University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Coyote Invite
UNI swim and dive posts strong performances at Coyote Invitational
1/31/2026 8:16:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
VERMILLION, S.D. — The UNI swimming and diving team captured seven event titles this weekend at the Coyote Invitational, its penultimate meet ahead of next month's Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Championships.
Competing against a crowded field, Northern Iowa saw three swimmers make their way into the top ten all-time lists in program history in the 200-yard individual medley, 100-yard breaststroke and the 100-yard backstroke.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Action started Friday night with the 200-yard freestyle relay that saw the UNI squad of Charlotte Sander, Morgan Raether, Sabra Brueggen and Averie Bilskemper take second with a time of 1:35.87. Elyse Brayton, Nikki Walters, Molly Johnson and Natalie Harris followed right behind in third in 1:36.11. Julia Eastman put on a strong showing in the 500-yard freestyle, taking fourth with a time of 5:11.85, as Kirsten Tarran took eighth in the event (5:13.04).
The 200-yard individual medley action saw the Panthers dominate with a podium sweep, including Aspen Cole taking first in 2:05.42, swimming a personal best and moving her to sixth on the top-ten all-time list for the event. Brayton would swim a 2:07.33 to claim second, while Harris would take third at 2:07.54. Abby Lear meanwhile finished second in the 50-yard freestyle swimming with a time of 24.06, with Raether taking fourth (24.20) and Sander finishing sixth (24.26) to close out day one of competition.
Saturday morning competition started with the 200-yard medley relay, which saw the team of Raether, Cole, Sander and Morgan Meyer come out on top with a time of 1:43.54. Brayton, Aird, Nedder and Bilskemper would go on to claim third in 1:45.03. Walters and Harris would place first and second in the 100-yard butterfly with times of 56.65 and 56.97, as Eastman claimed seventh (58.63).
Continuing with the morning session was the 400-yard individual medley, where Aird placed fourth in the event (4:37.49), as Peyton Pasqualicchio took sixth (4:38.75) and Crystal Benjamin seventh (4:39.55). Sam Oeltjen and Abigail Barkhurst showed off their speed in the 200-yard freestyle by tying for second in the event at 1:53.94, with Cassidy Miklos taking sixth (1:55.88).
Neriah Giedrys had a strong showing in the 100-yard breaststroke, swimming a 1:04.16 for second place, moving her to sixth on the top ten all-time list. Sander would follow Giedrys in eighth at 1:08.33. Meyer took first in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56.18, moving her to ninth on the top ten all-time list. Ceci Nicholson secured fifth (58.97) and Lear seventh (59.04) in the event.
Saturday night kicked off with the 400-yard individual medley in which Cole placed fourth with a time of 59.01, while Sander placed fifth (59.51) and Johnson in sixth (59.67). Meyer and Peyton Paqualicchio took first and second in the 200-yard backstroke with times of 2:04.13 and 2:05.73 while Jennifer Barajas took sixth (2:09.99).
Harris and Brayton placed third and fourth in the 100-yard freestyle at 52.71 and 53.13, as Walters and Eastman claimed sixth and seventh in the 200-yard breaststroke with times of 2:27.77 and 2:29.74. Rounding out the night in the 200-yard butterfly was Nedder as she placed third in the event with a time of 2:10.05.
In the diving well, Friday night's three-meter action saw Erica Peters take first in the event with a score of 242.40, with Avery Hogan close behind in second (240.40), followed by Addison Bausman in sixth (226.20), Trista Thompson eighth (212.90), and Eva Coonrad tenth (204.90). One-meter saw a Panther podium sweep as Peters (258.10), Thompson (250.70) and Hogan (245.20) took first, second, and third respectively.
UP NEXT
The Panther divers will head to Omaha, Nebraska to compete in the UNO Diving Invite set to be held at H&K Pool Feb. 6-7. Competition will start Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT and continue Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. CT.
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
