Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Jump Into Big Ten Competition Against Illinois
10/24/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
October 24, 2000
Hoosiers Jump Into Big Ten Competition Against Illinois
Meet Data
The women’s swimming and diving team begins conference competition Saturday against Big Ten opponent Illinois. The Hoosiers hope to carry the momentum from their win over Evansville into this week’s dual meet.
Inside the Illinois Series
The Hoosiers placed one spot over the Illini at last year’s Big Ten Championships. Indiana scored 330 points to Illinois’ 258.5 to take sixth place.
Head Swimming Coach Dorsey Tierney
Head Dorsey Tierney begins her third year as head coach of the Indiana women’s swim team. She is a gold medalist in 200-meter breaststroke in the 1987 Pan-American games and was a captain on the 1991 team. Tierney was also a finalist in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Trials.
Quoting Tierney
"We’re definitely ready for some tough competition. Illinois has several outstanding individuals. They’re very young, but they always swim tough. We have a lot of tired individuals, a lot of tired legs, but one thing the freshmen need to learn how to do is get up and compete against some strong competition when they’re a little bit tired.
"This will be the first time we do some 400 relays this season, so we’re still kind of playing with the personnel on those. There’s some competition within the team, so we’ll put three relays up there to give everybody a shot that they should be on the A relays.
Head Diving Coach Dr. Jeff Huber
Head Coach Dr. Jeff Huber returns as a six-time Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year and two time U.S. National Diving Coach of the Year. He coached Indiana diver Sara Reiling to a 13th place finish in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Quoting Huber
"This time of year we have worked a lot on the basics. If they don’t dive well, it’s not that bad. We look forward to the Big Ten’s and the NCAA’s."
"Everybody is working on skills and the basics right now. Even though we are not where we are supposed to be for the end of the season, we are not sacrificing this part of the season for the end."
Olympic Quality
Seniors Jenn Cristy and Amanda Noblet, juniors Sara Reiling and Susan Woessner, and sophomore Anne Williams and freshman Sarah Fiden competed in the Olympic trials in Indianapolis in August.
Reiling qualified for the Olympic Games in the platform dive and finished 13th in Sydney. Cristy finished 20th in the 50 freestyle, 26th the 100 freestyle, and 56th in the 200 freestyle at the trials. Woessner finished 20th in the 100 backstroke while Noblet placed 22nd in the 200 backstroke. Williams finished 97th in the 100 freestyle. Reiling will not be competing this semester, but will return to the team in January.
Holding off the Purple Aces
The Purple Aces of Evansville visited Bloomington last Saturday for a dual meet. The Hoosiers had the upper hand as they fended off Evansville 186-108. Between varsity and exhibition entries, Indiana won every event. They recorded the fastest three times in 10 of the 14 individual events. The team’s depth was validated as eleven individuals claimed victory. Jenn Cristy, Susan Woessner, and Maggie Helmers turned in double wins.
The sprinters added to the cause by taking the top three in each event. Top returnee Jenn Cristy won the 100 and 200 freestyle. She sat out the 50, in which she holds the school record, due to an injury. Swimming exhibition, Maggie Helmers finished first in the 100 butterfly in 1:00.11 and the 200 IM in 2:12.02. Sarah Fiden posted the fastest 500 free time in 5:03.91.
Career Bests
Seven times or scores accounted for top three performances among Indiana swimmers and divers last Saturday against Evansville. Mamie Goodson collected her best 3-meter dive score at a dual meet with 312.45 points. Erin Rice swam the 1000 yard freestyle in 10:18.01 to beat her top time from last season and it was her second best time ever. Others performing for their second career best were Colleen McCracken (100 back - 59.75), Jennifer Sonneborn (1M dive in a dual meet - 263.32), Susan Woessner (50 free - 24.45), Jenny Bechem (200 fly - 2:06.90) and Sarah Bowman (100 free - 53.61).
Where the Record Stands
Seventeen of the 20 Indiana swimming and diving records are held by current athletes. Only one of these records, Jenn Cristy’s 100 breast, was not set in 2000.
Cristy also holds the school record in the 50, 100 and 200 free and is a member of the record setting 200, 400, and 800 free relay. Susan Woessner holds the 100 back record and is a member of the 400 free relay and the 200 and 400 medley record setting relays. Tina Gretlund anchored the fastest 400 and 800 free relays as well as swimming on the 400 medley relay. She also holds the 200 fly and 400 IM record. Megan Geers holds three records. She appeared on the 200 and 400 medley relays, and she holds her own record in the 200 breast. Anne Williams is a member of the record setting 200, 400, and 800 free relays. The 200 back is held by Amanda Noblet. Sarah Bowman and Meghan Rice contributed to the 200 free relay, Erin Rice swam for the 800 free relay, and Colleen McCracken is a member of the record setting 200 medley relay.
Hoosiers Walk for Cancer Research
The Indiana men’s and women's swimming and diving team participated in a walk to benefit cancer. The teams took a special interest in this year's walk because their former trainer, and IU 200 fly record-holder, Stephanie Jannsen (Porter) was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Head women’s coach Dorsey Tierney said, "This is an important day for IU swimming. It is a great way to show support for something that affects so many women, but it is especially special today because of the battle Stephanie is undertaking."
Back for More
Senior Erin Quinn returns to competition after tearing a ligament in her elbow during the 1999 NCAA's and redshirting last season. She hopes to come back to All-American status on all three diving levels. In her first meet, she placed second in both the one meter and three meter boards.
"I think Erin did a super job for just being back. I forgot how good a diver she is," said diving coach Dr. Jeff Huber.
Diving Like No One Else
‘’Our freshman Cassandra Cardinell did a real nice job," said head diving coach Dr. Jeff Huber of her performance on Saturday. ‘’ She was throwing a lot of new optional dives. The inward 2 1/2 pike, there are only a couple women divers in the country doing that and she threw that."
The Rest of Diving
Mamie Goodson, in a career best effort, won the three meter dive against Evansville on Saturday. Her sophomore campaign will show improvement due to summer work and experience. Jennifer Sonneborn is again a threat on the one meter as she won the event in the team’s opening meet. Sonneborn returns for her sophomore season as IU’s most improved diver.
Cream Rises to the Top
The Indiana women's swimming team competed in an intrasquad scrimmage October 13. The afternoon featured four 200 yard medley teams as the squad was divided into Cream and Crimson teams. The Cream took victory with 108 points to the Crimson's 58.
Junior Sarah Woessner won the 200 yard freestyle and the 200 back. She took the free in 1:55.98 and the back in 2:07.51
Click here for the complete schedule
