The ISU swimming and diving team had another strong showing against the University of South Dakota, beating the Coyotes 181-107.

A home advantage, an individual rivalry and many event sweeps highlighted Iowa State’s performance.

The Cyclones will have their final meet of a four-weekend stretch of home meets next weekend. To be able to start the season at home has been great for the Cyclones.

“It’s nice because you get to sleep in your own bed, and you don’t have to travel,” said ISU coach Duane Sorenson. “You’re just so much more comfortable in your own pool, and it’s one less stress to worry about.”

Iowa State is now 2-1 on the season. Aside from last week’s Nebraska meet, where they lost by one event, the Cyclones are just one race away from starting the season with a perfect record at home.

Senior distance swimmer Samantha Fossum was put in an interesting position against South Dakota.

Fossum, who is a South Dakota native and a transfer from South Dakota State, was able to swim against her former rival from early on in her college career.

“This specific event is more sentimental because as a freshman I swam for South Dakota State, and we had a huge rivalry against South Dakota,” Fossum said. “It’s always nice to have that taste of home.”

Fossum had a thirteen-second win in the 1,000-yard freestyle for the Cyclones against the Coyotes.

ISU sweeps were not sparse in Beyer Hall, as the Cyclones completed six sweeps on the evening.

The swimmers had a very impressive event, and the divers faired well also. Elyse Brouillette won the 1-meter diving event, receiving 285.95, her top score of the season. She followed up her performance by placing second in 3-meter diving.

There were good performances out of sophomores Julie Dickinson and Rebecca Stochl and freshman Sydney Ronald as well, all of whom have put in good performances in their young careers for Iowa State.

ISU diving coach Jeff Warrick is very pleased with his divers to this point in the season and looks forward to seeing their continued improvements as the season goes on.

“One of the biggest things for us is team cohesiveness,” Warrick said. “They really push each other in practice and in meets, and they are really together as they carry that into performance.”

Warrick also graded his young team on their overall performance.

“Right now, for early in the season, I would give them an A,” Warrick said. “Grades can go down, and grades can go up, so to keep that A we need to keep improving, but for this point in the season, I would give them an A.”

Warrick and the rest of the coaching staff like where their team is at this point in the season. Iowa State will look to keep impressing and will cap off their season opening stretch of home meets Oct. 31 in Beyer Hall against Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota.