University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Purple & Gold Intrasquad
Panther swim & dive to host Purple and Gold Intrasquad on Saturday
9/26/2024 9:36:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
UNI swimming and diving at Purple and Gold IntrasquadÂ
- 12 p.m. CT | Sept. 28
- Glen F. Henry Pool | Wellness-Recreation CenterÂ
- Cedar Falls, IowaÂ
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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI swimming and diving will get its first opportunity to hit the water on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers host their annual Purple and Gold Intrasquad meet at 12 p.m. CT at the Glen F. Henry Pool inside the campus' Wellness-Recreation Center. Admission is free and open to the public.
The intrasquad competition will give UNI its first opportunity to compete before its regular season opener next Friday, Oct. 5 when the Panthers host in-state rival Iowa in a home dual meet.
UNI placed fifth at last year's Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Championships, and was picked sixth in this year's conference preseason coaches poll (full poll results listed below). The Panthers return a number of talented athletes from last season's roster, including sprinter Faith Larsen, who enters the season having captured the MVC title in the 50-yard freestyle in each of the previous two seasons. Larsen, who set the school record in the event in 2023 in 22.50 seconds, will have the chance this season to become the fourth swimmer in league history to win the event at the conference championships three consecutive years in a row.
Northern Iowa also returns all four swimmers from its school record setting 200-yard freestyle relay team that topped the podium at the 2024 MVC Championships in Abby Lear, Waren Graeve, Morgan Meyer and Larsen. The Panthers previously won the relay event in back-to-back years at the conference meet in 2016 and 2017.
In the diving well, the Panthers return a solid core of veteran divers, including All-MVC Honorable Mention performer Trista Thompson, who qualified and competed at last year's NCAA Diving Zones. Other key returners in diving include Erica Peters, Abby Hutchins, Hannah Taylor, Maddie Moran and Avery Hogan, with freshman Natalie Devoll joining the roster as well.
Other key returners in swimming include 2024 Paralympic medalist Olivia Chambers, Sydney Aird, Hallory Domnick, Ema Lavigne, Hannah Nedder, Meghan Pallett, Cali Prochaska and Abby Steward.Â
UNI also adds 11 new faces to the program, including swimmers Abigail Bankhurst, Crystal Benjamin, Elyse Brayton, Aspen Cole, Natalie Harris, Molly Johnson, Sam Oeltjen, Josie Parton, Peyton Pasqualicchio, and Paige Seehawer.Â
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2024-25 MVC WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING PRESEASON POLL (Total Points) [First-Place Votes]
- Missouri State (78) [6]
- Indiana State (74) [3]
- Southern Illinois (63)
- Illinois State (53)
- Little Rock (40)
- UNI (37)
- UIC (33)
- Evansville (17)
- Valparaiso (10)
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UNI swimming and diving action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Swimming and Diving), X (@uniswimdive) and on Instagram (@uniswimdive). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
Players Mentioned
