IOWA CITY, IA.- University of Southern Indiana Men’s Swimming and Diving concludes play at the 2025 Summit League Championships in sixth place with 268 total points.

The Screaming Eagles made a 94-point improvement from the 2024 conference week. USI secured five A-Finalists, ten B-Finalists, one silver medal, and one bronze medal.

University of Denver captures its tenth title in the past 11 years with 975 points. The following order of finish included University of South Dakota (697.5), South Dakota State University (544), University of Nebraska-Omaha (507.5), University of St. Thomas (352), USI (268), and Eastern Illinois University (193).

Wednesday
Day one of the Summit League Championships featured the men’s team springboard diving event, 200 medley relay, and the 800 freestyle relay. USI finished the day with a massive bronze medal, 32-point contribution from the diving squad, along with a new 800 freestyle school record.

Junior Lane Pollock, sophomore Nathan Deputy, and sophomore George Blake teamed up in the springboard event, rotating dives. The squad earned a podium third-place bronze medal finish for their efforts.

The USI relay teams competed in the finals on Thursday night, battling for huge points against the six other squads. The 800 freestyle team of sophomore Sam Smith, junior Jack Hannon, junior Creed Loy, and Connor Harden (6:49.19) smashed their previous school record by an impressive eight seconds.

USI finished day one in fifth with 82 points. This kept the Eagles only six points behind St. Thomas in fourth, while 38 points behind Denver in first.

Thursday
Day two brought a busy slate featuring the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, and one-meter dive events. The Eagles started with the one-meter prelim event, where USI earned three qualifications into finals events.

Sophomores George Blake and Nathan Deputy qualified for B-Finals, while junior Lane Pollock finished in sixth overall, moving on to the nightcap finals event. Meanwhile, Blake totaled a career-high point total of 243.75 pts in the prelims. Deputy stepped up in the B-Finals by earning a career-high 270.05 points in the one-meter and securing nine points. Blake finished 12^th overall and fourth in the B-Final, adding five points to the leaderboard.

In the nightcap, Pollock garnered his first career podium finish. The Boonville native totaled 277.95 points, placing fifth among the high-competitive field. The 18-point improvement from his prelim performance played a massive role for the team, snatching 14 points.

Sophomore sprinter Joey Smith excelled for the Eagles, breaking the 50 freestyle (20.65) school record in the prelims. Smith advanced in the B-Finals, adding four points and placing 13^th overall.

Junior Jack Hannon earned his first finals berth in the 500 freestyle event. Hannon qualified for the B-Finals, placing 16^th overall (4:36.97). After day two, USI moved down to sixth at 139 points with two days left.

Friday
Day three featured the 100 butterfly, 400 IM, 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, and 400 medley relay events. USI swimming snatched three more school records on day three.

Hannon delivered another B-Finals contribution in the 200 freestyle (1:40.87) event. The time marked a school record for the junior, which previously stood since 2023. Hannon improved by two full seconds from his previous best.

Sam Smith captured another pivotal A-Finals qualification for the squad in the 100 butterfly (49.25). The sophomore standout broke the record from fellow sophomore Cole Baker. He improved his time in the finals, taking 11 points and resetting the record (49.05).

The 400 medley relay squad of freshman Luke Rich, Crist, Sam Smith, and Joey Smith captured fifth, along with another record (3:21.55). The Eagles finished day three in sixth place with 186 points.

Saturday
The final day included the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, and the three-meter dive.

Sam Smith secured the highest prelim position of any Eagle swimmer, finishing second best in the 200 butterfly (1:48.74), along with resetting his school record. Knauf earned another B-Final qualification in the event (1:53.36). Smith eclipsed his school record time again in the finals, earning silver in the 200 butterfly (1:48.07). The sensational sophomore became the first Eagle swimmer to medal at the Summit League Champs.

Rich completely dismantled his previous school record in the 200 breaststroke (2:04.61) by nearly four full seconds. Joey Smith delivered another strong sprint performance, qualifying for B-Finals in the 100 freestyle (45.90). Sophomore Alek Bandy finished the week strong for the Eagles, snatching the record in the 1650 freestyle (16:44.42).

