Badgers look to continue hot start against Gophers
October 30, 2009 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 30, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin women’s swimming and diving team returns home this Friday for its second Big Ten matchup of the season, as Minnesota comes to the UW Natatorium for a clash of Border Battle rivals.
The meet, the first of two meetings this season between the teams at the Natatorium, begins with diving at 3 p.m., while swimming events get underway at 5 p.m.
Not only are bragging rights in the teams' rivalry on the line, but UW head coach Eric Hansen has the opportunity to earn his 50th career Big Ten dual meet win. Hansen enters Friday's meet with a 49-3 record in conference duals.
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0) vs. Wisconsin (2-0, 1-0)
Date: Friday, Oct. 30
Time: 3 p.m. (diving); 5 p.m. (swimming)
Location: Madison, Wis.
Site: UW Natatorium
Admission: Free
Online: Complete results
Last year, the then-No. 10 Gophers broke 16th-ranked Wisconsin’s streak of 45-consecutive conference dual wins at the Big Ten Quad Duals in Minneapolis. The Badgers, who are 2-0 in dual meets, will look to counter with the impressive lineup that already has carried them to victories over Milwaukee and Iowa this season.
Friday’s meet will serve as the Gophers’ season-opener.
It begins with junior Maggie Meyer in the backstroke events. Meyer has won all six individual races in which she’s competed this year, including a sweep of the 100- and 200-yard backstroke at last weekend’s SMU Classic. Meyer has posted an NCAA championships qualifying mark in all five of her backstroke races on the year.
Meyer enters the weekend ranked third nationally in the 100 back (54.07) and also owns the nation’s fourth-fastest mark in the 200 back (1:57.92).
Sophomore Ashley Wanland has seen similar success in the breaststroke, winning all five of the races she’s entered this year. Wanland swept the 100 and 200 breast last week at the SMU Classic and already owns a pair of NCAA qualifying marks in both events.
Wanland is the national leader in the 200 breast (2:13.05) and ranks second in the 100 breast (1:02.33).
In the sprint freestyle events, sophomore Beckie Thompson and senior Rosie Morahan have combined for five individual event wins on the year
Add in freshman Laura Miller and junior Karlyn Hougan to the foursome of Meyer, Wanland, Thompson and Morahan and you have the backbone of the Badgers’ relay success this season, as well.
Wisconsin won the 400 medley and the 200 freestyle relays at last weekend’s meet in Dallas, while also claiming third in the 400 free relay. The Badgers also have won the 200 medley relay in each of their two dual meets this season.
