For the ISU swimming and diving team, hopefully history repeats itself.

Last year, the Cyclones (4-4, 0-3 Big 12) struggled against Kansas in their two-day dual at home, losing 183-114, but then swam their best at the Big 12 Conference meet. The same thing happened this year in the meet with Kansas, when the Cyclones lost to the Jayhawks, 183.5-109.5., Friday and Saturday in Lawrence, Kan. The Big 12 aspect of that equation will be decided in College Station, Texas starting Feb. 14.

Coach Duane Sorenson said this is a typical meet for his team at this point in the season.

“Historically, we have always been a little bit flat in this meet and then performed outstanding at the Big 12 Championships,” Sorenson said. “We are kind of in that transition phase in getting ready for the Big 12 Championships.”

The Jayhawks (6-1, 2-1 Big 12) jumped to 45-10 lead after three events and improved that into a 104.5-45.5 lead after Friday night’s events. Kansas carried that momentum into a big start in Saturday morning’s events, but the Cyclones did make a small comeback in the last few events.

Senior Lauren Breunig picked up the only two Cyclone victories in the shallow end, winning the 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard freestyle. Breunig was out touched by only six tenths of a second by Kansas’s Maria Mayrovich in the 100-yard freestyle. Mayrovich is the only person to beat Breunig in her last 12 races.

Freshman Tien Tran picked up the other Cyclone victory in the exhibition platform diving competition. Tran also finished third in the two springboard events and sophomore Haley Haynes finished second in the one-meter competition.

Diving coach Jeff Warrick said there are things the team can do to make its performance better, but overall he was pleased.

“There is always room for improvement,” Warrick said. “Tien did a fantastic job, but we didn’t do as well on one-meter as we could have. We were happy that Haley was able to dive and she ended up coming out on the top of the team in that event,” Warrick said.

The Cyclones did have several second-place finishes in the meet, including sophomore Marni Benson’s outstanding swim in the 100-yard breaststroke coming off a shoulder injury from San German, Puerto Rico.

Next up for the Cyclones will be the Big 12 Championships in College Station.