Completed Event: Swimming and Diving at UNI on January 10, 2026 , Win , 171, to, 129
Final
Swimming and Diving
171
UNI
129
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Iowa State University Athletics
Photo by: Liz Parke
Swimming and Diving Award Winners, Captains Announced
04.12.2018 | Swimming and Diving
AMES, Iowa – This weekend, the Iowa State swimming and diving coaching staff announced team's end-of-the-year awards at the annual banquet. The team also released the captains for the 2017-18 season.
Most Valuable Swimmer: Laura Miksch and Mary Kate Luddy
The pair of seniors led the way in multiple events, with Miksch dominating sprint freestyle and Luddy in control of both butterfly events in addition to the 500 free and 400 IM. In their senior seasons, they both stamped their names into Iowa State's record book. Miksch leaves Iowa State as the school record holder in the 50 freestyle, and claims the second and third-fastest 100 free times in school history, both only .02 away from Amanda Paulson's 100 free record. Luddy's legacy includes the status as the only Cyclone to swim a sub-two minute time in the 200 fly, while also shattering Petra Plaminkova's 16-year-old 400 IM record.
Most Valuable Diver/Newcomer of the Year: Dana Liva
The transfer from Wisconsin proved to be a key addition to Iowa State's roster. Throughout the season, she improved her personal-best one-meter score by over 17 points. She also posted solid three-meter scores throughout the season. At the Mizzou Invitational, she was the only Cyclone to qualify for finals in all three disciplines, including a fourth-place finish on platform. By far her biggest contribution came at the Big 12 Championships. In the event, she scored a new school record 283.40 points on platform to earn All-Big 12 First Team honors, finishing third in the conference. Liva ranked first among Cyclone newcomers in total individual points scored this season, scoring 100, while tied for first with 18 points scored during the conference meet.
Most Improved Awards: Silqi Luo and Sydney Ronald
At the end of the 2016-17 season, Luo ranked as the fifth Cyclone in the 200 free and third in the 200 IM. During her final year swimming for Iowa State, she dropped nearly two seconds off both her 200 free and 200 IM times, jumping to second and first on the 2017-18 season performers list. The times also earned her a pair of spots on the All-Big 12 Second Team in both events. In the diving well, Ronald's three-meter score of 305.70 at the Big 12 Championships eclipsed her personal best set during her true freshman season. She also set a new personal record score on the platform during this year's conference meet.
Melissa Fender Award: Harper Emswiler
The Melissa Fender Award acknowledges the effort it takes to be an Iowa State student-athlete, specifically rewarding strong school and team pride. Emswiler, a former walk-on swimmer, was the Cyclone selected for this honor. She was the top Cyclone backstroker throughout the season, earning All-Big 12 Second Team recognition in the 100 back this season.
Kerry O'Brien Award: Kasey Roberts
This award is given to the student-athlete that demonstrates the personal commitment necessary to achieve improvement to a national championship level. Roberts, after off-season surgery, came back to Iowa State ready to work hard to get back to a competitive level. By the end of the year, through many hours spent with the athletic training staff, Roberts ended inside Iowa State's season top-five in the 100 back and breaststroke events.
Cyclone Relay Swimmer: Laura Miksch
Miksch competed on the both of the Cyclones' top medley relay squads, in addition to the 200 and 400 free relays. On the top 200 medley relay, she took over the freestyle leg in fifth place at the Big 12 Championships, and swam a 21.84 split to nab third, nearly reaching second. She also led off the school record 200 free relay squad with a 49.99. In the disqualified 200 free relay, her 50 free leadoff time of 22.61 now ranks third in school history.
Cyclone Strength and Conditioning Award: Danica Delaquis and Sydney Ronald
This award, selected by the Iowa State strength and conditioning staff, recognizes and swimmer and diver that dedicated themselves in the weight room to achieve the strength and endurance to compete at a championship level. This year's recipients both had outstanding seasons, evident of the work done in the weight room. Delaquis led the Cyclone breaststroke team, while Ronald's work showed with the consistency of her performance this season.
2018-19 Team Captains: Evan Hundley, Haley Ruegemer and Sydney Ronald
Next year's senior class will also serve as the team captains. Together, they are the top returning student-athletes in six different events. Hundley will be a strong voice on the sprint free and backstroke teams, Ruegemer among the distance free and IM squads, and Ronald in the diving well. Ronald served as the diving captain in the 2017-18 season, while Hundley and Ruegemer will be first-time captains next year.
Players Mentioned
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Back/Fly/Free
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Sprint Free/Back
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Diving
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Dist. Free/Fly/IM
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Free/IM
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Sprint Free/Breast
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Breast/IM
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Diving
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