TEMPE, Ariz. - The Wisconsin swimming and diving program made an opening statement, defeating Arizona State 272-205 in its season-opening dual meet in Tempe, Arizona, on Friday.
The Wisconsin swimming and diving program made an opening statement, as both the men's and women's teams combined for wins to defeat Arizona State 272-205 in the season-opening dual meet in Tempe, Arizona, on Friday.
The women's team captured 11 total events and topped the Sun Devils 142-94, while the men won eight total events and edged ASU 130.5-111.5.
"I thought we did a pretty nice job today and the group did a good job competing," UW head coach Whitney Hite said. "It was a good start for us. I think the key for us is that we're better than we were last year pretty much across the board."
On the women's side, Wisconsin dominated both of the relays. The 200-yard medley relay of Ivy Martin, Anna Meinholz, Dana Grindall and Chase Kinney Chase Kinney touched first in 1:41.71, while the 200-yard freestyle relay quartet of Martin, Annie Tamblyn, Aja Van Hout and Solveig Viren also won in impressive fashion and came in at 1:32.01.
Martin set the tone in the freestyle relay with a split time of 22.23, which would have been the second-fastest time on the team last season. Martin, an All-American and member of the 2014-15 USA Swimming National Team, captured the Big Ten record in the 50-yard freestyle last season with a time of 21.58.
Kinney swept both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle. The sophomore finished 23.12 to win the 50 free, then came back and won the 100 free as well in a time of 51.35.
In the 1000-yard freestyle, Jenny Holtzen recorded a new personal-best and the sixth-fastest time in program history at 10:00.00.
Van Hout won all of her events, posting times of 2:02.74 in the 200-yard individual medley and 4:56.23 in the 500-yard freestyle.
"The women did very well and we really looked good today," Hite said. "Similar to the men's side, you had your regulars, but you also had others, such as Holtzen, putting up some good times. Kinney has made a move toward being good. Ashley Peterson in the diving was really great. That was really good for us to be able to win an event there as well."
Peterson placed first on the 3-meter board with a score of 317.85 and Shannon Sullivan third for UW with a score of 217.50. On the 1-meter board, Peterson placed third with a score of 246.98.
Nick Caldwell continued the domination of freestyle events by the Badgers going on the men's side, winning the 500-yard freestyle in 4:36.16 and the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 9:36.22. The men also claimed both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, as Brett Pinfold tied Tadas Duskinas for first with a time of 20.89 in the 50 free and Cannon Clifton captured the 100 free with a time of 45.19.
The men earned a pair of second-place finishes in relays. The 200-yard medley relay squad of Pinfold, Nick Schafer, Drew teDuits and Clifton finished second in 1:30.72. Clifton, Damon Zito, Ryan Stack and Ryan Barsanti of the 200-yard freestyle relay also placed second, coming in at 1:23.09.
"For the men, I was really pleased with having the same list of characters step up, but it was also nice to get some new faces in the mix," Hite said.
Wisconsin looks to continue its success in the southwest tomorrow when the Badgers take on Arizona at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center at 11:30 a.m. (CT).
