Note: the dual between Minnesota and Hawaii happened last Wednesday, but technical issues delayed the schools from releasing results until this week.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers picked up a win far from home under the hot Hawaiian sun, defeating Hawaii 140-110 on the men’s side and 139-108 for the women.
Leading the way was freshman Brooke Zeiger, who won three individual events for the Lady Gophers, while Navy transfer Michael Nunan won the 200 free in his Minnesota debut.
Women’s Meet
The Lady Gophers dropped just a single event in sweeping the Rainbow Wahine. The freshman Zeiger, who has been a huge contributor as a rookie, won three races by wide margins for Minnesota.
Zeiger got started early, pacing the opening individual event with a 10:07.85 in the 1000 free. She would go on to take the 200 back in 2:03.74 before winning the final individual event, the 200 IM, with a 2:06.20.
Kierra Smith was her usual dominant self in the breaststrokes. The Canadian picked up both wins, going 1:03.36 and 2:12.47. The latter race saw Smith win by over 15 seconds.
Also doubling for Minnesota was Lauren Votava, a junior like Smith. Votava paced the 200 free (1:49.46) and 100 free (50.61).
Hawaii managed to steal the 50 free to deny Minnesota the sweep. That was Filipino national Jasmine Alkhaldi, who went 23.46 to beat Minnesota’s Becca Weiland (23.50).
Freshman Danielle Nack came up big for the Gophers, winning the 200 fly in 2:03.08. Nack is best-known for her outstanding 100 fly, but is starting to come into her own as an outstanding all-around butterflyer heading into her first college championship meet season.
Seniors Tori Simenec (100 fly, 55.79) and Kiera Janzen (500 free, 4:54.33) also won events for the Gophers, while sophomore Katelyn Holmquist picked up the 100 back win (59.66) to round out the lineup for Minnesota.
Men’s Meet
Swimming in his first meet for the Gophers, Nunan didn’t wait long to get his first collegiate win. The freestyler, who is still a freshman, eligibility-wise, went 1:39.76 to win the 200 free early in the meet for Minnesota.
Doubling up on wins for the Gophers were senior CJ Smith and sophomore Daryl Turner. Smith paced the 1000 free (9:13.43) by over 16 seconds right before Nunan’s 200 free win, then denied Nunan a second win in the 500 free. In that race, Smith was 4:32.71 to Nunan’s 4:35.79.
Turner, meanwhile, won two races in a quick turnaround early on. The Colorado native went 50.09 to take the 100 back, then just two events later was 20.37 to crush the 50 – Turner was the only man under 21 seconds on the day.
Hawaii’s men managed to outdo their women, nabbing two events against the Gophers. Paulo de Paula struck first, winning the 100 breast in 57.46. That was a touchout of talented Minnesota freshman Conner McHugh, who would come back to win the 200 breast in 2:05.22.
The other Hawaii win came late, in the 100 fly. Karl Hennebach popped a 49.04, the only guy under 50 seconds, to lead a 1-2 finish with teammate Eduardo Guimaraes (50.31).
Other individual winners for Minnesota included senior Andrew Hartbarger (200 IM, 1:52.32), sophomore Paul Fair (100 free, 45.47) and senior Carl Newenhouse (200 back, 1:50.36).
Yay Gophers!!! Probably the sunshine was like a year’s supply of energy drinks for the team after escaping our insanely cold clime. Hopefully they don’t come to their senses and just stay there.