Nebraska Cornhuskers swimming and diving

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Nebraska Cornhuskers swimming and diving
FoundedMen: 1921; 104 years ago (1921)
Women: 1975; 50 years ago (1975)
UniversityUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
Head coachPablo Morales (24th season)
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
LocationLincoln, Nebraska
Home poolDevaney Center Natatorium
NicknameCornhuskers
ColorsScarlet and cream[1]
   
Men's Conference Champions
1928, 1929, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
Women's Conference Champions
1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

The Nebraska Cornhuskers swimming and diving team competes as part of NCAA Division I, representing the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference. Nebraska has hosted meets at the Devaney Center Natatorium since its construction in 1976. The team has been coached by Pablo Morales since 2001.

Nebraska sponsored a men's program from 1921 until 2001. The program was discontinued by athletic director Bill Byrne due to budgetary concerns, though it may have been hastened by a scholarship manipulation investigation that resulted in the suspension and eventual resignation of longtime head coach Cal Bentz.[2][3] Under Bentz, future Olympic gold medalists Penelope Heyns and Adam Pine won NU's first NCAA Division I individual championships. Since 2001, the university has sponsored only a women's team.

Conference affiliations

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Coaches

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Men's coaching history

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No. Coach Tenure[b] Overall[c]
1 F. W. Luehring 1921–1922
2 Frank Adkins 1922–1924
3 Frank Hunton 1924–1925
4 Rudolph Vogeler 1928–1933 4–10 (.286)
5 Kenneth Sutherland 1933–1934 4–1 (.800)
6 Jack Minor 1934–1937 13–3 (.813)
7 Richard Hagelin 1937–1941 14–12 (.538)
8 Thomas Leeke 1941–1942 1–7 (.125)
9 Ed Higginbotham 1945–1946 1–3 (.250)
10 Hollie Lepley 1946–1952, 1953–1959 53–62–4 (.462)
11 Warren Emery 1952–1953 2–5 (.286)
12 Dick Klaas 1959–1961, 1963–1966 29–31 (.483)
13 Cal Bentz 1961–1963,[d] 1978–2000 169–90 (.653)
14 John Reta 1966–1978 30–67 (.309)
Paul Nelsen 2000–2001[e] 6–4 (.600)

Women's coaching history

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No. Coach Tenure Overall
1 Pat Sullivan 1975–1976 7–0 (1.000)
2 Ray Huppert 1976–1992 116–56 (.674)
3 Cal Bentz 1992–2000 44–22 (.667)
Paul Nelsen 2000–2001[e] 7–4 (.636)
4 Pablo Morales 2001–present 121–67–1 (.643)

Coaching staff

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Name Position First year Alma mater
Pablo Morales Head coach 2001 Stanford
Patrick Rowan Associate head coach 2012 Eastern Michigan
Landon Marzullo Head diving coach 2021 Florida State

Venues

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Nebraska has hosted meets at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Natatorium since the facility was constructed in 1976.[7] The venue hosted several Big Eight and Big 12 conference meets in the decades following its construction, but more recently has been criticized as out-of-date.[8] Its pool is undersized at just twenty-five yards and is considered among the worst in the Big Ten.[9]

Championships and awards

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Team conference championships

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Men's
  • MVIAA / Big Eight:[a] 1928, 1929, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
Women's
  • Big Eight: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996
  • Big 12: 1997, 1998

NCAA champions

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Men's All-Americans

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Sixty-three Nebraska men's swimmers and divers earned a total of 226 All-America honors.

