Cyclones Travel To Texas For Big 12 Championships

Wednesday, February 27

Austin, Texas

Iowa State

Big 12 Championships

Cyclones Travel To Texas For Big 12 Championships

02.26.2019 | Swimming and Diving

AUSTIN, Texas – The Iowa State swimming and diving team (7-4. 2-1 Big 12) is set to compete at the University of Texas for the 2019 Big 12 Championships. The conference event runs from Feb. 27 – Mar. 2, with an NCAA Last Chance Meet taking place on Mar. 3.

THE EVENT – Big 12 Championships

The Cyclones ended last year's event in fourth place with 512.5 points. After picking up dual wins against TCU and West Virginia, they will look to jump into the top three in 2019. To do so, the Cyclones will need strong performances from each team member.

The sprint freestyle and butterfly is led by Anna Andersen and Elynn Tan. Andersen has beaten each Big 12 competitor she has swam against this season in the 100 free, including victories in the TCU and West Virginia duals and a second-place finish in the Kansas Classic. Tan won the 50 free and 100 fly against TCU and finished second in both events in the victory over the Mountaineers. She did not swim against Kansas, but tied for second in the 100 fly with a Kansas swimmer at the 2018 Kansas Classic.

The breaststroke trio of Martha Haas, Lehr Thorson and Bryn Ericksen has had success in the Cyclones' Big 12 wins. Haas picked up victories in the 100 breast against both TCU and West Virginia, while Thorson proved to have incredible poise on the big stage when she swept the breaststroke events at rival Iowa.

In the distance freestyle events, two swimmers at opposite ends of their careers have led the way for Iowa State. Senior Haley Ruegemer and freshman Lucia Rizzo have been the most consistent presence in the 500 and 1000 for the Cyclones. Ruegemer has been in peak form since returning from injury, finishing outside the top-two just once in dual meet action. She will likely swim the 400 IM, where she has the second-fastest time ever swam by a Cyclone set in last year's conference championship meet. Rizzo is the top Cyclone 200 fly and 500 free swimmer, and since the Cy-Hawk dual has one finish outside the top-three. She won Iowa State's lone event against Kansas, winning a touch-out in the 200 fly.

Freshman Emily Haan is the Cyclones' fastest backstroker this season, and will look to continue her freshman campaign with a solid finish at the Big 12 Championships. The freshman currently ranks fourth all-time in the 100 back among Iowa State swimmers. Wyli Erlechman and Evan Hundley will also contribute in the events, both ranking as the second-fastest Cyclones this year in the 100 and 200 back, respectively.

In the diving well, Dana Liva has top-10 scores in each of the three diving disciplines, including the school record platform score. Sydney Ronald is also among the Cyclone top-10 in the three-meter and both divers will look to improve upon their personal bests at the event.

The 2019 Big 12 Championships will be livestreamed by FloSwimming. Follow the team on Twitter (@CycloneSD) or on Facebook at facebook.com/cycloneSD for in-game updates, post-meet recaps and results throughout the season.