Husker Swimmers Shine in Senior Day Win

Lincoln - All-American Gena Jorgenson captured three individual titles to help propel the Nebraska swimming and diving team to a 174.5-125.5 Senior Day victory over Illinois on Saturday in Lincoln.

As a team, the Huskers clinched 10 individual titles along with two relay wins to move the Huskers to a 6-2 on the season.

The Big Red started Senior Day off with a bang by taking first, fourth and fifth in the 200 medley relay. Anna Vlachou, JoJo Randby, Beatrix Tanko and Maisie Gilford clocked 1:39.79 to win the event. 

Jorgenson, a junior from Aberdeen, S.D., followed with a season-best 9:43.79 to win the 1,000 freestyle. She later clocked a 1:58.09 in the 200 back and a 4:15.33 in the 400 individual medley to complete her trio of victories. 

Freshman Virginia Consiglio made an impact during her debut meet with the Huskers, as the Italian swam a 54.09 in the 100 backstroke to claim her first title at Nebraska. The newcomer also swam an impressive 200 back (2:02.17) to secure third place. 

Senior JoJo Randby took an individual title in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.26) as well as third in the 100 free (51.50). The Omahan was followed by fellow senior Maia Hall, who took second (1:01.35). Hall went on to swim to a title of her own in the 200 breast (2:13.30).

Senior Caterina Bisiacchi posted a season-best 2:01.50 to clinch a victory in the 200 butterfly. The senior from Italy added runner-up finish in the 500 freestyle (5:55.18).

In the 50 freestyle, the Huskers notched a 1-2 finish with Maisie Gilford (23.01) and Beatrix Tanko (23.28) taking the top two spots. Gilford also led efforts in the 100 free (49.92) and the 100 fly (53.99), collecting a pair of second-place finishes for the Huskers. 

Tanko, Randby, Giulia Marchi and Gilford completed the meet with a Husker victory in the 400 freestyle relay (3:21.15). 

The Big Red excelled in the diving well with Abby Baxter taking victories on both the one-meter (297.00) and three-meter (319.20) boards. Kelsey Clairmont, a junior from Canada, notched 282.15 points in the one-meter dive for the Huskers. 

Antonia Harned also posted impressive finishes for the Big Red with a fourth-place showing in the one-meter dive (264.98) and a second place finish in the three-meter dive (318.53). Nettie Knapton added a 296.33 on the three-meter board to take third. 

The Huskers return to road dual action at Rutgers on Jan. 31, The two-day dual in Piscataway, N.J., begins at 4 p.m. (CT). 

Nebraska 174.5, Illinois 125.5
Saturday, Jan 18, 2025
Lincoln, Neb. (Devaney Natatorium)

Husker Champions
200 Medley Relay – Anna Vlachou, JoJo Randby, Beatrix Tanko and Maisie Gilford – 1:39.79
1000 Freestyle – Gena Jogenson – 9:43.79
100 Backstroke – Virginia Consiglio – 54.09
100 Breaststroke – JoJo Randby – 1:01.26       
200 Butterfly – Caterina Bisiacchi – 2:01.50
50 Freestyle – Maisie Gilford – 23.01
1 Meter Dive – Abby Baxter – 297.00
200 Backstroke – Gena Jorgenson – 1:58.09
200 Breaststroke – Maia Hall – 2:13.30
3 Meter Dive – Abby Baxter – 319.20
400 Individual Medley – Gena Jorgenson – 4:15.33
400 Freestyle Relay – 3:21.15