USI Diving excelled in the three-meter dive as Deputy and Pollock both qualified for the A-Finals, placing fifth and sixth in the prelims. Pollock totaled his career high mark of 293.20 pts in the finals, while Deputy finished just ahead with 294.60 pts. The dynamic duo earned big points, reaching the podium at fourth and fifth.

What’s Next
The Eagles head into the offseason with plenty to be proud of and to improve upon following the third year of the program’s existence. The Eagles finish the season 3-6 in head-to-head meets with memorable victories over Northern Kentucky University, Valparaiso University, and the program’s first win against University of Evansville. The program continues to move in the right direction, and we appreciate the support throughout the season.

Softball splits Sunday contests

UE defeats UT Martin to complete the day

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Sunday’s contests saw the University of Evansville softball team open the day with a 9-5 loss to Western Michigan before the bats came alive in a 14-2 win over UT Martin at Tri-State Orthpaedics Field at Cooper Stadium.

Game 1 – Western Michigan 9, UE 5

Evansville scored three runs in the top of the first and two more in the second to take a 5-2 lead, but it was Western Michigan plating the final seven runs to take a 9-5 victory in Sunday’s opener.  Five walks saw the Purple Aces reach base while Taylor Howe and Niki Bode each hit a sacrifice fly to take the early lead.

Western Michigan scored twice in the top of the second, but UE countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame.  Howe belted a 2-run home run to extend the lead back to three runs.  The Broncos inched their way closer with four runs in the next three innings to take a 6-5 edge.  They put things out of reach with a 3-run home run in the top of the seventh.

Howe led the way with three RBI while Jess Willsey scored twice.  Kate Ridgway made the start, allowing five runs in three innings.  Cassidy Gall suffered the loss, giving up four runs in 3 1/3 innings of work.  Elle Jarrett recorded the final two outs.

Game 2 – UE 14, UT Martin 2

Game two saw the bats come alive with 14 runs, five home runs and 11 hits as the Aces defeated UT Martin by a final score of 14-2.

Just as they did in game one, the Aces jumped out to the early lead, scoring three times in the bottom half of the first.  After Taylor Howe scored on a passed ball, Niki Bode notched a 2-run single to cap a 3-run inning.  In the second, Jess Willsey hit a solo homer to push the lead to four.

UT Martin got on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the third before the Aces regained control.  Niki Bode hit a solo shot before Morgan Adams followed with a 2-run homer.  The long balls continued to fly in the next frame as homers from Howe and Callie Meinel extended the lead even more.

In total, the Aces scored seven runs in the fourth before completing the day with a 14-2 victory in five innings.  Bode and Donohoo both recorded three hits apiece with both scoring twice.  Bode added three RBI while Howe and Adams registered two apiece.  Gracie Hollingsworth went the full five innings on the way to her third win of the season.  She gave up two runs on three hits.

UE is back in action on Monday to face Western Michigan at 12:30 p.m. before taking on the Skyhawks at 3 p.m. at Cooper Stadium.

UE returns home for Senior Day

 CHICAGO – Gabriel Pozzato scored 23 points while Tayshawn Comer added 22 on Saturday to pace the University of Evansville men’s basketball team in an 82-77 setback at UIC inside Credit Union 1 Arena.

Pozzato connected on nine of his 20 field goal tries while picking up six boards.  Comer added seven boards and seven assists to his tally.  Connor Turnbull added 18 points.

“I thought our guys played with good energy and it really showed early in the second half.  At the end of the day it came down to rebounding and UIC did a great job from the beginning,” UE head coach David Ragland said.  “Down the stretch, every time we needed a big stop, we just could not get it.”

Converting their first three attempts, the Purple Aces held an early 8-5 lead.  Tayshawn Comer scored six of those points.  UIC got things going and took its first lead of 9-8 less than four minutes into the contest.  Two minutes later, the Flames extend the lead to 14-10.  Evansville countered by scoring nine in a row to go up 19-14 as a step back triple by Comer highlighted the stretch.

