Gophers Win 2013 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships Minnesota claims back-to-back titles
Haley Spencer and the Gophers won the 2013 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships with 831.5 points.
Feb. 23, 2013
FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (PDF) l SATURDAY RESULTS (PDF l HTML)
Minnesota let from start to finish at the 2013 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships in Minneapolis to defend the conference team title. The Gophers finished with 831.5 points while Indiana was second with 671.5 points. Penn State placed third with 498.5 points and Ohio State took fourth with 384 points. Purdue was fifth with 363 points and Michigan was sixth (309). Minnesota wins its fifth Big Ten team title, joining crowns in 1999, 2000, 2008 and 2012. The Gophers' 831.5 points is the most since Michigan scored 939 in 1996.
Hoosier junior Lindsay Vrooman started the night with a dominating swim in the 1650 freestyle, taking first in a Big Ten Championships record time of 15:51.20. Vrooman led from start to finish to win her second straight title in the mile and her second win of the championships after winning the 500 free on Thursday. Minnesota sophomore Kiera Janzen picked up her third runner-up finish of the championships, finishing second in 16:04.05. Gopher senior Loren Brandon took third in 16:09.55 and Indiana freshman Taylor O'Brien placed fourth in 16:10.28. Gopher freshman Sam Harding placed fifth in 16:15.96.
Indiana freshman Brooklyn Snodgrass continued an amazing meet, finishing a sweep of the backstroke events. Snodgrass dominated the 200 back on Saturday night, winning in an NCAA automatic time of 1:51.77. Hoosier sophomore Cynthia Pammett made it a 1-2 finish for Indiana, taking second in 1:53.58. Ohio State senior Emily Creran was third in 1:55.02 and Penn State senior Amy Modglin was fourth in 1:55.18. The Hoosiers had five finalists in the event, adding Allie Day (1:55.47) in fifth, Dorina Szekeres (1:55.61) in sixth and Justine Ress (1:55.83) in seventh. Minnesota sophomore Katie Anton took eighth in 1:56.75.
Penn State senior Paige Whitmire became the Nittany Lions' first conference champion in the 100 freestyle since 1995, touching the wall first in 48.74. Whitmire touched out Purdue's Lauren Gustafson and Northwestern's Taylor Reynolds who touched in 48.81. Minnesota's Lauren Votava was fourth in 48.88 and Penn State's Alyson Ackman was fifth in 48.93. Nebraska's Ariel Weech was sixth in 49.13, followed by Minnesota's Erin Caflisch (49.14) and Penn State's Carolyn Fittin (49.40).
Minnesota senior Haley Spencer won her third conference title in the 200 breaststroke and set a new conference record with a winning time of 2:05.98. Spencer also completed a sweep of the breaststroke events, winning the 100 on Friday evening. The Gophers also finished 1-2 in the event as freshman Kierra Smith took second place in an NCAA automatic time of 2:08.56. Indiana senior Ashley Specht was third in 2:09.42 and Michigan junior Angie Chokran was fourth in 2:10.54. Indiana junior Bronwyn Pasloski was fifth in 2:11.06 and Penn State freshman Melissa Rodriguez was sixth in 2:11.29. Indiana freshman Siri Eva Kristiansen (2:14.24) and Ohio State freshman Annie Lazor (2:15.18) rounded out the top eight.
Ohio State senior Shannon Draves defended her 2012 Big Ten title in the 200 butterfly to give the Buckeyes their first title of the meet. Draves took command at the 100-yard mark and never looked back. Minnesota sophomore Devin Ste. Marie was the runner-up in 1:56.48 and Indiana freshman Haley Lips was third in 1:57.11. Michigan junior Courtney Beidler wrapped up a strong meet with a fourth place showing in 1:57.49 and Penn State junior Chelsea Weedman was fifth in 1:57.68. Purdue sophomore Rhiannon Sheets was sixth in 1:58.08, Indiana's Breanna Maclean was seventh in 1:58.12 and Penn State freshman Katie Rowe was eighth in 1:58.96.
Indiana's Amy Cozad crushed the field in the platform diving final, notching a Big Ten record score of 390.05. Purdue's Mackenzie Tweardy took her second runner-up finish of the competition, finishing with a score of 343.30. Northwestern senior Felicitas Lenz was third with 342.70 points and Minnesota junior Sarah McCrady was fourth with a score of 332.00.
The Gophers finished the meet the way it began, winning a relay. The team of Lauren Votava, Becca Weiland, Erin Caflisch and Blake Zeiger won by just over a second in 3:15.18. Penn State was second in 3:16.15 and Purdue was third in 3:18.08. Nebraska (3:18.10) and Wisconsin (3:18.36) rounded out the top five.
Final Team Standings 1. Minnesota 831.5 2. Indiana 671.5 3. Penn State 498.5 4. Ohio State 384 5. Purdue 363 6. Michigan 309 7. Wisconsin 249 8. Northwestern 203.5 9. Nebraska 195 10. Iowa 113 11. Illinois 56 11. Michigan State 56
2013 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Awards
Freshman of the Year Brooklyn Snodgrass, Indiana
Swimming Coach of the Year Kelly Kremer, Minnesota
First Team All-Big Ten Haley Lips, Indiana Cynthia Pammett, Indiana Brooklyn Snodgrass, Indiana Dorina Szekeres, Indiana Lindsay Vrooman, Indiana Tess Behrens, Minnesota Erin Caflisch, Minnesota Maggie Keefer, Minnesota Tori Simenec, Minnesota Haley Spencer, Minnesota Lauren Votava, Minnesota Becca Weiland, Minnesota Blake Zeiger, Minnesota Shannon Draves, Ohio State Alyson Ackman, Penn State Paige Whitmire, Penn State Ivy Martin, Wisconsin
Second Team All-Big Ten Sara Delay, Indiana Brenna Maclean, Indiana Ashley Specht, Indiana Sam Harding, Minnesota Kiera Janzen, Minnesota Jessica Plant, Minnesota Kierra Smith, Minnesota Devin Ste. Marie, Minnesota Lauren Weis, Minnesota Taylor Reynolds, Northwestern Kelsey Moran, Ohio State Angela Severn, Ohio State Michelle Williams, Ohio State Carolyn Fittin, Penn State Merritt Krawczyk, Penn State Katelyn Miller, Penn State Lauren Gustafson, Purdue Casey Matthews, Purdue Mackenzie Tweardy, Purdue
Big Ten Top Point Scorers Illinois Indiana Lindsay Vrooman (56) Iowa Lindsay Seeman (14) Michigan Courtney Beidler (46) Michigan State Minnesota Maggie Keefer (53) Nebraska Ariel Weech (18) Northwestern Felicitas Lenz (35) Ohio State Alex Norris (38) Penn State Paige Whitmire (53) Purdue Mackenzie Tweardy (36) Wisconsin Ivy Martin (25)
