Cyclones Top Panthers, 177-122

Saturday, January 23

Cedar Falls, Iowa

12:00 PM

Iowa State

177

122

UNI

01.23.2016 | Swimming and Diving

By: cyclones.com

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Iowa State swimming and diving team picked up a win Saturday in its first road dual meet in over three months, topping UNI, 177-122.

The win improved the Cyclones' all-time record against the Panthers to 29-1, including a perfect 18-0 under head coach Duane Sorenson. Iowa State's 29 wins over UNI are its most against any single program.

While UNI opened the meet by out-touching Iowa State for the top spot in the 200 medley relay, the Cyclones went on to take first place in the next five events.

Haley Ruegemer and Mollie McNeel out-paced the Panthers to comfortable take first and second place in the 1000 freestyle, finishing in 10:41.45 and 10:44.80, respectfully. In the 200 freestyle, Silqi Luo led the Cyclones with a time of 1:55.80.

Kaylee Kucera and Harper Emswiler took finished in the top-two places for the second time in as many meets. Kucera clocked in at 58.44, followed by Emswiler half a second later.

Kasey Roberts and Danica Delaquis by touched in 1:05.95 on the 100 breaststroke, taking a tie for first place.

“It was really good,” Sorenson said. “I like the way our women competed. Out top-level swimmers did a good job racing and getting their hand to the wall when the races were close.”

On the 1-meter board, senior captain Elyse Brouillette smashed her previous season-best score with a mark of 286.50 – nearly 13 points better than her prior best. Brouillette took first place, followed by Becky Stochl in third with a score of 249.60.

“I though what she was best at was just being consistent at a higher level and that's why she got her season-best,” diving coach Jeff Warrick said. “She didn't have any big mistakes and if there were mistakes, they were little ones. Her consistency is what did it for her.”

Out of the diving break, Marissa Engel finished the 200 backstroke in 2:04.67 for a first-place finish. Roberts followed her by beating out the field in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:21.86 to win her second event of the day.

Luo just barely missed out on her second first place finish of the day, getting out-paced in the final inches of the 500 freestyle to take second place with a time of 5:12.73.

Mary Kate Luddy, who won the 200 butterfly in 2:07.19, also finished first in the 100 yard race of the same stroke, clocking in at 58.34 seconds.

Brouillette and junior Julie Dickinson provided Iowa State with its typical one-two punch on the 3-meter board. Dickinson took first with a score of 290.10, followed by Brouillette in second with 281.18 points.

“There was definitely some really good things done by everybody,” Warrick said. “Becky's inward two-and-a-half [somersaults] was the best she's ever done that and that's a big dive in her list for her. Julie's two twisters were two of the best that I've seen her do back-to-back in a meet. Elyse's aggressiveness and just getting after her dives with confidence was great to see.”

Luddy followed up the 3-meter boards by winning her third race in as many attempts, touching the wall in 4:35.52 in the 400 IM.

The Iowa State 'A' squad of Savanna Townsend, Roberts, Brooke Evensen and Luo rounded out the meet with a time of 3:31.80 in the 400 free relay to push the final margin to 177-122.

“Mary Kate Luddy was just a real trooper today winning her three events in real solid fashion,” Sorenson said. “I was proud of the way Kaylee Kucera won the 100 back – that's the best she's looked in that event all season. Both of our breaststroke swimmers – Kasey Roberts and Danica Delaquis – did a great job in both of their swims. Overall I was very pleased with those results.”

The Cyclones return to the pool Friday, Jan. 29, in Morgantown, West Virginia, for a double dual against Villanova and Big 12 foe West Virginia. The meet is set for a 5 p.m. EST start at WVU Natatorium.