With just two events remaining Saturday, the Northwestern women’s swimming team trailed Michigan. The swimmers — like the NU football team a few months ago — needed clutch performances against the Wolverines in the last two events.
The Wildcats got just that.
Rachel Johnson, Katie Simmons and Erica Rose left the pack in their wake, taking first, second and third, respectively, in the 400-yard individual medley. The win brought the crowd to a deafening roar and gave the No. 23 Cats (3-6, 2-2 Big Ten) a lead they would not relinquish in their 157-143 upset of No. 14 Michigan (4-4, 4-2) .
The win was only the second time in coach Jimmy Tierney’s 13-year career at NU that the Cats have defeated Michigan in a dual meet.
“We told (our swimmers) we were going to try and dominate the 400 IM,” Tierney said. “I thought we could one-two it, but one-two-three just made it a little bit safer. I have to give a lot of credit to those girls and Erica Rose coming on there in the end. Either way we were going to have to win the last relay.”
NU solidified its victory one event later, cruising to a win in the 200 freestyle relay.
With one of the Cats’ top breaststrokers, Ashley Wagner, out with an injury, Tierney said he was pleased with Kaisa Greenberg’s third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke and fourth-place finish in the 200 breaststroke. Freshman Katie Simmons remained unbeaten in the 200 breaststroke and won the 100 as well.
One of the day’s surprise performances, Tierney said, came from Maria Reeves, who upset Michigan’s premier 50 freestylers to take first in the race.
Tierney said he expected the Wolverines to dominate some events, although the Cats held certain advantages as well. But Tierney pointed to NU’s surprise finishes as the key to its victory, including Merritt Adams’ 100 butterfly victory and NU’s wins in both relays.
“It was a total team effort today, ” Tierney said. “We told them it had to be.”
Added junior Lauren Moore: “There’s nothing better than being the underdog and coming out on top.”
SO LONG, SENIORS: The team honored seniors Tashy Bohm and Krista Puttler in what was the final home meet of their careers at NU. Bohm is one of the Big Ten’s top backstrokers, and she won her final 200 backstroke at the Norris Aquatic Center on Saturday.
“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet that it’s my last meet,” said Bohm, who is looking for a job in recruiting. “I’m glad that we went out with a bang.
“Under Coach Tierney I’ve grown a little more mature. I’ve definitely grown to feel what’s good in the water and what works for me, rather than just going in and thrashing around.”
Puttler, who Tierney described as an excellent leader, is in the process of applying to medical school. She was a role player in the breaststroke and credits much of her daily success to her teammates.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do what I do every day without the team,” said Puttler, a Hawaii native. “(They) just help you and get you fired up. Besides swimming, (I learned) that I’ll be able to put my mind to something and do it.”
FEBRUARY MADNESS: NU’s next meet will be the Big Ten championships, just three weeks away. And Tierney said his team is headed in the right direction.
Since a Jan. 13 meet against Auburn and Tennessee, Tierney said he has noticed his team battling harder and doing small things like fighting tougher to the walls on finishes. But he also cites relay exchanges and turns as areas that still need work.
“I’m looking for a lot of those little things, not just the clock, that show they’re ready to compete,” Tierney said.
