Prior to this weekend’s meet against Kansas, the ISU swimming and diving team had not earned a Big 12 victory since 2003.

That slump came to an end Saturday morning as the Cyclones (5-3, 1-0 Big 12) defeated the Jayhawks (5-5, 0-2) 158-142 at Beyer Pool.

When asked how the Cyclones were finally able to break through against a conference opponent, coach Duane Sorenson said ignorance was bliss for the younger swimmers.

“Our young kids were just really excited and pumped up and they don’t know any better,” Sorenson said. “Our freshman class and Imelda Wistey have never lost to Kansas before. They just came in with the idea they were going to stand up and race. That’s what we asked them to do and they came through with that.”

What made a huge difference for the Cyclones was their cohesiveness.

“We came together as a team, we fought for it,” said sophomore Imelda Wistey, who earned a total of four wins during the weekend.

Such winning performances have become commonplace for Wistey this season.

Saturday was senior day for the Cyclones, a circumstance that made senior diver and team captain Sarah Nelson’s wins on both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives even more special.

“It’s a really exciting weekend,” Nelson said. “You really are fueled by the energy that the crowd brings, having all your family and friends there supporting you.”

In addition to earning Big 12 Diver of the Week honors back in December, Nelson, along with teammate Jessica Nicholson, has qualified to compete in the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in March.

“We haven’t even seen the best of her yet,” said diving coach Jeff Warrick of Nelson. “It was just exciting for her to go out on senior day with the two wins and just step it up. I’m really proud of her.”

When asked about the added intensity and emotion of senior day, Wistey said she sees it as a definite advantage.

“It’s a huge support,” Wistey said. “The support, the enthusiasm, it feeds into every aspect of competition. To have that right now and to win, it adds to all of it.”

The Cyclones, having finished the regular season on a winning note, now begin preparation for the Big 12 Championships from Feb. 22 to 25 in Columbia, Mo.

“It’s just a special day to be a Cyclone for our seniors,” Sorenson said. “Sometimes you don’t know if they’re going to come out on cloud nine or if they’re just going to be so emotionally distraught because it’s over. But they came out and really raced well.”