Photo by: David Stluka
Badgers set to represent Big Ten in all-star event
November 10, 2016 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
Six Wisconsin swimmers to take part in inaugural USA College Challenge this weekend
MADISON, Wis. – While most of the members of the Wisconsin swimming and diving team will enjoy a weekend off from competition, a select group of Badgers will be back in action this weekend at the inaugural USA College Challenge in Indianapolis.
The highly-anticipated meet will see an all-star team representing the Big Ten Conference compete against members of the USA Swimming National Team on Saturday and Sunday at the Indiana Natatorium on the IUPUI campus.
The field is set to include 10 swimmers of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team, including eight medalists.
The two-day, short-course yards dual meet consists of two sessions – Saturday, beginning at 3:30 p.m. (CT), and Sunday, starting at 10:30 a.m.
Big Ten Network will televise both sessions of the meet live, including a stream online at BTN2Go.com and via the BTN2Go mobile app.
In total, six Badgers were chosen to represent the Big Ten in the swimming showcase.
Chase Kinney, Beata Nelson and Cierra Runge will represent the No. 12-ranked Wisconsin women's team, while Cannon Clifton, Matt Hutchins and Brett Pinfold of the No. 20 UW men's team were selected.
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.
Kinney currently holds the ninth-fastest time in the nation in the 50-yard freestyle, the No. 17 time in the 100 free, and last weekend against Georgia helped her 400 free relay team clinch the fifth-best time in the country (3:19.58).
Nelson has made a splash in her collegiate debut, collecting two top-25 times nationally in the backstroke events. The freshman ranks No. 23 in the 100 backstroke (54.11) while also notching the No. 24 time in the 200 backstroke (1:57.62) last week against Georgia.
Nelson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this season after her efforts against the Bulldogs.
Runge also has made an impact in the Big Ten during her first season competing for Wisconsin. The Olympic gold medalist freestyler earned three top-10 times in the nation last week against Georgia.
Individually, Runge holds the eighth-fastest times in the country in both the 500 free (4:44.17) and the 1000 free (9:48.78). Her efforts also helped UW's 400 free relay team notch the No. 5 time in the nation (3:19.58).
Runge will be joined by three other Olympians representing the Big Ten.
On the men's side, Hutchins is the reigning 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 championships.
Hutchins also earned nationally-ranked times against Georgia last weekend, securing the No. 5 time in the 500 free (4:22.73) and the No. 8 mark in the 1000 free (9:06.23). Hutchins also was a member of the 400 free relay team the holds the fourth-fastest time in the nation.
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.
Clifton had a standout meet against Georgia, earning season-best marks in the 50 and 100 free. His time of 20.10 in the 50 free is slotted at the 19th-fastest time in the nation while his mark of 43.95 in the 100 free is the No. 14 time in the country.
Clifton's efforts in Athens also helped the 400 free relay team clinch the fourth-fastest time nationally (2:56.74) while the 200 free relay sealed the 17th-fastest time in the country (1:21.34).
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.
Individually, Pinfold has the 23rd- and 24th-fastest times in the country in the 50 backstroke (22.45) and 100 backstroke (48.18).
Against the Bulldogs, he anchored both freestyle relays to help the 400 free relay notch the No. 4 time in the country and the 200 free relay clinch the 17th-fastest time.
The highly-anticipated meet will see an all-star team representing the Big Ten Conference compete against members of the USA Swimming National Team on Saturday and Sunday at the Indiana Natatorium on the IUPUI campus.
The field is set to include 10 swimmers of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team, including eight medalists.
The two-day, short-course yards dual meet consists of two sessions – Saturday, beginning at 3:30 p.m. (CT), and Sunday, starting at 10:30 a.m.
Big Ten Network will televise both sessions of the meet live, including a stream online at BTN2Go.com and via the BTN2Go mobile app.
In total, six Badgers were chosen to represent the Big Ten in the swimming showcase.
Chase Kinney, Beata Nelson and Cierra Runge will represent the No. 12-ranked Wisconsin women's team, while Cannon Clifton, Matt Hutchins and Brett Pinfold of the No. 20 UW men's team were selected.
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.
Kinney currently holds the ninth-fastest time in the nation in the 50-yard freestyle, the No. 17 time in the 100 free, and last weekend against Georgia helped her 400 free relay team clinch the fifth-best time in the country (3:19.58).
Nelson has made a splash in her collegiate debut, collecting two top-25 times nationally in the backstroke events. The freshman ranks No. 23 in the 100 backstroke (54.11) while also notching the No. 24 time in the 200 backstroke (1:57.62) last week against Georgia.
Nelson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this season after her efforts against the Bulldogs.
Runge also has made an impact in the Big Ten during her first season competing for Wisconsin. The Olympic gold medalist freestyler earned three top-10 times in the nation last week against Georgia.
Individually, Runge holds the eighth-fastest times in the country in both the 500 free (4:44.17) and the 1000 free (9:48.78). Her efforts also helped UW's 400 free relay team notch the No. 5 time in the nation (3:19.58).
Runge will be joined by three other Olympians representing the Big Ten.
On the men's side, Hutchins is the reigning 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 championships.
Hutchins also earned nationally-ranked times against Georgia last weekend, securing the No. 5 time in the 500 free (4:22.73) and the No. 8 mark in the 1000 free (9:06.23). Hutchins also was a member of the 400 free relay team the holds the fourth-fastest time in the nation.
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.
Clifton had a standout meet against Georgia, earning season-best marks in the 50 and 100 free. His time of 20.10 in the 50 free is slotted at the 19th-fastest time in the nation while his mark of 43.95 in the 100 free is the No. 14 time in the country.
Clifton's efforts in Athens also helped the 400 free relay team clinch the fourth-fastest time nationally (2:56.74) while the 200 free relay sealed the 17th-fastest time in the country (1:21.34).
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.
Individually, Pinfold has the 23rd- and 24th-fastest times in the country in the 50 backstroke (22.45) and 100 backstroke (48.18).
Against the Bulldogs, he anchored both freestyle relays to help the 400 free relay notch the No. 4 time in the country and the 200 free relay clinch the 17th-fastest time.
Players Mentioned
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Fly/Back/IM/Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free/Back/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & DivingYuri Suguiyama Media Conference
Monday, February 20
Yuri Suguiyama Media Conference || Wisconsin Swimming & Diving || March 1, 2021
Monday, March 01
Yuri Suguiyama Media Conference || Wisconsin Swimming & Diving || February 22, 2021
Monday, February 22
Yuri Suguiyama Press Conference - 01.20.20
Monday, January 20