  • Richard Hagelin – 1935 (1 event)
  • Marvin Grimm – 1947 (2 events)
  • Ed Craren – 1950 (2 events), 1951 (2 events)
  • Dave Frank – 1966 (1 event)
  • Rich Gordon – 1966 (1 event)
  • Keefe Lodwig – 1966 (3 events)
  • Tom Nickerson – 1966 (1 event)
  • Steve Sorensen – 1966 (1 event)
  • David Keane – 1981 (1 event)
  • Cliff Looschen – 1982 (1 event), 1983 (2 events)
  • Tim Brinner – 1983 (1 event), 1986 (1 event)
  • Dave Goodwin – 1983 (1 event)
  • Jim Korff – 1983 (1 event)
  • Earl Welliver – 1983 (1 event)
  • Reynaldo Castro – 1984 (1 event)
  • Doug Hubner – 1986 (1 event), 1987 (1 event)
  • Ed Jowdy – 1986 (1 event), 1988 (1 event)
  • Dan Novinski – 1986 (1 event), 1987 (1 event), 1988 (2 events), 1989 (3 events)
  • Ed Ognibene – 1986 (2 events), 1988 (1 event)
  • Sean Frampton – 1987 (1 event), 1988 (2 event), 1989 (1 event), 1990 (2 event)
  • Mike Irvin – 1987 (3 events), 1988 (4 event), 1989 (3 events)
  • Kollin Kostboth – 1987 (1 event)
  • Wes Zimmerman – 1987 (1 event)
  • Ryan Bell – 1988 (1 event), 1989 (2 events), 1990 (2 events), 1991 (1 event)
  • Rick Havekost – 1988 (1 event), 1989 (1 event)
  • Lewis Meyers – 1988 (2 events), 1989 (3 events)
  • Ed Rief – 1988 (1 event)
  • Lawrence Roddick – 1988 (3 events), 1989 (2 events)
  • Peter Williams – 1988 (4 events), 1989 (5 events), 1990 (5 events)
  • Bob Fitzpatrick – 1989 (1 event), 1990 (1 event)
  • Mark Nieuwenhuis – 1989 (2 events)
  • Jan Bidrman – 1990 (3 events)
  • Seddon Keyter – 1990 (3 events), 1991 (1 event)
  • Nate Kinney – 1990 (1 event), 1991 (1 event)
  • Rhett Talbert – 1990 (2 events)
  • Jan Karlsson – 1991 (1 event)
  • Jonathan Kerr – 1991 (1 event), 1994 (1 event)
  • William Campbell – 1992 (2 events)
  • Kevin McMahon – 1992 (1 event), 1993 (1 event)
  • Gary Albertyn – 1993 (1 event)
  • Francois Boshoff – 1993 (2 events), 1995 (2 events), 1996 (2 events)
  • Justin Finney – 1993 (2 events)
  • Allan Kelsey – 1993 (4 events)
  • Laren Tiltmann – 1993 (1 event)
  • Juan Benavides – 1995 (2 events), 1996 (3 events), 1997 (4 events)
  • Rodney Johnston – 1995 (2 events)
  • Alex Schleifman – 1995 (2 events), 1996 (2 events), 1997 (1 event), 1998 (2 events)
  • Mark Bennett – 1996 (2 events), 1997 (3 events), 1998 (4 events)
  • Adrian Costello – 1996 (1 event)
  • Josh Mathias – 1996 (1 event), 1997 (2 events), 1999 (3 events)
  • Travis Niemeyer – 1996 (2 events)
  • Danny Bergman – 1997 (2 events), 1998 (2 events), 1999 (2 events)
  • David Foster – 1997 (1 event), 1998 (3 events), 1999 (2 events)
  • Valērijs Kalmikovs – 1997 (1 event), 1998 (2 events), 1999 (3 events), 2000 (1 event)
  • Adam Pine – 1997 (5 events), 1998 (5 events), 1999 (5 events), 2000 (4 events)
  • Keith Ebbert – 1998 (1 event)
  • Bert Locklin – 1998 (1 event)
  • Michael Windisch – 1998 (2 events), 1999 (3 events), 2000 (3 events)
  • Javier Botello – 1999 (2 events), 2000 (3 events)
  • Erik Castro – 1999 (2 events), 2000 (1 event)
  • Anthony Rogis – 1999 (4 events), 2000 (3 events)
  • Peter Fry – 2000 (2 events)
  • Erik Wiken – 2000 (1 event)

Women's All-Americans

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Sixty-four Nebraska women's swimmers and divers have earned a total of 254 All-America honors.

