The 22nd-ranked Iowa State men’s swimming and diving team failed to get back on the winning track Friday as the 14th-rated Nebraska Cornhuskers handed the Cyclones their second straight defeat, 125-117, in Lincoln, Neb.

The loss dropped ISU to 4-2 on the season and followed a 123-120 setback at Iowa Dec. 11 that ended a string of 19 consecutive ISU dual meet victories.

Despite the result, Trip Hedrick, head ISU men’s swimming coach, said he was pleased with the Cyclone’s effort against the Cornhuskers after they went through a tough training period.

“I really liked the way we stood up and raced,” he said. “I was very pleased with our times based on the rigorous training we’ve had the last three weeks.”

The Cyclones were led by first places finishes from Evan deSzoeke in the 1000-yard freestyle, Joakim Dahl in the 100-yard backstroke, and newcomer Dylan de Bruin in the 50 freestyle.

De Bruin arrived at ISU this semester from South Africa and said he has enjoyed his first NCAA meet.

“[It’s] incredible. [It] has a really good vibe the whole way through,” he said. “I thought the fact that it was more one-on-one made very intense. I also had to get used to yards instead of meters, [it’s] quite exciting to have more short course meets.”

Hedrick said he is glad to have de Bruin on the team.

“Dylan is a very gifted sprinter, we’re just tickled to death he has joined us,” he said.

ISU added victories with both its 200-yard medley relay team of Brian Rogers, Henrik Ingesson, Mark Ritchey, and Jeff Gahan; and its 200 freestyle relay squad of de Bruin, Dahl, Gahan and Travis Lee.

The Cyclone divers were paced by another strong outing from Steve Mohabir, who placed third in both the one and three meter dives, scoring a 242.40 on the one meter dive and 266.55 in the three meter competition.

Hedrick said the Cyclones will start to cut down on their physical training as they start preparing for the Big 12 and NCAA championships.

“We’ve been working on conditioning, and now we’re focusing on fine tuning for the [Big 12 and NCAA] championships,” he said.

After the back-to-back losses, Rogers said the Cyclones also need to focus more as a unit.

“It [the Iowa meet] was a huge upset, and we were all extremely disappointed. With the Iowa loss we just expected [to win] and didn’t want it enough,” he said. “With Nebraska we had a chance to win but just didn’t pull it together enough, we need better focus as a team. I think everyone on the team feels the same way, and it’s not going to happen again.”

The Cyclones next host North Dakota on January 29-30.