Senior Day events at Beyer Pool last Friday and Saturday may not have had the happy ending some would have liked, but the Iowa State women’s swim team had several strong performances and sent its five senior swimmers and divers away from Iowa State with successful Cyclone careers.

The women’s swim team brought the Kansas Jayhawks to town this weekend and after Friday’s competitions was only behind by a slim margin, but fell just short of Kansas, 164-136.

After splitting the first eight events of the dual meet Friday night with the Jayhawks, Iowa State was only behind by a mere eight points heading into Saturday’s events. Jeli Nixt brought first place finishes to the Cyclones from the 50 breaststroke and as a member of the 200 medley relay team along with seniors Nan Liu, Abby Glaser, and Frances Calzada. Glaser also won the 150 yard butterfly to add to the Cyclone win total.

Friday’s other win came from Senior Nan Liu who was crowned champion of the 100 yard IM.

Saturday’s events started off with the Senior Abby Glaser continuing to put on a stellar Senior Day showing with a second place finish in the 50 yard freestyle, finishing just .01 seconds behind Kansas’ Monica Johannessen. Jeli Nixt and Marley Suckow added a 1-2 finish for ISU in the 150 breaststroke, while Nan Liu ended her short, but impressive career at Beyer Pool with a victory in the 50 butterfly.

Another relay victory was earned by the 200 freestyle relay squad of Glaser, Calzada, Tomek, and Amundsen. Team captain and senior Tien Tran triumphed in the one and three meter dives to finish as one of the best Cyclone divers in history, and ending her career as the school record holder for the 3 meter dive.

Although the Cyclone swimmers and divers won’t return to Beyer Pool this season, they have only two weeks to prepare for a big opportunity in the Big 12 Conference Championships, which take place Feb. 24-27 in College Station, Texas.