  • Sherri Hayward – 1980 (1 event), 1981 (1 event), 1982 (2 events)
  • Shauna Gilmore – 1985 (3 events), 1986 (1 event), 1987 (4 events)
  • Cindy Hampel – 1985 (2 events), 1986 (1 event)
  • Erin Hurley – 1985 (4 events), 1986 (1 event), 1987 (3 events), 1988 (1 event)
  • Kenya Kelly – 1985 (2 events)
  • Dana Powers – 1985 (5 events), 1986 (1 event), 1987 (4 events)
  • Emily Ricketts – 1985 (4 events)
  • Linda Sebesta – 1985 (3 events)
  • Penny Stanek – 1985 (2 events)
  • Lorie Kappenman – 1986 (1 event), 1987 (1 event)
  • Heidi Hecker – 1987 (1 event)
  • Carole Johnson – 1987 (3 events), 1988 (1 event), 1989 (1 event)
  • Amy Aarsen – 1988 (1 event), 1990 (1 event), 1991 (1 event)
  • Allison Barker – 1988 (1 event)
  • Mindy Matheny – 1988 (1 event), 1989 (1 event), 1991 (1 event)
  • Jenell Garcia – 1989 (1 event), 1990 (1 event), 1991 (1 event)
  • Julie May – 1989 (1 event)
  • Kristen Neuenfeldt – 1989 (1 event)
  • Lynne Braddock – 1991 (1 event)
  • Christine Frederick – 1991 (1 event), 1993 (2 events)
  • Chris Gmeiner – 1991 (1 event)
  • Melanie Wirtner – 1991 (1 event)
  • Michelle Butcher – 1992 (1 event)
  • Melanie Dodd – 1993 (5 events), 1995 (6 events), 1996 (4 events)
  • Jane Glazebrook – 1993 (2 events), 1994 (2 events), 1995 (3 events)
  • Penelope Heyns – 1993 (2 events), 1994 (5 events), 1995 (4 events), 1996 (4 events)
  • Marci Bodner – 1994 (1 event)
  • Heather Ericksen – 1994 (3 events)
  • Katie Lullen – 1994 (1 event)
  • Lezelle Markgraaff – 1994 (1 event)
  • Heather Park – 1994 (1 event), 1995 (1 event), 1996 (1 event)
  • Julia Russell – 1994 (4 events), 1995 (2 events), 1996 (7 events), 1997 (5 events)
  • Brianna Wilkins – 1994 (1 event), 1995 (1 event), 1996 (1 event), 1997 (1 event)
  • Erin Carew – 1995 (2 events), 1996 (2 events)
  • Cathy Crooks – 1995 (3 events)
  • Destiny Lauren – 1995 (3 events), 1996 (3 events), 1998 (1 event), 1999 (1 event)
  • Janet Danburg – 1996 (2 events), 1997 (1 event)
  • Mandy Hunter-Beckinsall – 1996 (2 events)
  • Shannon Wright – 1996 (1 event), 1997 (1 event)
  • Sara Jowsey – 1997 (1 event)
  • Sara Kate Havens – 1997 (1 event)
  • Beth Karaica – 1997 (4 events), 1998 (3 events), 1999 (2 events)
  • Lenka Manhalova – 1997 (1 event), 1998 (1 event)
  • Terrie Miller – 1997 (1 event), 1998 (1 event), 1999 (1 event)
  • Helene Muller – 1997 (4 events), 1998 (5 events), 1999 (3 events), 2000 (3 events)
  • Stacey Sedlacek – 1997 (1 event), 1999 (2 events)
  • Lauren Simon – 1997 (1 event)
  • Anna Windsor – 1997 (5 events), 1998 (5 events)
  • Therese Alshammar – 1998 (7 events), 1999 (6 events)
  • Shandra Johnson – 1998 (1 event), 1999 (5 events), 2000 (3 events)
  • Emma Johnson – 1999 (2 events)
  • Elvira Fischer – 2000 (1 event), 2001 (2 events)
  • Lindsey Highstrom – 2000 (1 event)
  • Sasha Pine – 2000 (1 event)
  • Carmen Cosgrove – 2001 (1 event)
  • Rebecca Wolfe – 2001 (1 event)
  • Lauren Bailey – 2006 (1 event)
  • Anna Filipcic – 2016 (1 event)
  • Abi Knapton – 2017 (1 event), 2018 (1 event), 2019 (2 events), 2021 (2 events)
  • Audrey Coffey – 2020 (1 event)
  • Madison Coughlen – 2020 (1 event)
  • Autumn Haebig – 2020 (1 event), 2021 (2 events)
  • Sara Troyer – 2020 (2 events)
  • Gena Jorgenson – 2024 (1 event)

