Panthers Finish Third at MVC Championships

Wednesday, February 15

Iowa City, Iowa

All Day

University of Northern Iowa

MVC Championships

Panthers Finish Third at MVC Championships

2/18/2017 7:16:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

Results (Full)

IOWA CITY, Iowa--The University of Northern Iowa finished competition today at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships. The team finished in third place, scoring 615 points.

Breaking records is what Katie Taylor has been doing at the 2017 MVC swimming and diving championships. Taylor swam to another UNI, MVC and B Cut in the 200 backstroke, timing in at 1:57.20. Aftin Phyfe joined Taylor in the top-8, finishing at 2:01.24.

Molly Lembezeder defended her title in the 100 freestyle from a year ago, timing in at 49.97. Her preliminary swim this morning set a new school record at 49.89. Lembezeder's swim qualified her in the NCAA B Cut. Crystal Florman defended her runner-up position in the 100 freestyle, timing in at 50.53.

The Panthers team of Taylor, Florman, Phyfe and Lembezeder not only defended their title in the 400 freestyle relay, but reset the MVC record they set last year. The team swam a time of 3:22.01, also resetting the UNI school record.

"It's so exciting, the 400 freestyle relay is my favorite race of the year," remarked Molly Lembezeder. "We are all exhausted and hyping each other up so that they can go fast, so we can go fast. With how young our team is, it's only going to get faster."

Kylie Engstrom took fourth in the 1650 freestyle, swimming in at 17:11.86.

Veronica Herrmann nabbed a top-8 finish in the 200 breaststroke, timing in at 2:17.75.

Moriah Ross nabbed a top-10 finish in the 200 breaststroke, timing in at 2:18.26. Olivia Knowles competed in the C final, swimming in at 2:25.90.

Stephanie Jackson swam a 2:06.74 in the B final of the 200 butterfly. Kelsey Ostrowski competed in that final, swimming a 2:07.92.

"It's been fun to realize there is no plateau, remarked Lembezeder. "I'm so proud of this team."

Madison Rinaldi nabbed a top-16 finish in the 200 backstroke, timing in at 2:04.88. Mariah Holmes competed in the C finals, timing in at 2:09.92. Shayla Warrick rounded the Panthers out, swimming in at 2:13.01.

Abby Meyer nabs a top-16 finish in the 100 freestyle, timing in at 52.60. Maya Appleton and Autumn Roepsch tied in the C final, swimming a time of 53.20.

Rachel Siebenaller nabbed a top-10 finish in the 1650 freestyle, timing in at 17:24.85. Savannah Jensen nabbed a top-16 finish in the 1650, swimming in at 17:44.16.

"This is a team that cared about continuing to be better and challenge themselves," noted head coach Doug Humphrey. "I'm very proud of the direction this team has decided to head. It doesn't matter what times you have coming into this meet. If you have a desire to do something, you can make it happen."

Diving

Alyssa Deuso led the way on the 3-Meter boards, diving a 227.45 and finishing in fourth place. Hannah Brummel followed, diving a 222.45 for fifth and Emma Billerbeck rounded out the Panthers divers, scoring a 202.05 for seventh.

"We were the only school that had three in the finals of diving," commented diving coach Lori Meierbachtol. "We have experience now with Hannah and Alyssa being on the podium to help with us next year."

Awards

To be a member of the honorable mention team, the athlete had to have placed fourth through eighth in their respective events. The athletes from the University of Northern Iowa include Emma Billerbeck, Alyssa Deuso, Kylie Engstrom, Jordan McCullough, and Moriah Ross.

The members of the 1st-team all conference include Hannah Brummel, Crystal Florman, Veronica Herrmann, Molly Lembezeder, Aftin Phyfe, Autumn Roepsch and Katie Taylor.

Katie Taylor won the MVC Freshman of the Year award for swimming.

Never miss out on a moment of action. Follow the UNI Panthers Swimming and Diving at unipanthers.com, @UNISwimming on Twitter and @uniswimdive on Instagram.