Iowa State swim and dive enters an important mid-season test as both the swimming and diving sides travel for competition.
The squad will split up from Thursday to Saturday, with three swimmers heading to the 2025 Toyota U.S. Open Championships in Austin, Texas, while the Iowa State divers compete at the Minnesota Invitational in Minneapolis.
Both meets will provide the Cyclones a chance to measure themselves against top-tier national competition.
Three Cyclone swimmers take on national stage in Austin
Representing Iowa State at the U.S. Open Championships will be freshman Matilde Geromin, sophomore Anja Peck and sophomore Grace Swoboda.
All three will compete in select long-course meter events at one of the premier meets on the U.S. swimming national calendar.
Though the Cyclones are sending a small group, the meet serves as a high-quality test and a preview of where key athletes stand as the season progresses.
Geromin, a breaststroke specialist, enters the meet looking to establish strong early-season form in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. This will be a big challenge for the freshman, but it will be valuable experience heading into the rest of the winter meets.
Peck, who competed primarily in breaststroke and individual medley events, brings versatility to Austin. If she races the 200 IM, she’ll be facing one of the deepest fields of the meet, but her ability to maintain pace through the race gives her a shot at a strong showing.
Swoboda rounds out the Cyclone trio with strengths in breaststroke and freestyle. Swoboda’s lineup could span multiple events, giving her valuable racing exposure.
Her sprint freestyle development has been a focus this season, and long-course competition will demand precise strategy and aggression.
While this is a small group of swimmers for Iowa State, the meet itself is loaded with talent.
Among the notable names expected to compete are multi-event phenom Summer McIntosh and spring star Gretchen Walsh.
Racing side-by-side with swimmers of this caliber offers unmatched experience for the Cyclone trio. Exposure like this often translates into major mid-season improvement.
Iowa State diving heads North for a key midseason test
While the swimmers race in Texas, Iowa State’s divers will be in Minnesota for the prestigious Minnesota Invitational, a meet known for its deep fields and NCAA-level scoring potential.
The invitational includes multiple rounds on 1-meter, 3-meter and platform diving Thursday through Saturday.
For the Iowa State diving roster, this meet functions almost like a mid-season championship and will provide repeat opportunities for NCAA zone-qualifying scores.
Minnesota traditionally hosts strong diving programs from the Big 10 and beyond, making this one of the most competitive diving events the Cyclones will see outside of Big 12 Championships.
The Cyclone divers have been steadily building momentum through the fall dual-meet schedule, and this invitational offers the best opportunity yet to refine mechanics, test out upgraded difficulty and build consistency.
Strong results from this squad would help set the tone for the second half of the season and help solidify which divers emerge as postseason threats.
Pivotal meets for both groups
Between the U.S. Open and the Minnesota Invitational, Iowa State will face some of the most elite competition it will see all season, and that is exactly the point.
This split-squad weekend gives both groups the chance to perform on big stages, collect confidence and return to Ames sharper as the calendar turns toward championship season.
Fans can tune in to the swimming trio in Austin, Texas, on the USA Swimming channel and can tune in to the diving team in Minnesota on YouTube on the Jean K Freeman Aquatic Center channel.