Women's seasons

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Conference tournament champion
Year Coach Overall Conference
tournament 		Postseason[f]
Big Eight Conference (1976–1996)
1975–76 Pat Sullivan 7–0 2nd
1976–77 Ray Huppert 5–2 2nd
1977–78 5–1 3rd
1978–79 5–2 3rd
1979–80 6–6 3rd
1980–81 3–9 5th
1981–82 6–5 2nd NCAA Division I T–20th
1982–83 8–3 2nd
1983–84 10–4 2nd
1984–85 8–2 1st NCAA Division I 9th
1985–86 10–2 1st NCAA Division I 30th
1986–87 11–2 1st NCAA Division I 19th
1987–88 7–2 2nd NCAA Division I 39th
1988–89 6–7 2nd NCAA Division I 29th
1989–90 11–3 1st NCAA Division I 39th
1990–91 7–3 1st NCAA Division I 28th
1991–92 8–3 2nd NCAA Division I 31st
1992–93 Cal Bentz 6–2 2nd NCAA Division I 20th
1993–94 7–1 1st NCAA Division I 16th
1994–95 4–3 1st NCAA Division I 9th
1995–96 5–3 1st NCAA Division I 10th
Big 12 Conference (1996–2011)
1996–97 Cal Bentz 6–2 1st NCAA Division I 8th
1997–98 7–0 1st NCAA Division I 11th
1998–99 7–3 2nd NCAA Division I 12th
1999–00 2–8 3rd NCAA Division I 20th
2000–01 Paul Nelsen 7–4 3rd NCAA Division I 23rd
2001–02 Pablo Morales 0–3 6th
2002–03 3–8 6th
2003–04 7–2 4th
2004–05 8–1 3rd
2005–06 7–2 4th NCAA Division I 36th
2006–07 7–6 5th
2007–08 7–2 6th
2008–09 3–4 6th
2009–10 4–4 6th
2010–11 6–4 5th
Big Ten Conference (2011–present)
2011–12 Pablo Morales 3–2 11th
2012–13 12–3 9th
2013–14 4–2–1 9th
2014–15 4–6 9th
2015–16 5–3 9th NCAA Division I 39th
2016–17 6–0 10th NCAA Division I 33rd
2017–18 4–3 10th NCAA Division I 35th
2018–19 5–1 8th NCAA Division I 33rd
2019–20 5–2 10th NCAA Division I[g]
2020–21 1–3 7th NCAA Division I 26th
2021–22 7–1 9th
2022–23 6–3 10th
2023–24 7–2 8th NCAA Division I 30th

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Olympians

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Penelope Heyns is the only Nebraska athlete to win multiple Olympic gold medals

Twenty-five Nebraska swimmers and divers have combined to compete or coach in forty-five Olympiads. South African swimmer Penelope Heyns – the only Cornhusker in any sport with multiple gold medals – is the only woman to ever win the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events at the same Olympic Games.[10]

