Six Badgers selected for inaugural all-star event
November 01, 2016 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
Wisconsin will be well-represented in first USA College Challenge
MADISON, Wis. — Six Badgers are set to head to Indianapolis to compete in the inaugural USA College Challenge.
The inaugural meet will see the top swimmers from the Big Ten Conference compete against members of the USA Swimming national team Nov. 12-13 at the Indiana Natatorium on the IUPUI campus.
Chase Kinney, Beata Nelson and Cierra Runge will represent the No. 13-ranked Wisconsin women's team, while Cannon Clifton, Matt Hutchins and Brett Pinfold of the No. 17 UW men's team were chosen to represent the Big Ten at the all-star meet.
The two-day, short-course yards dual meet consists of two sessions – Saturday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. (CT) and Sunday, Nov. 13, at 10:30 a.m.
Big Ten Network will televise both sessions of the meet on Nov. 13. The Nov. 12 session will air on delay at 9 a.m., followed by a live broadcast of the final session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both sessions also will stream live online and via the BTN2Go app.
Kinney is a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and has won five conference titles along with a runner-up finish in the 50-yard freestyle at last season's Big Ten championships.
Nelson has made a splash in her collegiate debut, collecting 12 top-three finishes, including four victories, thus far this season. Nelson was also recently named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for her efforts against No. 4 NC State.
Runge has also made an impact in the Big Ten during her first season competing for Wisconsin. The Olympic gold medalist freestyler has earned 10 top-two finishes this season, including a total of four wins against NC State and No. 16 Minnesota.
Runge will be joined by three other Olympians representing the Big Ten.
On the men's side, Clifton is a two-time second-team All-Big Ten honoree after recording three top-10 finishes at last year's conference championships. The senior also is a five-time honorable mention All-American and holds six school records.
Hutchins was last year's Big Ten Swimmer of the Year after an illustrious season that included two runner-up finishes at the Big Ten championships as well as setting a pair of school records en route to third- and sixth-place finishes in the 500 and 1650-yard freestyle at the NCAA championship.
Pinfold rounds out the Wisconsin roster heading to the Hoosier State. The senior was a second-team All-Big Ten pick last year after netting three top-10 finishes at last season's conference championships. Pinfold is also a five-time honorable mention All-American and holds five school records.
Players Mentioned
