STANFORD, Calif. -- Behind two individual wins from senior swimmer Maddy Schaefer and sophomore diver Kassidy Cook, the No. 3 Stanford women’s swimming and diving team knocked off No. 19 Wisconsin, 145-91, Saturday morning at sun-soaked Avery Aquatic Center. The Stanford men also topped the Badgers as part of the event, 148-90.
“I thought we did a nice job of bouncing back from a tough loss last week,” said head coach Greg Meehan. “We focused on the things we really need to focus on in our races; our details of kicks off the walls and how we were splitting our races.”
Schaefer got the Cardinal started by helping the 200-yard medley relay squad, along with freshman Janet Hu, junior Sarah Haase and freshman Simone Manuel, win the first event (1:40.10) and turned around to take the 200-yard freestyle four events later (1:48.90). The science, technology and society major later won the 100-yard freestyle (49.15) and teamed up with Hu, sophomore Lia Neal and Manuel to take the 400-yard freestyle (3:18.08).
“For (Maddy Schaefer) to go 49.1 flat start (in the 100-yard freestyle) and more importantly come back and lead off the 400-free relay and go 49.1 again, to me that says a lot about some of the things she is working on,” noted Meehan.
The Cardinal’s freshman class continued its winning-ways, as well. The newcomers picked up wins from Ally Howe (200-yard IM, 2:02.30), Lindsey Engel (200-yard butterfly, 2:01.25) and Hu (200-yard breaststroke, 1:57.91), while also taking up half the spots on the first-place relays.
Wisconsin’s Ivy Martin finished first in the talent-filled field of the 50-yard freestyle (22.32), which included Stanford’s Manuel and Lia Neal. All three aim to see each other on the blocks at the NCAA meet in March.
Cook was dominant on the boards, sweeping both the 1- and 3-meter events. She tallied 321.15 points in the 1-meter, 10.65 ahead of teammate Alex Clay, before going 1-2 with Clay against in the 3-meter.
“Kassidy did a great job for where we are in the season,” said diving coach Patrick Jeffrey. “I see her getting stronger in every event. I am excited for the future because I know her best diving is yet to come.”
Senior Sloane Brazina and junior Kelly Markle, both human biology majors, held the third- and fourth-place spots, respectively, in each event.
“We had a great performance all around,” added Jeffrey. “I am really pleased with the depth and development of this team.”
Stanford finishes the fall portion of its season Nov. 20-22 at the Art Adamson Invitational in College Station, Texas. The event yearly features some of the top performers in the NCAA.
