5 Storylines From the Week That Was in the Big Ten

Matthew Hutchins-23317010580

By Andy Ross, Swimming World Big Ten Beat Writer

We are two and a half weeks until the start of the Women’s Big Ten Championships and three and a half for the men. Most teams finished up competing for the regular season this past weekend with the exception of a few. The swimmers will be starting to rest and fine tune this week if they haven’t already. As we finish up January and head into February and championship season, here are a few things that we learned over the weekend.

Michigan once again staked its claim as the team to beat at the men’s and women’s meets. The Michigan women gained another international as Rose Bi joined the Wolverines in January from China. She won the 1000 against Ohio State with a 9:42.32, which is already first in the conference and fourth in the nation in that event. Bi also went 1:47.98 in the 200 free and 4:45.40 in the 500 which put her 19th and 10th in the conference respectively. Those are pretty good considering she already has a B cut in the 500 and she is ranked high comparative to her conference compatriots that were suited at their respective mid-season invitationals. The women have a strong core of underclassmen and will be hosting Big Tens, so they will be dangerous. The men were impressive as usual picking up a relative easy win over Ohio State. They will be looking to pick up their sixth straight conference crown in West Lafayette.

The Minnesota picked up solid conference wins over Northwestern and Purdue but look vulnerable. The four-time defending conference champs will have their hands full with Indiana, Wisconsin and host Michigan. But, you can never count out the Gophers. They have a solid young team, just like Michigan, and they are here to stay on top for the years to come.

Did anyone else see Chase Kinney’s anchor against Auburn in the 200 medley relay on Friday night? The Wisconsin junior anchored in a 21.80! She wasn’t suited for the race either. It seemed that the Badgers were going to be lacking in the sprint relays without Ivy Martin. They won four of the five relays at Big Tens last year with Martin and it almost seems like she never left with Kinney. Kinney went 22.39 and 49.10 in the 50 and 100 free against Auburn and finished it off with a 48.29 100 free split in the 400 free relay. She returned the next day to anchor the 200 medley relay with a 21.95 against Georgia and had 22.46 and 49.23 flat start efforts in the individual 50 and 100 as well as a 48.66 100 free relay split. Keep in mind this girl went 22.22 and 48.38 at the Texas Invite this year and a 22.42 and 48.37 were her best efforts last season. Something tells me she is a dark horse for an NCAA title and maybe, just maybe an Olympic berth.

With all that being said, the Wisconsin men should not be counted out. Guys like Matt HutchinsCannon Clifton, and Jake Mandli are dark horses for Big Ten titles. Hutchins won the 500 last year and went 4:21 against Georgia on Saturday as well as a 9:01 in the 1000. Clifton was 20.14 and 43.91 over the weekend that put him amongst the talks of conference titles in those events. Mandli also went 1:59 in the 200 breast on Saturday that puts him in consideration also. Don’t sleep on the Badgers.

Indiana’s Lilly King is pretty much making a mockery of all the breaststrokers she has faced this season. From solid contenders like Emily Kopas to Emily Fogle to Andee Cottrell, she has just demolished everyone in her path. Will that streak continue through Big Tens? NCAAs? Olympic Trials? It is tough to tell, but no one seems to be stopping her right now. She went 1:00.05 in the 100 against Cottrell from Louisville and a 2:10.57 in the 200. She finished way ahead of Cottrell in both races. I forgot to mention that the Hoosiers picked up two big wins over Louisville and have their eyes set on a conference title this season.

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Rose Unicomb
8 years ago

Congratulations Chase…??

superfan
superfan
8 years ago

You forgot to mention Brett Pinfold as a sleeper for a Big Ten title for Wisconsin men. He was impressive in both meets.

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