Ames Today

Iowa State University's women's swimming and diving team will host the Illinois Fighting Illini in a two-day dual meet at Beyer Hall on Friday and Saturday. This event marks Iowa State's second meet of the regular season.

Illinois is opening its season in Ames after finishing 13th at the 2025 Big Ten Women's Swim and Dive Championships. The team features several returning upperclassmen and new additions to the roster. The last meeting between the two programs took place in 2017, when Illinois defeated Iowa State 186-114 in Champaign.

Saturday's session will feature both teams wearing pink gear to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Fans are encouraged to participate by wearing pink during the event.

In their season opener against Nebraska, Iowa State had several notable performances. Grace Swoboda and Matilde Geromin swept the breaststroke events, with Swoboda winning the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.01 and Geromin securing the 200 breaststroke with a personal-best time of 2:20.77. Sophomore Anja Peck finished second in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:20.98.

Distance swimmer Carlotta Gazzola placed second in both the 1000 freestyle (10:25.12) and the 500 freestyle. In the backstroke, Emma Kuhn, Lili Neisser, and Piper Hagen took second through fourth place in the 100 backstroke, earning key points for the Cyclones.

On the diving boards, Kate Mitchell led Iowa State with a fourth-place finish in the 3-meter event (290.35), while freshman Maggie Bendell also placed fourth on the 1-meter board (268.00).

The Cyclones have demonstrated strength in both breaststroke and backstroke events, sweeping the top spots against Nebraska and placing three swimmers among the top five in the 100 backstroke.

Looking ahead, Iowa State will travel to South Dakota for two meets next week. The team will face South Dakota State in Brookings on October 24 at 5 p.m., followed by a meet against South Dakota in Vermillion on October 25 at 3 p.m.