Bittersweet senior send-off

Saturday, January 25

Madison, WI

Noon

Wisconsin Badgers

161

139

Northwestern

Photo by: David Stluka

January 25, 2020 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Badgers break four pool records, split senior day meet against Northwestern

By: Drew Kocken

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin men's and women's swimming & diving teams competed in a senior day dual meet with conference foe Northwestern on Saturday. Twelve senior athletes said their UW Natatorium goodbyes as the Badgers split the meet, with the men coming away with a 161-139 victory while the women were defeated by a score of 166.5-133.5.

In her last home meet as a Badger, senior standout Beata Nelson gave one of her best performances, breaking three pool records on the day. In the 100 and 200-yard backstroke, Nelson beat records she already owned, touching in 51.98 and 1:54.18, respectively. She then went on to break her teammate Lillie Hosack's pool record in the 200 IM with a time of 1:56.24.

Senior Griffin Back also ended his career at the UW Natatorium by breaking a pool record, as he was a part of the 200 medley relay team that made its way onto the boards with a time of 1:27.60. Back also joined fellow seniors Niko Stines and Kevin Braun as well as junior Matthew Novinski in winning the 400 free relay (2:59.24).

Getting in on the senior day success, senior Michael Milinovich earned a first-place finish in the 200 fly (1:48.88) and senior Megan Doty came away with second-place finishes in both the 200 fly (2:00.31) and 100 fly (55.41), while also joining Nelson and sophomores Lillie Hosack and Alana Palmer in winning the 400 free relay.

Straight from the Pool

"It was really good competition today, tough competition. We knew Northwestern was going to come in here and be really good, it's a very well-coached program. I thought today was a really good test and exactly what our program needed. In about three and a half weeks our women are going to be going to (the Big Ten Championships) and in about four and a half weeks are men will be going, so to be in this environment where everything matters – it was really important for us to go through that because it's going to be even more so at the championships. Great energy, great emotion today. To honor our twelve seniors in possibly – hopefully – our last meet here in the Natatorium, it was special." – Head Coach Yuri Suguiyama

"There were a lot of emotions going on, for sure. I tried to keep the crying to a minimum as much as I could through the meet and just enjoy it and be with my teammates. It was special to break a couple pool records and enjoy my last swim at the Nat with my team – I couldn't be happier." – Beata Nelson

"Last home meet today, it was definitely exciting. Coming into this week we had been looking at the results from the previous meets (Northwestern) had and we knew it was going to be a tough one, but we just kept telling ourselves that if we battled hard and continued as a team that we could come through. I think this win is going to carry a lot of momentum going into Big Ten Championships season, so I'm really excited to close this chapter with the team and I think next month is going to be a good time." – Michael Milinovich