Wisconsin Badgers Sweep Big Ten Rivals Northwestern

Wisconsin Badgers Def. Northwestern Wildcats

• Northwestern vs Wisconsin dual meet
• January 22, 2022
• Norris Aquatic Center, Evanston, IL
• Meet Mobile: “Northwestern vs Wisconsin”
• Score: Men: Wisconsin 163.5- Northwestern 136.5 Women: Wisconsin 160- Northwestern 140

The Northwestern Wildcats hosted Big Ten rivals the Wisconsin Badgers for senior day on Saturday, January 22nd. This is Northwestern’s first meet of 2022. Wisconsin is coming off of a win over Minnesota and a loss to Michigan in last weekend’s double dual.

Women’s Meet:

The women’s side had a tight battle. This was a slight preview for what most likely will be a battle for third and fourth place at the Big Ten Championships. The Wisconsin women came out on top winning 160-140. 

Wisconsin won nine out of the 14 events. Leading the way was sophomore Phoebe Bacon as she earned three individual victories. Bacon won the 100 backstroke (53.78), 200 backstroke (1:58.39), and 200 IM (1:59.95). In last weekend’s tri-meet, Bacon swam to times of 53.67 in the 100 backstroke, 1:55.68 in the 200 backstroke, and 1:58.76 in the 200 IM. Her season bests place her eighth in the 100 backstroke, fourth in the 200 backstroke, and ninth in the 200 IM in the NCAA this season. 

Sophomore Kaylyn Schoof earned second place finishes behind Bacon in both backstroke events showing Wisconsin’s strong backstroke group. Schoof swam a time of 55.02 in the 100 and 2:00.19 in the 200. 

Wisconsin also showed their strength in the butterfly events as they went 1-2 in both the 100 and 200 butterflies. Freshman Mackenzie McConagha won the 100 in a time of 53.48 and the 200 in a time of 1:57.85. These were not far off of her midseason times of 52.47 in the 100 and 1:56.14 in the 200. Junior Mallory Jump earned second in the 100 butterfly with a dual meet best time of 53.57. Junior Mikayla Seigal earned second in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:59.45. 

The Badgers did not stop showing off their strengths there though as freshman Paige McKenna won both the 500 and 1000 freestyles. McKenna won the 1000 in a time of 9:54.97 which was much faster than she was last week in the double dual (9:59.87). Her 500 time from today (4:52.38) was also much faster than last week (4:58.53). 

Northwestern showed their strengths in the sprint freestyle and breaststroke events. Sophomore Jasmine Nocentini won both the 50 (22.47) and 100 (49.75) freestyles. Her 50 time was just off of her season best of 22.38 from midseason which places her 41st in the NCAA this season. Nocentini transferred to Northwestern this year after spending two years at Florida International University. 

The breaststroke group for the Wildcats scored many points as they swept both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. Junior Hannah Brunzell led the way winning both the 100 (1:01.30) and 200 (2:14.23). Brunzell’s season best times are 59.45 in the 100 and 2:08.19 in the 200. Fifth year Sophie Angus earned a second place finish in the 100 (1:01.34) and a third place in the 200 (2:15.36). Senior Tara Vovk completed the sweep finishing third in the 100 (1:01.40) and second in the 200 (2:14.88). All three women hold some of the top times in the NCAA this season in the 100 breaststroke. Vovk’s season best of 59.36 places her 17th, Angus’s season best of 59.40 places her 18th, and Brunzell’s season best of 59.45 places her 20th. 

Other first-place finishes:

• 200 medley relay: Northwestern (1:39.39)
• 200 freestyle: Abby Carlson, Wisconsin (1:49.67)
• 400 freestyle relay: Wisconsin (3:20.02)

Men’s Meet

The men’s side also featured a tight battle as the Wisconsin men won in a score of 163.5- 136.5. The Wisconsin men won eight out of 14 events of the day.

Leading the way for Wisconsin was junior Wes Jekel as he earned three individual victories. He won the 100 backstroke (47.99), the 200 backstroke (1:45.38), and the 200 IM (1:49.42). Those times were around what he went last weekend at the double-dual meet as he went 47.43 in the 100 backstroke, 1:45.84 in the 200 backstroke, and 1:48.57 in the 200 IM. 

Freshman Yigit Aslan led the way as Wisconsin swept both the 500 and 1000 freestyles. Aslan won the 500 in a time of 4:25.21 and the 1000 in a time of 9:16.40. Sophomore Jude Williams earned second place in both events as he went a 4:30.83 in the 500 and a 9:17.48 in the 1000. Senior Matt Hillmer completed the sweep swimming to third in the 500 (4:35.21) and 1000 (9:23.42).

Sophomore Jake Newmark earned two individual wins, winning the 200 (1:36.93) and 100 (44.10) freestyles. His 100 time was a dual-meet season best. 

The Northwestern men were led by junior Federico Burdisso. Burdisso won the 100 butterfly in a time of 47.02 and finished second in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:37.88. His 100 butterfly was a dual meet best time. Burdisso’s season best of 46.04 from midseason places him 27th in the NCAA this season.

The Wildcats were also led by senior Andrew Zhang. Zhang won the 50 freestyle in a time of 20.46 and finished second in the 100 freestyle in a time of 44.83. 

Other first-place finishes include:

• 200 medley relay: Northwestern (1:27.08)
• 100 breaststroke: Kevin Houseman, Northwestern (53.47)
• 200 butterfly: Andrew Nixdorf, Wisconsin (1:49.03)
• 200 breaststroke: Marcus Mok, Northwestern (2:00.45)
• 400 freestyle relay: Northwestern 2:58.37

Northwestern’s next meet is scheduled for January 28th and 29th as a quad meet against Minnesota, Purdue, and Iowa. Wisconsin has their next meet scheduled for February 4th at home against Green Bay.