As the half approached the midway point, Gabriel Pozzato’s 3-pointer put the Aces back up by five – 22-17.  Over the next four minutes, UIC took control as they scored 14 in a row to take their largest lead at 31-17.  The Flames knocked down five of their six shot attempts to go back in front.  Their advantage reached 10 points in the final minutes before UE cut the deficit to eight at halftime – 39-31.  Making the difference in the period was points off turnovers as the Flames finished with a 9-0 advantage.

Pozzato opened the second half with a triple before Comer added a bucket to cut the deficit to three.  With 15:26 remaining, a layup put the Flames back up by six at 47-41.  Just as UIC did in the first half, Evansville made a big run in the second.  Helped by triples from Josh Hughes and Comer, the Aces scored ten in a row to go up 51-47 inside of the 13-minute mark.  Tanner Cuff had the floater that put Evansville back on top.

The lead for the Aces reached five points at 55-50 and the squad continued to hold a 60-57 edge inside of 10 minutes remaining.  UIC fought back once again, outscoring UE by an 18-2 margin while taking a 75-62 lead with 2:34 on the clock.  During the stretch, the Aces missed eight of their nine field goal attempts.

In the final minute, the Aces did their best to claw back as a triple by Cuff cut the deficit all the way down to five points and that would be the final as the Flames hung on for the 82-77 win.  The Flames were led by Modestas Kancleris who recorded 18 points and 10 boards.  Ahmad Henderson II and Sasa Ciani finished with 13 apiece.

Evansville completed the day shooting 46.7% while the Flames finished at 40.6%.  UIC outrebounded the Aces by a 38-28 tally.

On Wednesday, the Aces wrap up the home schedule with a 7 p.m. game against Drake.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – University of Southern Indiana Softball nearly concluded its trip to the University of Alabama Birmingham Green and Gold Classic with a comeback victory on Saturday, but the Screaming Eagles narrowly fell 4-3 against UAB after a 12-0 setback earlier in the day against Purdue University.
 
USI (1-8) started the day facing its first-ever Big Ten Conference opponent Purdue (7-5). Like Friday’s games at the Green and Gold Classic, the first inning was a thorn in the side of the Screaming Eagles. The Boilermakers quickly grabbed a 1-0 lead after a triple and single to start the contest. Purdue scored twice more in the top of the first inning to go up 3-0.
 
After scoreless second and third innings, Purdue tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth and another pair in the fifth inning to increase its advantage to 7-0. Then the Boilermakers struck for five runs in the sixth to seal the game.
 
Senior outfielder Kennedy Nalley had one of USI’s two hits that went for a double.  Senior pitcher Josie Newman (1-4) struck out three in five innings, giving up seven runs – five earned – in the start.
 
Purdue totaled 13 hits toward its 12 runs. Sophomore pitcher Julia Gossett (2-4) struck out five in the two-hit shutout.
 
In the midday matchup against UAB, Southern Indiana flipped the tournament tides and struck first in the first inning. Following a leadoff single and stolen base by junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton, sophomore infielder Sydney Long singled down the right-field line to score Stapleton and give USI the quick 1-0 lead. However, UAB answered with three runs – two unearned – in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-1 advantage.
 
The Blazers increased their lead to 4-1 in the home half of the third thanks to three singles in the frame.
 
The Eagles came right back in the top of the fifth. Two singles brought Nalley up to the plate with a chance to deliver an RBI knock. Nalley came through with a two-RBI double to deep centerfield that brought USI back within one, 4-3.
 
Meanwhile, freshman starting pitcher Kylie Witthaus continued to get stronger into the late innings. The left-hander posted zeroes in innings four through six to give USI a chance going into the top of the seventh inning.
 
After two sharp outs to begin the seventh, USI targeted a two-out rally. Nalley singled to the left side to reach base as the potential game-tying run and extending the game to bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate. However, the Blazers were able to induce a final groundout to close out the contest.
 
