TYR Invite, Day One

EVANSTON, Illinois, November 18. THE Iowa State swimming and diving team ended the first day strong at the TYR Northwestern Invitational Friday at the Norris Aquatics Center. The Cyclones finished the day third in the team standings with 204 points. Host Northwestern leads the meet with 267 points.

Amanda Paulson was able to prove herself in the 50 freestyle, finishing as the top qualifier in prelims with a time of 23.19 and again finishing first in the finals with a time of 23.25. Paulson's prelims time places her in fourth in school history for the 50 free.

"I am very happy with how Amanda stood up and raced in prelims," head coach Duane Sorenson said. "She added to prelims in the finals but still came up with a win and out-touched her competition."

Starting out Friday evening's finals, the Cyclone 200 free relay team consisting of Paulson, Sarah Norris, Katie Vollhaber and Britta Sortland finished in fifth place with a final time of 1:34.76.

"I am ecstatic with how the day turned out," Sorenson said. "We swam well in the prelims and have had seven lifetime best times. In finals, everyone swam faster or placed higher; I am very pleased."

In the 50 breaststroke event, sophomore Emily Wiltsie lead the Cyclones with a fifth place finish and time of 29.77. Touching in sixth was Ali Stearns with a time of 29.97 and Dani Harris finished with a time of 30.41 in eight place.

Freshman Kristy Kunkel found great success in the 500 freestyle with an 11th place finish and time of 4:59.67. This finish puts her 12th in school history and she is only the 14th Cyclone to finish the event under five minutes.

"It was really nice to see Kristy achieve her lifetime best, it was just great to see," Sorenson said.

In the 200 IM, Dani Harris ended with a third place finish and time of 2:04.15. In fourth was freshman Sarah Deis with a time of 2:05.34 and Kunkel finished 10th with a time of 2:06.74.

"It was nice to see Dani Harris out there gaining more confidence," Sorenson noted.

To finish the evening, the Iowa State 400 medley relay team of Harris, Wiltsie, Norris and Paulson finished third with a time of 3:48.04. The relay team of Bre Loeschke, Ali Stearns, Elizabeth Kleiner and Vollaber touched with a time of 3:53.15 in 11th and the squad of Liz Holman, Marley Suckow, Carissa Poeschel and Alex Gustafson finished in 15th with a time of 3:57.33.

In the diving well the Cyclones continued to show promise with Jessica Nicholson leading the Cyclones on the 3-meter board with a fourth place finish and final score of 247.45.

"Overall I am very happy with how Jessica did in prelims," diving coach Jeff Warrick said. "There is still room for improvement but overall she preformed solid."

Sarah Nelson finished with 232.45 points in 11th and Megan Cohea finished in 16th with 181.15 points.

"Tomorrow were looking to be a bit stronger as a team, and we just need to step up the competition," said Warrick.

The TYR Northwestern Invitational action continues tomorrow with prelims beginning at 9 a.m. CST and finals at 5 p.m. CST. Saturday's events will include the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 back, 1-meter diving (finals only), 200 medley relay (finals only) and the 800 free relay (finals only).

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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