EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern’s swimming and diving teams showcased their strength in the season opener, dominating Miami University (Ohio) in a dual meet on Saturday. Both the women’s and men’s teams emerged victorious with scores of 203-97, winning nearly every event on the schedule.
‘CATS WIN ???? pic.twitter.com/uNacxoYbKK
— NorthwesternSwimDive (@NUSwimDive) October 12, 2024
The meet featured some irregular-distance events, including the 400 and 600 freestyle and the 300 individual medley (IM), providing athletes with unique challenges right out of the gate. The women’s team kicked off the competition with an impressive performance in the 200 medley relay, where the team of Justin Murdock, Sophie Martin, Nikki Venema, and Lindsay Ervin secured a victory in 1:39.04. Luiza Comini Lima followed suit by clinching first in the 600 freestyle with a time of 5:56.74.
Feels good to be back ?? pic.twitter.com/58WY3DrODU
— NorthwesternSwimDive (@NUSwimDive) October 12, 2024
Sydney Smith delivered an exhilarating finish in the 200 freestyle, edging out teammates Zoe Nordman and Bri Deierlein in a thrilling race that saw Smith clock in at 1:48.62, just ahead of Nordman (1:48.64) and Deierlein (1:48.67). Martin continued her strong showing with a win in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.54), while Lilly Mehok triumphed in the 200 butterfly (2:02.49). Venema added another win in the 50 freestyle before Martin returned to the pool to secure her second victory of the day in the 100 freestyle (49.36).
Margaret Papanicholas claimed the top spot in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.15), and Nordman took the 400 freestyle (3:49.32) to further solidify the women’s team’s dominance. Venema won again in the 100 butterfly (54.32). On the diving side, Caroline Li led the Wildcats with a victory in the 3-meter event (277.00), while Mia Meinhardt from Miami won the 1-meter diving (264.95).
For the men, the team of David Gerchik, Tyler Lu, Stuart Seymour, and Caden Duncan opened strong by winning the 200 medley relay in 1:26.72. Alexander Rousseau secured victory in the 600 freestyle (5:29.15), followed by Diego Nosack’s first-place finish in the 200 freestyle (1:37.35). Seymour excelled in the 100 backstroke (46.88), and Lu led the field in the 100 breaststroke (54.41).
Adam Cohen dominated both diving events, winning the 3-meter (354.04) and 1-meter (317.05) competitions. The 400 freestyle relay team of Duncan, Nosack, Malachi Cohen, and Gerchik capped the meet with a win in 2:56.97. Seymour finished first in the 100 freestyle (44.67), Gerchik in the 200 back (1:44.30), and Lu in the 200 breast (2:00.43). Nosack added another win in the 300 IM, finishing in 2:52.63.
With a resounding start to their season, Northwestern’s swimming and diving teams will be back in action next Friday, October 18, at 3 PM CT against Cincinnati.