Southern Indiana finished with three runs on seven hits. The top three in the batting order for USI – Stapleton, Nalley and Long – each registered two-hit games. Stapleton had two runs, Nalley collected two RBIs with the double, and Long also had an RBI. Freshman first baseman Lilly Brown added a hit and a run to the USI line score.
 
Witthaus (0-3) tossed her first career complete game, striking out one and giving up four runs – two earned – in six innings pitched.
 
UAB notched four runs on eight hits. Sophomore pitcher Caroline McLendon (4-0) remained undefeated for the Blazers after striking out four and allowing three runs in a complete seven innings pitched.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Vincennes University Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams put the finishing touches on the 2025 Indoor regular season Saturday at the 2025 John Gartland Invitational hosted by Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

The VU Men’s Track team was highlighted by sophomore Malik Ferdinand (Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines) who finished second overall in the 400 meter dash against another stacked field against NCAA Division I runners, with a time of 50.63 seconds.

Sophomore Zion Pruitt (Avon, Ind.) joined Ferdinand in the top five in the 400 meters with a final time of 51.42 seconds.

Sophomore Maliek Bush (Jeffersonville, Ind.) had another busy day, competing in multiple events, including placing fourth in the 60 meter sprint with a time of 7.11 seconds.

Bush also took part in a couple of field events, taking fifth overall in the long jump at 6.75 meters and 20th overall in the shot put with a best throw of 11.72 meters.

Freshman ArTezz Butler-Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind.) joined Bush in the 60 meter sprints, placing 25th on the day with a time of 7.44 seconds.

Butler-Sanders then came back and placed 14th overall in the 200 meter dash with a time of 23.79 seconds.

Freshman Karmiel Williams (Jasper, Ind.) placed 11th in the 200 meters at 23.50 seconds, fellow freshmen Devin Wilson (Indianapolis, Ind.) took 20th at 24.97 seconds and Aaden Mapp (Indianapolis, Ind.) took 21st at 25.30 seconds.

Mapp returned to the track to compete in the 4×400 relay with teammates freshmen Hayden Kler (Hillsboro, Ind.), Marshawn Bradley (Dyer, Ind.) and sophomore Nathan Whitehead (Vincennes, Ind.) who took home sixth place overall with a time of 4:01.31.

The Trailblazers relay team of freshmen Isaiah Ervin (French Lick, Ind.), Kelvin Kipsang (Kapsabet, Kenya), Dakoda Greci (Danville, Ind.) and Anis Abdaoui (Kairouan, Tunisia) had a great race to place third overall with a final time of 3:33.22.

Anis Abdaoui took home another third place finish on the day when he ran in the 1000 meter race with a time of 2:28.52, while Whitehead and Kler took part in the mile race with Whitehead placing 13th at 4:47.11 and Kler taking 14th overall at 5:02.72.

Sophomore Tanner Spence (Carmi, Ill.) paced the Trailblazers in the 800 meters with a time of 2:01.95 to take ninth overall, just ahead of teammates Kelvin Kipsang at 2:02.72 and Dakoda Greci at 2:08.84 for 12th and 16th place respectively.

The VU Track results Saturday were rounded out by sophomore Caden Hostetler (LaGrange, Ind.), Cody Noel (Hebron, Ind.) and freshmen Lane Connaway (Carmi, Ill.) and Jeremy Mendez (Velpen, Ind.) in the 3000 meters.

Hostetler placed 12th on the day with a time of 9:01.34, just ahead of Noel at 9:01.84 in 13th. Connaway took 20th overall at 9:25.64 and Mendez placed 21st overall at 9:26.08.

The Vincennes Men’s Field event results were led by freshman Chase Guthrie (Indianapolis, Ind.) who placed third in the long jump at 6.80 meters.

Freshman Tremayne Brown (Anderson, Ind.) placed fourth overall in the high jump at 1.99 meters and freshman Cayden Gasser (Delphi, Ind.) placed 22nd overall in the shot put with a throw of 11.41 meters.

The Trailblazer men’s team placed fourth on the day as a team, only trailing the three NCAA Division I teams in the field, Indiana State University, St. Louis University and the University of Evansville.

