both the one and three-meter diving events. Brouillette bounced back from an incomplete dive on her three-meter set to take first with a score of 247.05.

“I'm not going to give up any points just because I had a bad dive. I just focused on improving my scores on the dives afterwards,” Brouillette said. “We had a lot of nerves on the boards today, but Julie really stepped up. We showed a lot of confidence.”

The Iowa State newcomers showed up in a big way, as five of the seven freshmen earned points or for the Cyclones. Freshman Laura Miksch and Freshman Mary Kate Luddy took first-place in the 50 and 1000 freestyle with times of 0:24.39 and 10:38.92, respectively.

“It's just a great confidence builder for them to win their first collegiate meet,” Sorenson said. “We knew this class was talented. Because of the lineup we swam tonight, they were given the opportunity to win races, and they took advantage of it.”

On Deck

The Cyclones have a quick turnaround as they host Nebraska tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Beyer Hall. Last season's matchup against the Huskers ended with the first tie in Iowa State school history. ISU will be looking for their first win over Nebraska since the 2002-03 season.