Ling, Szara Lead Spartans at B1G Championships

East Lansing, MIch. -- Michigan State women's swimming and its diving programs wrapped up the week of action at the Big Ten Championships at the University of Minnesota's Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis (swimming) and at Purdue's Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center (diving).

Ohio State totaled 1,584 points through the five-day competition, followed by Michigan (1,326.5), Indiana (1,066.5), Northwestern (992) and Wisconsin (749.5).The Buckeyes earned their seventh Big Ten title and second in as many years.

The Spartan women finished 11th overall with 217 points, with seniors Erin Szara and diver Amanda Ling each earning top-10 finishes. Taylor Arnold was the team's Sportsmanship Award winner.

"We had our highest finish at Big Tens in seven years and combined with posting the top GPA in the nation, I think that tells you a lot about the athletes on our team," said head coach Matt Gianiodis. "Our student-athletes define the term 'Spartans Will'. They represented Michigan State University and our program incredibly well. I'm very proud of the efforts of our entire team."

Tuesday, February 23
Tuesday Swim Results

Michigan State took ninth in the 200 medley relay, clocked in a time of 1:40.60, just .38 behind eighth-place Iowa. The group of junior Sam Villani, seniors Erin Szara and Abbey Neveling, and freshman Sheridan Phalen were led by the senior Szara, who turned in an impressive split.
The 800 free relay finished 12^th. That relay consisted of three freshmen (Sydney Kelly, Allison Haak, and anchor Kylie Goit) along with senior Olivia Chick, who swam the third leg. They finished in a time of 7:33.27.

Wednesday February 24
Swim Results: Preliminaries Finals

The senior-dominated 400 medley relay (junior Sam Villani and seniors Erin Szara, Marie Dickson, and Olivia Chick) took 10^th place in the event final. They were clocked in a time of 3:43.55.
MSU had five athletes in the 200 IM preliminaries. Abbey Neveling was first among the Spartans in a time of 2:05.22. Others competing were Marie Dickson (2:06.74), Claire Schenden (2:07.99), Lindsey Witte (2:09.54, and Pruitt Walther (2:16.19).
Eight sprinters took part in the first heats of the 50 free, led by freshman Sheridan Phalen (23.58). Also in the prelims was senior Taylor Arnold (23.84), Allison Haak (23.98), Erin Szara (24.16), Taylor Contino (24.25), Sam Villani (24.90), Ava Boutrous(25.16) and Kendall Goit (25.50).
In the prelims of the 500 free, MSU was led by Sydney Kelly (4:59.01), followed by Emma Inch (5:01.66), Sophia Balow (5:02.57), Lucy Schenden (5:03.70), Sarah Zofchak (5:08.16), and Annette Dombkowski (5:11.93).

Thursday February 25
Swim Results: Preliminaries Finals
Diving Results: Men 1M Preliminaries Women's 3M Preliminaries Women's 3M Finals

Amanda Ling finished in seventh place in the women's 3M diving competition with a score of 302.40. She was eighth in the prelims (304.15) earlier in the day.
In the preliminaries of the 100 yard butterfly, senior Marie Dickson was the top of the four Spartan finishers in a time of 57.22. She was followed by Ava Boutrous (57.51), freshman Kylie Goit (58.92), and junior Kendall Goit (1:00.41)
Three Spartans swam the prelims of the 400 IM, led by Sydney Kelly (4:26.14). Behind Kelly was sophomore Emma Inch (4:32.64) and Lindsey Witte (4:33.69).
There were a total of eight MSU athletes in the preliminaries of the 200 freestyle, paced by senior Olivia Chick (1:53.11). Lucy Schenden was three spots behind in 1:53.70, and then Rachel Aycock (1:55.06), Allison Haak (1:55.18), Sophia Balow (1:55.36), Taylor Contino (1:55.55), Annette Dombkowski, (1:58.02) and Sarah Zofchak (1:58.57).
Jakob Heberling finished 25th in the 1M diving event at Purdue, while freshman Cyrus Irwin took 33rd at his first-ever Big Ten Championships, scoring a 213.20.

Friday February 26
Swim Results: Preliminaries Finals
Diving Results: Men 3M Preliminaries

Erin Szara finished eighth in the 100 breast (100.66), an NCAA B qualifying time. In her time trials in the morning, her time was 1:00.30 which initially had been her B qualifyer. Also in the prelims in this event were Abbey Neveling (1:03.86), Olivia Starzomski (1:04.89), Riley Szara (1:05.80), and Pruitt Walther (1:09.44).
In the preliminaries of the 100 yard back, Sam Villani led the way (55.93), followed by Claire Schenden (57.28), Julia Coffman (58.87), and Taylor Arnold (59.68)
The final prelim race came in the 200 fly. Sydney Kelly (2:04.02) was MSU's top finisher, followed by Marie Dickson (2:04.53), Ava Boutrous (2:05.21), Rachel Aycock (2:05.58), and Emma Inch (2:07.06)
In diving action from West Lafayette, Jakob Heberling scored a 259.50 in the preliminaries of the men's 3M diving competition.

Saturday February 27
Swim Results: Preliminaries       Finals
Diving Results: Women 1M Preliminaries

Erin Szara finished 19th overall in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.53) on Saturday evening. She advanced with a time of 2:16.92 in the preliminaries. Other Spartans in the 200 breast included Abbey Neveling (2:19.04), Olivia Starzomski (2:19.45), Riley Szara (2:24.32) and Lindsey Witte (2:27.12).
Sophia Balow was MSU's top finisher in the 1650 free in a time of 17:19.02; rIght behind her was Sarah Zofchak (17:40.95).
MSU's all-senior 400 free relay of Olivia Chick, Abbey Neveling, Taylor Contino, and Taylor Arnold was clocked in a time of 3:25.55.
In the 100 yard freestyle prelims, Olivia Chick was MSU's top time (51.60). Senior Taylor Arnold was clocked in 52.07, Allison Hak in 52.68, and Lucy Schenden in 52.72. Also swimming for MSU in the event was Sheridan Phalen (52.75), Taylor Contino (52.80), Julia Coffman (53.20), Kylie Goit (53.36).
Claire Schenden was MSU's top finisher in the prelims of the 200 back (2:03.78), followed by Sam Villani (2:04.14), Rachel Aycock (2:06.74) and Coffman (2:09.65).
Amanda Ling scored a 246.85 in the preliminaries of 1m diving.

Big Ten Sportsmanship Honorees

Cara Bognar, Illinois
Anne Rouleau, Indiana
Lexi Horner, Iowa
Sierra Schmidt, Michigan
Taylor Arnold, Michigan State
Sarah Bacon, Minnesota
Katelyn Kilpatrick, Nebraska
Becky Kamau, Northwestern
Katie Trace, Ohio State
Riley Kishman, Purdue
Stephanie Szekely, Penn State
Yael Weber, Rutgers
Savanna Carlson, Wisconsin

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Arnold

Rachel Aycock

Sophia Balow

Ava Boutrous

Olivia Chick

Julia Coffman

Taylor Contino

Marie Dickson

Annette Dombkowski

Kendall Goit

Kylie Goit

Jakob Heberling

Emma Inch

Cyrus Irwin

Sydney Kelly

Amanda Ling

Abbey Neveling

Sheridan Phalen

Claire Schenden

Lucy Schenden

Olivia Starzomski

Erin Szara

Riley Szara

Sam Villani

Pruitt Walther

Lindsey Witte

Sarah Zofchak

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