“Chase was one of the highlights in the field events,” VU Interim Track and Field Head Coach Tyler Steigenga said. “He had his best jump of the year, just short of his PR. Maliek also had a solid outing, just off his season best. Maliek had a PR by over two feet in the shot put, which will help him a lot going into the Heptathlon at Nationals.”

“In the running events, Anis had the first National qualifying mark of the meet in the 1000,” Steigenga added. “He finished just behind the school record set last year. In the 400, Malik ran the distance for the first time indoors. Zion finished right behind him with a new indoor PR by almost a second.”

“In the men’s 800 Tanner ran his best race of the season and got the men qualified in the 4×800 for Nationals,” Steigenga said. “In the 3000 meters, Caden and Cody ran new PRs of 9:01. Cody won his heat with a quick last 200 meters.”

The VU Women’s track results Saturday were led by freshman Alexis Hale (Evansville, Ind.) who placed fifth on the day in the 3000 meter race with a time of 11:21.24.

Freshman Allie Black (Lynn, Ind.) joined Hale in the 3000 meters and took home 11th overall with a time of 13:06.46.

Freshman Sara Belgacem (Tunis, Tunisia) placed fourth in the 800 meter dash with a time of 2:20.50, just ahead of sophomore Jasmyn Self (Casey, Ill.) who took ninth at 2:30.21.

Sophomore Adi Fuller (Evansville, Ind.) took eighth in the mile run at 5:26.32, while freshman Milaja Vaughn placed 13th in the 60 meter sprint at 8.20 seconds.

Freshman Zoe Allen (Anderson, Ind.) placed 14th overall in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 9.83 seconds, before joining Belgacem, Fuller and Self in the 4×400 relay to take third overall with a final time of 4:21.62.

The VU Women’s field results were once again led by sophomore and two-time defending NJCAA National Champion Sophia Salvi (Sao Paulo, Brazil) who placed third in the pole vault after clearing a height of 3.83 meters.

The Vincennes results on the day were rounded out by freshmen Tamia Taylor (Vincennes, Ind.) and Braylee McKinnon (Linton, Ind.) in the shot put.

Taylor placed 21st overall with a best throw of 8.38 meters and McKinnon checked in a 24th overall with a throw of 7.52 meters.

The Vincennes Women’s Track team placed seventh overall as a team on the day, just ahead of NCAA Division I team University of Evansville.

“In the women’s shot put, Tamia threw three throws further than her previous best,” Steigenga said. “In the running events, Adi got things started with a two second PR. Her time of 5:26.32 moved her up to eighth in school history.”

“The 800 started off strong with Sara running her first individual NJCAA National meet qualifier with a 2:20.50, which also ranks her third overall in school history. Jasmyn followed Sara’s run wih a PR of her own by almost one second.”

The Vincennes University Track and Field teams will now look to fine tune their skills, rest and recover to make sure the Trailblazers are 100 percent when VU heads to the 2025 NJCAA Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field National Championships.

The two-day Championship event will take place Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 at The Sports Performance Center on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Tex.

“Today was a good day,” Steigenga said. “We added three new qualifiers and are right where we want to be heading into Nationals in two weeks.”

