Photo by: David Stluka
Pair of Badgers earn weekly Big Ten swimming recognition
October 21, 2015 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Chase Kinney named Big Ten Swimmer of the Week, Jess Unicomb Freshman of Week
MADISON, Wis. – After playing key roles in Wisconsin's historic win over Border Battle rival and defending Big Ten champions Minnesota, swimmers Chase Kinney and Jess Unicomb were recognized on Tuesday as Big Ten Swimmer of the Week and Big Ten Freshman of the Week, respectively.
Kinney wasted no time getting her junior season off to an impressive start, as the Canton, Ohio, native won four events and helped the Badgers upset 2014 Big Ten Champion Minnesota last Friday night in Madison. Kinney not only won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle, but she also played major roles on UW's winning 200-yard medley relay team and the 400-yard freestyle relay team that won and determined the outcome of the meet.
The meet came down to the final event, the 400 free relay, and Kinney rose to the occasion, splitting in 48.61 seconds as the second swimmer and gaining major ground to help the Badgers win and clinch a 152-148 victory.
Kinney won the 50 free in 22.62 seconds, which ranks as the fastest time in the Big Ten this season and No. 4 in the nation. Her winning time in the 100 free, 49.90 seconds, also leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 8 in the country this year. Kinney recorded a 22.06 split on the freestyle leg of the 200 medley relay, which helped put the Badgers in a position to win.
Unicomb had a collegiate debut to remember, as the freshman won both backstroke events, helped the 200 medley relay team win and earned key team points in the 200-yard individual medley. The Gold Coast, Australia, native won the 100-yard backstroke in 54.60 seconds, which leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 16 in the nation. She won the 200-yard backstroke in one minute, 57.45 seconds, which is best in the Big Ten and No. 18 in the country.
Swimming the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay, Unicomb helped the Badgers win with their final relay time of 1:40.70. Unicomb also earned points and finished fourth in the 200 IM with her time of 2:04.64, which ranks as the ninth-fastest time among Big Ten swimmers this season.
This is the first career Big Ten Swimmer of the Week award for Kinney. Not only is it the first Big Ten Freshman of the Week award for Unicomb, but it is also the first ever for Wisconsin. The Big Ten began handing out Freshman of the Week accolades in 2011.
Wisconsin returns to the pool on Nov. 13 with a dual meet at Indiana, followed by another road dual meet against Northwestern on Nov. 14.
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Kinney wasted no time getting her junior season off to an impressive start, as the Canton, Ohio, native won four events and helped the Badgers upset 2014 Big Ten Champion Minnesota last Friday night in Madison. Kinney not only won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle, but she also played major roles on UW's winning 200-yard medley relay team and the 400-yard freestyle relay team that won and determined the outcome of the meet.
The meet came down to the final event, the 400 free relay, and Kinney rose to the occasion, splitting in 48.61 seconds as the second swimmer and gaining major ground to help the Badgers win and clinch a 152-148 victory.
Kinney won the 50 free in 22.62 seconds, which ranks as the fastest time in the Big Ten this season and No. 4 in the nation. Her winning time in the 100 free, 49.90 seconds, also leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 8 in the country this year. Kinney recorded a 22.06 split on the freestyle leg of the 200 medley relay, which helped put the Badgers in a position to win.
Unicomb had a collegiate debut to remember, as the freshman won both backstroke events, helped the 200 medley relay team win and earned key team points in the 200-yard individual medley. The Gold Coast, Australia, native won the 100-yard backstroke in 54.60 seconds, which leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 16 in the nation. She won the 200-yard backstroke in one minute, 57.45 seconds, which is best in the Big Ten and No. 18 in the country.
Swimming the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay, Unicomb helped the Badgers win with their final relay time of 1:40.70. Unicomb also earned points and finished fourth in the 200 IM with her time of 2:04.64, which ranks as the ninth-fastest time among Big Ten swimmers this season.
This is the first career Big Ten Swimmer of the Week award for Kinney. Not only is it the first Big Ten Freshman of the Week award for Unicomb, but it is also the first ever for Wisconsin. The Big Ten began handing out Freshman of the Week accolades in 2011.
Wisconsin returns to the pool on Nov. 13 with a dual meet at Indiana, followed by another road dual meet against Northwestern on Nov. 14.
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Players Mentioned
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back/Free
/ Women's Swimming & DivingConnected || Phoebe Bacon
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