Olympiad City Athlete[10] Country Medal(s)
1976 (XXI) Canada Montreal John Ebito Nigeria Nigeria[h]
Bengt Jönsson Sweden Sweden
1980 (XXII) Soviet Union Moscow Reynaldo Castro Dominican Republic Dominican Republic
John Ebito Nigeria Nigeria
1984 (XXIII) United States Los Angeles Reynaldo Castro Dominican Republic Dominican Republic
1988 (XXIV) South Korea Seoul Wendy Lucero United States United States
1992 (XXV) Spain Barcelona Jan Bidrman Sweden Sweden
Roberto Bonilla Guatemala Guatemala
Penelope Heyns South Africa South Africa
Seddon Keyter
Peter Williams
Anja Margetić Independent
1996 (XXVI) United States Atlanta Therese Alshammar Sweden Sweden
Juan Benavides Spain Spain
Roberto Bonilla Guatemala Guatemala
Penelope Heyns South Africa South Africa 100 m breaststroke 200 m breaststroke
Helene Muller
Julia Russell
Jan Bidrman (coach)
José Isaza Panama Panama
Emma Johnson Australia Australia 4 x 200 m freestyle relay
Anna Windsor
Valērijs Kalmikovs Latvia Latvia
Lenka Maňhalová Czech Republic Czech Republic
Terrie Miller Norway Norway
2000 (XXVII) Australia Sydney Therese Alshammar Sweden Sweden 50 m freestyle 100 m freestyle
4 x 100 m freestyle relay
Juan Benavides Spain Spain
Javier Botello
Elvira Fischer Austria Austria
Michael Windisch
Penelope Heyns South Africa South Africa 100 m breaststroke
Helene Muller
Valērijs Kalmikovs Latvia Latvia
Adam Pine Australia Australia 4 x 100 m freestyle relay
4 x 100 m medley relay
Jan Bidrman (coach) Canada Canada
2004 (XXVIII) Greece Athens Therese Alshammar Sweden Sweden
Adam Pine Australia Australia
Jan Bidrman (coach) Canada Canada
2008 (XXIX) China Beijing Therese Alshammar Sweden Sweden
Adam Pine Australia Australia 4 x 100 m medley relay
Jan Bidrman (coach) Canada Canada
2012 (XXX) United Kingdom London Therese Alshammar Sweden Sweden
Jan Bidrman (coach) Canada Canada
2016 (XXXI) Brazil Rio de Janeiro Therese Alshammar Sweden Sweden
2020 (XXXII) Japan Tokyo Beatriz Padron Costa Rica Costa Rica

Notes

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  1. ^ a b In 1928, the ten member schools of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association agreed to a splintering of the conference – Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma retained the MVIAA name and Drake, Grinnell, Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State), and Washington University formed the Missouri Valley Conference. The MVIAA became commonly known as the Big Six, and later the Big Seven and Big Eight. Its name was officially changed to the Big Eight in 1964.[4]
  2. ^ Nebraska competed from 1925–26 to 1927–28 without a head coach, and did not field a team from 1942–43 to 1944–45 due to World War II.[6]
  3. ^ Year-by-year men's results unavailable prior to 1928–29.
  4. ^ Cal Bentz served as interim head coach during the 1961–62 and 1962–63 seasons.
  5. ^ a b Paul Nelsen served as interim head coach during the 2000–01 season.[3]
  6. ^ The first NCAA Division I championship was held in 1982.
  7. ^ Four Nebraska athletes qualified for the 2020 NCAA Division I Championship before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  8. ^ Nigeria boycotted the 1976 Summer Olympics.

References

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  1. ^ "The Power of Color" (PDF). Nebraska Athletics Brand Guide. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  2. ^ Sean Callahan (2 October 2000). "Three NU swim coaches suspended concerning alleged NCAA violations". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  3. ^ a b David Diehl (26 March 2001). "NU drops men's swimming program". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  4. ^ Braden Gall (29 June 2012). "The History of Big 12 Realignment". Athlon Sports. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Nebraska Swimming and Diving 2024–25 Media Guide" (PDF). Nebraska Athletics. 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Men's Swimming and Diving History". Nebraska Athletics. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Devaney Center Natatorium". Nebraska Athletics. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  8. ^ Steve Beideck (24 February 2019). "Devaney is well suited for swimming event; 29 all-time marks set on the year". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  9. ^ Steve Rosen (2020). "Big Red Business: What's next for new track stadium and Innovation Campus?". Nebraska Innovation Campus. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  10. ^ a b Troy Fedderson (19 February 2018). "Husker Olympians: By the Numbers". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Retrieved 12 March 2021.