VINCENNES RESULTS

MEN’S RESULTS

VINCENNES – 4th, 47 points

60m

Maliek Bush – 4, 7.11

ArTezz Butler-Sanders – 25, 7.44

200m

Karmiel Williams – 11, 23.50

ArTezz Butler-Sanders – 14, 23.79

Devin Wilson – 20, 24.97

Aaden Mapp – 21, 25.30

400m

Malik Ferdinand – 2, 50.63

Zion Pruitt – 4, 51.42

800m

Tanner Spence – 9, 2:01.95

Kelvin Kipsang – 12, 2:02.72

Dakoda Greci – 16, 2:08.84

1000m

Anis Abdaoui – 3, 2:28.52

Mile

Nathan Whitehead – 13, 4:47.11

Hayden Kler – 14, 5:02.72

3000m

Caden Hostetler – 12, 9:01.34

Cody Noel – 13, 9:01.84

Lane Connaway – 20, 9:25.64

Jeremy Mendez – 21, 9:26.08

4×400 Relay

Ervin, Kipsang, Greci, Abdaoui – 3, 3:33.22

Mapp, Kler, Whitehead, Bradley – 6, 4:01.31

High Jump

Tremayne Brown – 4, 1.99m

Long Jump

Chase Guthrie – 3, 6.80m

Maliek Bush – 5, 6.75m

Shot Put

Maliek Bush – 20, 11.72m

Cayden Gasser – 22, 11.41m

WOMEN’S RESULTS

VINCENNES – 7th, 26 points

60m

Milaja Vaughn – 13, 8.20

800m

Sara Belgacem – 4, 2:20.50

Jasmyn Self – 9, 2:30.21

Mile

Adi Fuller – 8, 5:26.32

3000m

Alexis Hale – 5, 11:21.24

Allie Black – 11, 13:06.46

60m Hurdles

Zoe Allen – 14, 9.83

4×400 Relay

Belgacem, Fuller, Self, Allen – 3, 4:21.62

Pole Vault

Sophia Salvi – 3, 3.83m

Shot Put

Tamia Taylor – 21, 8.38m

Braylee McKinnon – 24, 7.52m

Screaming Eagles had five in double-digits

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball snapped its losing streak with an 82-68 Senior Night win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday evening at Liberty Arena. The Screaming Eagles are 10-18 overall and 5-13 in OVC action, while the Cougars go to 19-10, 12-6 OVC.
 
USI started Senior Night off on the right foot with a quick 7-2 lead before two minutes were gone. The Eagles would hang onto the lead for 10 more minutes when the Cougars grabbed a brief 26-25 advantage before USI jumped back in front 28-26 on a three by junior guard Braxton Jones with 7:36 left in the half.
 
The USI lead would grow back to five points, 33-28, with just under seven minutes to play on an old-fashioned three-point play by sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi. The lead expanded to double-digits, 42-31, on back-to-back buckets in the paint by junior center Alex Horiuk and a three-pointer by junior guard Ryan Hall that forced an SIUE timeout.
 
USI junior guard Jack Campion sent the Eagles into the locker with the first-half’s largest of 13-point lead, 46-33. Hall had a team-high and season-high 11 points during the first 20 minutes.
 
In the second half, USI briefly took the lead to 15 points, 50-35, before SIUE used a 7-2 surge to close the gap to nine points, 52-43, with 14:40 remaining in the game. Junior forward Jadyn Shider took the lead back to 11 points with a bucket, while junior guard Jayland Randall pushed the lead back to 12 points, 59-47, on a three-pointer from the right corner.
 
SIUE closed the gap to seven points, 59-52, with 9:37 to play in the contest and to five points, 60-55, with 8:34 remaining. USI took back the momentum with an 8-2 run, pushing the lead back to double-digits, 68-57, with 6:00 on the clock.
 
After the Eagles and the Cougars traded buckets for two minutes, graduate forward Jack Mielke hit a big three-pointer with 3:04 remaining to keep the Eagles in front by 11 points, 73-62. The three-pointer ignited a 7-0 run for a 77-63 advantage and put the Eagles back in command for good. USI finished out the game on a 12-6 run for an 82-68 victory.
 
On the scoreboard, USI had five players in double-digits and was led by the 20-point performance by Randall. He was five-of-11 from the field, including a three-pointer, and nine-of-10 from the line.
 
Mielke and Jones followed with 12 points each, while Hall and Campion rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points and 10 points, respectively. The 11 points was a season high for Hall.
 
In addition to his 12 points, Mielke also grabbed a team-high and career-high 13 rebounds. The double-double was the second of Mielke’s career at USI.
 
With a Senior Night pre-game ceremony, USI honored its three seniors – graduate guard Sam Mervis, graduate forward Nick Hittle, and Mielke – and their families.  
 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Indiana swimming and diving medaled in every event Saturday (Feb. 22), the final day of the 2025 Big Ten Women’s Swimming Championships, inside the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on the campus of the Ohio State University.

