Hoosiers Finish Second at Big Ten Championships

Saturday, February 20

Ann Arbor, MI

6:30 PM

Indiana University

Big Ten Championships- Finals

Hoosiers Finish Second at Big Ten Championships

2/20/2016 10:09:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 13-ranked Indiana women's swimming and diving team finished strong at the 2016 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships at the Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Saturday night.

The Hoosiers won two gold and two silver medals on the final night of competition. Over the course of the meet, IU won a total of 16 medals – six gold, six silver and four bronze.

Indiana finished second overall with 1,207.5 points, falling just short of host Michigan who won the team title with a total of 1,361. Minnesota finished third with 927.5 points, while Ohio State placed fourth with 859. Purdue finished fifth with a total of 766.5 points.

IU has placed first or second at the Big Ten Championships in each of the last eight years, winning the title three-straight times from 2009 to 2011. The Hoosiers have finished second the last five seasons.

Lilly King was name Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-Big Ten after winning four gold and one bronze medals in her first Big Ten Championships. Joining King on the All-Big Ten First Team were Marie Chamberlain, Gia Dalesandro, Kennedy Goss, Haley Lips and Grace Vertigans. Delaney Barnard and Miranda Tucker were named Second-Team All-Big Ten.

In the 1,650 freestyle, senior Haley Lips led the Hoosiers charge, placing fourth overall with a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 16:01.67. Lips' time is the 10^th-fastest in IU history and she ranks as the fourth-fastest 1,650 swimmer at the school.

Stephanie Marchuk placed 10^th overall in the 1,650 freestyle with a NCAA B cut time of 16:17.26.

In the 200 backstroke, Kennedy Goss earned a silver medal for the Hoosiers, touching the wall in a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:52.18. Goss' time ranks her as the third-fastest 200 backstroke swimmer in school history. Also in the Championship Final, Marie Chamberlain finished eighth with a NCAA B cut time of 1:57.35.

Swimming in the B Final, Rachel Matsumura finished 13^th overall with a NCAA B cut time of 1:58.12, while Ali Rockett placed 14^th overall with a NCAA B cut mark of 1:58.57. Shelly Drozda placed fifth in the C Final to finish 21^st overall with a NCAA B cut time of 1:58.84.

Holly Spears led four Hoosier swimmers in the finals of the 100 freestyle, finishing eighth in the Championship Final with a NCAA B cut time of 49.77.

Grace Vertigans placed 16^th overall with a time of 50.02, while Kaitlin Kitchens finished second in the C Final of the 100 free to place 18^th overall with a NCAA B cut time of 49.89. Gabriela Rajic finished 24^th overall with a time of 51.39.

Lilly King and Miranda Tucker continued their domination in the breaststroke events on Saturday, earning the gold and silver medals for the Hoosiers.

After King and Tucker finished 1-2 in the 100 breast on Friday, the freshmen duo did it again on Saturday in record fashion.

After Tucker set the school record in the morning prelims, King answered back in the Championship Final, winning with a school, Big Ten Meet, Canham Natatorium and NCAA A cut time of 2:05.58. King's tremendous time is the seventh-fastest in NCAA history.

Tucker swam even faster in the Championship Final than she did in her record prelim swim, touching the wall in a personal-best and NCAA A cut time of 2:06.52. Tucker's time ranks second all-time in Indiana history.

Gia Dalesandro successfully defended her title in the 200 butterfly, winning the gold for the third-straight year. Dalesandro touched the wall in a NCAA B cut time of 1:54.77 to beat the field.

Bailey Pressey had an impressive swim in the B Final, winning to place ninth overall with a NCAA B cut time of 1:56.98. Swimming in the C Final, Olivia Barker placed 18^th overall with a NCAA B cut time of 1:59.42, while Reagan Cook finished 21^st with a time of 2:00.14.

In the consolation final of the platform dive, Michal Bower finished fifth with a personal-best score of 250.20 to place 13^th overall. Lacey Houser placed 14^th overall with a personal-best score of 245.5. Both totals are NCAA Zones qualifying scores.

In the 400 free relay, the team of Kennedy Goss, Haley Lips, Holly Spears and Miranda Tucker finished sixth with a time of 3:16.83.

Over the course of the Big Ten Championships, the Hoosiers posted some impressive accolades. Overall the team totaled seven school record swims, two Big Ten records, four Big Ten meet records, five Canham Natatorium records, six NCAA A cuts, 59 NCAA B cuts and 37 personal best marks.

Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana women's swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Lilly King

First-Team All-Big Ten
Marie Chamberlain
Gia Dalesandro
Kennedy Goss
Lilly King
Haley Lips
Grace Vertigans

Second-Team All-Big Ten
Delaney Barnard
Miranda Tucker

1,650 Freestyle
4. Haley Lips – 16:01.67 (Personal Best, NCAA B Cut)
10. Stephanie Marchuk – 16:17.26 (NCAA B Cut)

200 Backstroke
2. Kennedy Goss – 1:52.18 (Personal Best, NCAA B Cut)
8. Marie Chamberlain – 1:57.35 (NCAA B Cut)
13. Rachel Matsumura – 1:58.12 (NCAA B Cut)
14. Ali Rockett – 1:58.57 (NCAA B Cut)
21. Shelly Drozda – 1:58.84 (NCAA B Cut)

100 Freestyle
8. Holly Spears – 49.77 (NCAA B Cut)
16. Grace Vertigans – 50.02
18. Kaitlin Kitchens – 49.89 (NCAA B Cut)
24. Gabriela Rajic – 51.39

200 Breaststroke
1. Lilly King – 2:05.58 (School Record, Big Ten Meet Record, Pool Record, NCAA A Cut)
2. Miranda Tucker – 2:06.52 (Personal Best, NCAA A Cut)

200 Butterfly
1. Gia Dalesandro – 1:54.77 (NCAA B Cut)
9. Bailey Pressey – 1:56.98 (NCAA B Cut)
18. Olivia Barker – 1:59.42 (NCAA B Cut)
21. Reagan Cook – 2:00.14

Platform Dive
13. Michal Bower – 250.20 (Personal Best, NCAA Zones Qualifying Score; 240.35 Prelims)
14. Lacey Houser – 245.5 (Personal Best, NCAA Zones Qualifying Score; 240.45 Prelims)

400 Freestyle Relay
6. Kennedy Goss, Haley Lips, Holly Spears, Miranda Tucker – 3:18.68