The Hoosiers started off strong with a Big Ten record in the 800 freestyle relay. IU Coach Ray Looze said that was the highlight of the first day for the team. IU broke another Big Ten record to end the meet in the Platform Dive.
Despite the two conference records and multiple individual career-best performances, the Hoosiers still came up short, placing second with 591 total points behind Minnesota’s 618.5.
“You know we were expecting to win it all,” Looze said. “It’s kind of a disappointment. It was a winnable meet, and we had a disqualification earlier in the competition that really ?hurt us.”
Due to an early exchange, the Hoosiers were disqualified in the 400 medley relay that would have given them valuable points. IU placed fifth overall in that race.
The Hoosiers still finished with seven first-place medals at the end of the tournament and ended strong, placing first in three of the last seven events. After the prelims in the platform dive, Looze had a feeling that something monumental would take place. Freshman diver ?Jessica Parratto won first place for IU.
“In her prelims she really didn’t do that great,” Looze said. “We had a talk, and we just had a feeling that she was going to bust out.”
Parratto did just that as she scored a total of 424.45 points to set the new Big Ten Conference record. Although IU did not win the competition as they set out to, there were many individual accomplishments the Hoosiers are ?proud of.
Freshman Kennedy Goss won Big Ten freshman of the year, making it the third year in a row a Hoosier has won this award. Goss was on the 800 freestyle relay that set the Big Ten record at 6:59.10 along with juniors Brooklyn Snodgrass and Haley Lips and freshman Grace Vertigans.
She won individual titles in the 500 freestyle and the 200 freestyle. She also set a new school record in the 400 freestyle relay to place third overall with Lips, Vertigans and Snodgrass. She helped score points in the 100 freestyle by placing seventh overall in that race as well.
“Kennedy had a great meet,” Looze said. “It was a really well-deserved award for her to get. We are really proud of her. She deserved it.”
Goss and five other of her teammates — Lips, Parratto, Snodgrass, Vertigans and sophomore Gia Dalesandro were named first team All-Big Ten, as well.
“Everybody did what they could, from the coaches to the swimmers, so no regrets there,” Looze said. “Any girl who won any event we are proud of. It’s not an easy conference to win in.”
The men’s team will begin their Big Ten Conference Championships at 7 p.m., Wednesday in Iowa City, Iowa.