IU finished second in the meet but dominated the medal podium, leading the league with eight Big Ten titles and 18 medals. The next-best program, Michigan, had five titles and 12 total medals. Indiana’s medal count was one more than its total from last year’s first-place team performance.

Indiana has finished in the top three in 19 consecutive seasons, with 14 championship or runner-up finishes during that span.

Including relays, 10 Hoosiers medaled and seven won Big Ten titles. Senior Anna Peplowski and sophomore Miranda Grana led IU with six medals apiece as both medaled in all three of their individual events.

Peplowski broke two Big Ten records during the week. Leading off Wednesday’s 800 freestyle relay, Peplowski tied the conference’s 200 free standard with a 1:40.69 split. The next day, she won the 500-yard freestyle in record time with a 4:33.86. Peplowski took bronze in the individual 200 free and 100 free events and was a member of the gold medal 400 medley relay as well as the silver medal 200 and 400 freestyle relays. At the end of the season, Peplowski will complete her collegiate career an eight-time Big Ten Champion and 21-time medalist.

Sophomore transfer Miranda Grana introduced herself to the Big Ten with two titles and four silver medals. Grana won her first individual Big Ten title Friday in the 100-yard butterfly, becoming the second Hoosier, and first since Gia Dalesandro in 2017, to win the event. She also captured gold in the 400 medley relay and silver in four events: the 100 back, 200 back, 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay.

For the second consecutive season, senior Skyler Liu won both the 3-meter and platform diving events. Liu was dominant Saturday night, winning the tower event by 32.90 points with a 366.90 total – a score that would have won an NCAA title last season. Liu scored at least 69 points on every dive and highlighted her list with an 81-point reverse 2 ½ somersaults pike in the third round. Liu was again named the Big Ten Diver of the Championships as the highest-scoring athlete on the boards this week.

Senior Ching Hwee Gan set the tone Saturday, winning her second consecutive conference championship in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Gan took the lead after 200 yards and did not look back, posting consistent splits between 28.50 and 28.90 over the first 1,200 yards. Gan’s 15:46.22 was a personal best and ranks No. 3 this season as she eyes a third-straight medal at the NCAA Championships.

Senior Brearna Crawford kept an IU breaststroke tradition alive Saturday, capturing Indiana’s fifth straight 200-yard breaststroke gold and ninth in 10 seasons. Crawford shared co-champion honors with USC graduate student Kaitlyn Dobler, both finishing in 2:07.22. Freshman Mary Cespedes was fifth in 2:08.46, as she dropped over three seconds from her career best coming into the meet (2:11.57).

Sophomore Ava Whitaker impressed with a silver medal in Saturday’s 200-yard butterfly final, dropping a personal best 1:55.17, after placing ninth as a freshman. In the consolation final beforehand, junior Katie Forrester (1:56.82) and sophomore Avery Spade (1:57.14) finished one-two to each earn top 10 performances in the event.

IU punctuated the meet with a silver medal in the 400-yard freestyle relay, recording the program’s second-best time ever in 3:10.77. Peplowski led off in 47.82, gave way to junior Mya DeWitt’s 48.40 and Grana’s 47.64 before junior Kristina Paegle unleashed a 46.80 in the anchor.

TEAM SCORES
1. Ohio State – 1,313.5

2. Indiana – 1,255.5
3. Michigan – 1,149.5
4. Wisconsin – 849
5. USC – 835
6. Minnesota – 592
7. UCLA – 544
8. Purdue – 529
9. Northwestern – 409
10. Nebraska – 344
11. Rutgers – 310
12. Penn State – 260
13. Illinois – 211

14 Iowa – 158.5

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS

Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships: Phoebe Bacon, Wisconsin

