fThe two-time defending Big Ten champion Minnesota women's swimming and diving team concludes its regular-season schedule by hosting the Minnesota Challenge, a non-scoring meet featuring teams mostly from the Upper Midwest. The 20th-ranked Gophers finished 6-1 in the dual meet season, 3-1 against Big Ten teams. This is Minnesota's final meet prior to the Big Ten meet Feb. 15-17 at Indiana University.
Gophers Currently 20th In National Poll
Minnesota is currently ranked 20th in the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) poll. The Golden Gophers have been ranked as high as 16th this season, and have appeared in every poll. Other Big Ten teams that are ranked are Wisconsin (13th), Michigan (14th), Penn State (15th), Indiana (19th) and Northwestern (23rd). Purdue is the first team mentioned among teams receiving votes outside of the top 25.
Minnesota Defeats Illinois and Purdue, Freeman Wins 200th Dual Meet
Minnesota won two of three dual meets at the Quad Duals on Saturday in Madison, Wis. The Golden Gophers defeated Purdue, 215-138, and Illinois, 219.5-127.5, but dropped their first dual meet of the season to No. 13 Wisconsin, 203-128. The two wins give Minnesota head coach Jean Freeman 200 career dual meet victories in her 28th year as the Golden Gopher head coach. Her overall record now stands at 200-53-4.
LaVoi Wins 1-Meter Diving to Lead Gopher Effort
Minnesota senior Tracy LaVoi (Sauk Rapids, Minn./St. Cloud Tech) was the Golden Gophers' lone overall winner at the Quad Duals, winning the 1-meter competition with 254.25 points. The Golden Gophers had eight- second place finishes, including two runnerup finishes in the relay events. Sophomore Dana Baum (Carson City, Nev./Carson) earned two individual seconds in the 500 free (4:57.16) and the 1000 free (10:11.85), the latter a season-best time for Minnesota in the event. Baum also swam on Minnesota's two second-place relays, the 400 free relay and the 800 free relay.
Two Gophers Earn NCAA Consideration Times
Two Gopher swimmers have earned NCAA consideration times in multiple events. Dana Baum swam Minnesota's fastest time in the 200 freestyle since 1988 with a mark of 1:48.73 at the Texas Invitational, just .21 off of the school record set by Jodi Schirmers. In the same meet, she had a consideration time in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:54.77. Junior Jinny Smedstad (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/John F. Kennedy) swam under the standard in the 500 free (4:52.16) and the 400 individual medley (4:22.94) at the Texas Invitational. She went under the consideration standard in the 200 freestyle (1:50.73) at the Quad Duals.
