The Iowa State swimming and diving team hopes to take last Friday’s meet at St. Olaf, which it won 186-86, and use it as preparation for the upcoming Big 12 meets.

The Cyclones are coming off of an impressive showing at their first meet after break.

“Going into the meet, we knew we had the dominant team and the girls performed very well after a very hard training trip,” said coach Duane Sorenson . “The team gathered that same frame of mind and many swimmers performed well.”

“We came into Friday’s meet thinking we were going to win and the meet turned out just that way,” said sophomore swimmer Chelsea Tomek , who picked up a victory in the 1,000-meter freestyle. “The trip definitely helped out a lot with our preparation for getting back into meets.  Each season we have a goal as a team to win a certain amount of wins and this is just another one to add to it.”

The Cyclones were anchored by the great swimming of senior Marni Benson , who won three races. Sophomore Jeli Nixt swam well too as she continued her perfect season in 100 breaststroke and is now 7-for-7. Iowa State also had a nice pick up from three of its freshman swimmers in Mandi Caudle, Taylor Vieau , and Danielle Levings who each earned a victory in their events.

“We set up the events so that a few underclassmen could have a chance to show what they have and they came through with some good finishes when called upon,” Sorenson said.

In Diving, Tien Tran won her 12th event of the season, winning the 1-meter diving competition. Tran was followed by her teammates Jenn Botsch  and Justine Anders,  who finished second and third.

The Cyclones are now preparing for their next meet at Missouri. 

“Coach has had us stress on getting mentally focused for this meet,” Tomek said. “Missouri is a tough team and a win would mean a lot.”

“Missouri is a loaded team and they really have no weaknesses,” Sorenson said. “I expect some good finishes out of Frances Calzada, Marni Benson, Jeli Nixt, and Abby Glaser in order for us to compete with them.”

One major focus of the Cyclones is be fully prepared for the Big 12 Championship at the end of February. 

“We have been focusing every practice this whole year on peaking at the Big 12 Championship. The training trip we just returned from was geared at building up for the championship,” Sorenson said.

Saturday’s meet at Missouri will be the first Big 12 dual meet of the season for Iowa State.