Big Ten Diver of the Championships: Skyler Liu, Indiana

First-Team All-Big Ten

Brearna Crawford, Indiana

Ching Hwee Gan, Indiana

Miranda Grana, Indiana

Skyler Liu, Indiana

Kacey McKenna, Indiana

Kristina Paegle, Indiana

Anna Peplowski, Indiana

Malia Amuan, Michigan

Stephanie Balduccini, Michigan

Hannah Bellard, Michigan

Casey Chung, Michigan

Lindsay Flynn, Michigan

Brady Kendall, Michigan

Christey Liang, Michigan

Claire Newman, Michigan

Letitia Sim, Michigan

Sienna Angove, Ohio State

Lena Hentschel, Ohio State

Kaitlyn Dobler, USC

Phoebe Bacon, Wisconsin

Second-Team All-Big Ten

Mya Dewitt, Indiana

Ava Whitaker, Indiana

Vivi Del Angel, Minnesota

Rachel Bockrath, Ohio State

Erin Little, Ohio State

Mila Nikanorov, Ohio State

Paola Pineda, Ohio State

Mia Rankin, Ohio State

Avery Worobel, Purdue

Minna Abraham, USC

Claire Tuggle, USC

Hazal Ozkan, Wisconsin

Abigail Wanezek, Wisconsin

Margaret Wanezek, Wisconsin

Big Ten All-Freshman Team

Mary Cespedes, Indiana

Rebecca Diaconescu, Michigan

Leila Fack, Michigan

Olivia Wanner, Minnesota

Grey Davis, Northwestern

Zoe Nordmann, Northwestern

Sienna Angove, Ohio State

Rachel Bockrath, Ohio State

Erin Little, Ohio State

Delia Lloyd, Ohio State

Mila Nikanorov, Ohio State

Maria Ramos, Ohio State

Campbell Scofield, Purdue

Avery Worobel, Purdue

Bailee Sturgill, Rutgers

Karolina Piechowicz, UCLA

Claudia Yovanovich, UCLA

Kate Miller, USC

Stella Chapman, Wisconsin

Bridget McGann, Wisconsin

Margaret Wanezek, Wisconsin
 
RESULTS

1,650 FREESTYLE

1. Ching Hwee Gan – 15:46.22 (Big Ten Champion, Career Best, NCAA A Cut)
2. Mariah Denigan – 16:06.46 (NCAA B Cut)
3. Elyse Heiser – 16:27.23 (NCAA B Cut)
4. Katie Carson – 16:14.12 (Career Best, NCAA B Cut)

200 BACKSTROKE
2. Miranda Grana – 1:50.51 (Big Ten Silver, NCAA B Cut)

6. Mya DeWitt – 1:54.48 (NCAA B Cut)
7. Kacey McKenna – 1:55.86 (NCAA B Cut)
8. Anna Freed – 1:54.44 (NCAA B Cut)

   100 FREESTYLE
   3. Anna Peplowski – 47.37 (Big Ten Bronze, NCAA B Cut)

9. Kristina Paegle – 47.85 (NCAA B Cut)

200 BREASTSTROKE

T1. Brearna Crawford – 2:07.22 (Big Ten Co-Champion, NCAA B Cut)

5. Mary Cespedes – 2:08.46 (Career Best, NCAA B Cut)
6. Reese Tiltmann – 2:11.58 (Career Best, NCAA B Cut)

200 BUTTERFLY

2. Ava Whitaker – 1:55.17 (Big Ten Silver, Career Best, NCAA B Cut)
3. Katie Forrester – 1:56.82 (Career Best, NCAA B Cut)
4. Avery Spade – 1:57.14 (Career Best, NCAA B Cut)
5. Anna Freed – 2:00.80

PLATFORM

1. Skyler Liu – 366.90 (Big Ten Champion, NCAA Zone Qualifier)
2. Ella Roselli – 266.70 (NCAA Zone Qualifier)
3. Mary Kate Cavanaugh – 233.95 (NCAA Zone Qualifier)
4. Lily Witte – 209.80

400 FREESTYLE RELAY

2. Anna Peplowski, Mya DeWitt, Miranda Grana, Kristina Paegle – 3:10.77 (Big Ten Silver, NCAA A Cut)