A Splash of Competition: Hawkeyes Dive into Miami Waters

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving team prepares to head out to compete against Miami in a dual on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 10 a.m. (CT). The event will take place at Whitten Center Pool in Coral Gables, Florida.

B1G WEEKLY AWARDS
Senior Annie Galvin earned the title of Big Ten Swimmer of the Week while freshman Nora Kemp was recognized as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, due to their outstanding performances against Iowa State on Dec. 13. On her senior day, Galvin completed the 100 back in a time of 54.30, securing her position as eighth all-time at Iowa, and followed it with a winning time of 1:58.66 in the 200 back. Kemp achieved a personal best in the 100 free with a time of 50.73 before securing victory in the 200 free with a time of 1:49.12. Kemp also swam the third leg in Iowa’s victorious 200 free relay, rounding out the night with the Hawkeyes’ triumph. This marked a first-time award for both Galvin and Kemp.

CY-HAWK BATTLE
Iowa claimed victory in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Dual, overpowering Iowa State with a score of 215-84. Overall, the Hawkeyes amassed 15 event wins, 10 personal bests, and made four advancements to the program’s top-10 rankings during the event. Makayla Hughbanks secured the title in the 3-meter dive with a score of 351.85. Junior Geneva Pauly achieved a new personal high in the 1-meter dive, scoring 312.95, which ranks as the eighth-best mark in school history.

2024 HAWKEYE INVITATIONAL
Iowa hosted eight teams during its meet on Nov. 21-23. The Hawkeyes finished fifth, tallying a total score of 879. Sophomore Olivia Swalley set the all-time record for the 400 IM at Iowa with a time of 4:10.54, surpassing the previous record by nearly two seconds. Senior Makayla Hughbanks took first place in the three-meter dive finals, achieving a career-best score of 358.10, which also improved Hughbank’s fifth all-time record at Iowa. Over the weekend, Iowa recorded a sum of 46 personal bests, 24 season bests, and seven top-ten records.

FRESHMAN FIRE
Three Hawkeyes achieved a combined total of four new personal records while competing against Minnesota. Stephanie Avram set new bests in both of her diving disciplines with scores of 249.83 in the 1-Meter and 271.20 in the 3-Meter. Elizabeth Beam established her PR in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:04.04.

B1G DIVER OF THE WEEK
Makayla Hughbanks was recognized as the Big Ten Diver of the Week following her impressive performance in the one-meter and three-meter dives at UNI on Oct. 4. This is the third occasion Hughbanks has received this honor, having previously won in December of 2022 and 2023. She becomes Iowa’s first recipient of a weekly Big Ten award since junior Scarlet Martin and sophomore Olivia Swalley received conference accolades last January.

2023-24 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
• The Hawkeyes accumulated 303 points at the 2024 Big Ten Championships, showing an improvement of over 100 points from last season. Iowa featured 14 individual performances in the finals session and reached the podium with an eighth-place finish in the 400-freestyle relay.
• Additional postseason triumphs occurred at the National Invitational Championships in Ocala, Florida. Competing against 65 teams, Iowa achieved ninth place with 327 points.
• The Hawkeyes secured dual meet wins over Illinois, Iowa State, Nebraska, UNI, and Vanderbilt. The victory over Iowa State clinched the final point needed to reclaim the CyHawk Trophy for Iowa City.
• Freshman Olivia Swalley received four B1G freshman of the week recognitions, while sophomore Scarlet Martin earned three B1G swimmer of the week accolades this season.
• On Dec. 13, 2023, junior Makayla Hughbanks earned her second B1G diver of the week honor.
• Four Hawkeyes achieved a total of 10 NCAA B cut times (Kennedy Gilbertson, Jenna Kerr, Scarlet Martin, Olivia Swalley).

ETCHED IN THE BOOKS
The Hawkeyes collectively recorded 23 top-10 program performances and counting throughout the 2023-24 season.
• 50 Free – Kennedy Gilbertson (22.70) – 3rd all-time
• 50 Free – Scarlet Martin (22.91) – 6th all-time
• 100 Free – Sabina Kupcova (50.14) – 4th all-time
• 100 Free – Jenna Kerr (50.26) – T-7th all-time
• 200 Free – Jenna Kerr (1:46.97) – 5th all-time
• 200 Free – Sabina Kupcova (1:47.93) – 7th all-time
• 500 Free – Jenna Kerr (4:45.15) – 4th all-time
• 1000 Free – Jenna Kerr (10:01.53) – 7th all-time
• 1000 Free – Alix O’Brien (10:02.46) – 8th all-time
• 1650 Free – Jenna Kerr (16:34.23) – 5th all-time
• 100 Breast – Olivia Swalley (1:01.02) – 2nd all-time
• 200 Breast – Olivia Swalley (2:12.92) – 4th all-time
• 200 Fly – Scarlet Martin (1:58.67) – T-4th all-time
• 200 IM – Olivia Swalley (1:58.47) – 2nd all-time
• 200 IM – Sabina Kupcova (2:01.21) – 6th all-time
• 400 IM – Olivia Swalley (4:14.72) – 2nd all-time
• 200 Medley Relay – Gilbertson, Swalley, Martin, Kerr (1:39.59) – 5th all-time
• 200 Medley Relay – Gilbertson, Swalley, Kupcova, Kerr (1:39.95) – 7th all-time
• 400 Medley Relay – Gilbertson, Swalley, Martin, Kerr (3:38.28) – 7th all-time
• 200 Free Relay – Gilbertson, Kerr, Swalley, Martin (1:31.46) – 6th all-time
• 800 Free Relay – Kerr, Kupcova, Swalley, Martin (7:12.57) – 6th all-time
• 1 Meter Dive – Makayla Hughbanks (312.60) – 8th all-time
• 3 Meter Dive – Makayla Hughbanks (356.93) – 5th all-time

UP NEXT
The University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving team is set to return home to face Big Ten rival Illinois in a dual on Friday, Jan. 17. The meet is scheduled to commence at 11 a.m. (CT) in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.