Iowa Hawkeye Athletics Week in Review

ICYMI: News from Iowa City for Oct. 2-8, 2023

The Iowa women’s swimming and diving kicked off its season Friday night with a 196.5-103.5 victory against Northern Iowa at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City.

Iowa totaled 11 individual wins . Hawkeye freshman Olivia Frantum started the meet by winning the 1000 free (10:19.69), and her classmate, Olivia Swalley, recorded three victories, capturing the 100 breaststroke (1:03.01), the 200 backstroke (2:18.73) and the 200 IM (2:02.96).

The 200-medley relay team of Kennedy Gilbertson, Swalley, Scarlet Martin, and Megan Hartlieb claimed gold with a time of 1:41.81.

A diving group that performed well last season started off the new campaign in fine fashion. Makayla Hughbanks won the one-meter springboard with a career-best 312.60, besting her eighth all-time mark at Iowa. Freshman Simone Beinlich claimed victory in the three-meter dive (262.30), and Sarah Ballard finished second in the one-meter (275.50) and three-meter dives (245.15).

“I think it was an excellent start to the season,” Iowa head coach Nathan Mundt told HawkeyeSports.com. “It was exactly what we’re looking to see in this early part of our season. It is really just good to see where we’re at. We got some quality competition from UNI. We saw some spots along the way that we can certainly improve upon but it was a solid start.”

The Hawkeyes travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on Ohio State and Virginia Tech Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28. The meet will be live streamed on B1G+. 

BASKETBALL

Iowa Women's Basketball was tabbed as the top team in the Preseason Big Ten Coaches and Media polls released last Wednesday. Senior guard Caitlin Clark was voted Preseason Player of the Year in both polls and unanimously selected on the All-Big Ten Team. 

Coaches: 1. Iowa; 2. Ohio State; 3. Indiana; 4. Maryland; 5. Illinois. 

Media: 1. Iowa; 2. Indiana; 3. Ohio State; 4. Maryland; 5. Michigan. 

Additionally, Iowa and the Big Ten announced last week that the Hawkeyes would appear on television network or Peacock 23 times during the regular season, including 18 conference games. They also revealed that at least 28 of 31 Iowa Men's Basketball regular-season games will be on TV. 

WRESTLING

Iowa, in conjunction with the Big Ten, announced its '23-24 conference men’s wrestling schedule on Monday. The Hawkeyes play host to  Minnesota (Jan. 15), Purdue (Jan. 19), Penn State (Feb. 9) and Wisconsin (Feb. 18), and travel to Nebraska (Jan. 12), Illinois (Jan. 26), Northwestern (Jan. 28) and Michigan (Feb. 2).

The postseason begins at the Big Ten Championships on March 9-10 in College Park, Maryland, while the 2024 NCAA Championships will be held from March 21-23 in Kansas City, Missouri.

FIELD HOCKEY

Second-ranked Northwestern Field Hockey took down No. 3 Iowa Field Hockey, 2-0, Friday afternoon at Grant Field in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes (10-2 overall, 2-2 in Big Ten) have now lost two of their last three matches after rising to No. 1 in the country.

Keeper Mia Magnotta saved nine shots put on her by Northwestern. The Wildcats held high-scoring Iowa freshman Dionne van Aalsum without a shot in 51 minutes of play. 

The Hawkeyes are back in action Friday at 2 p.m. CT with a match at Indiana. 

GOLF

Iowa wrapped up play at the Fighting Irish Classic last Monday, Oct. 2, tied for 11th. The Hawkeyes finished 27-over par after 54 holes at Warren Golf Course.

Mac McClear was Iowa's low scorer in the final round with a 1-under par (69). He tied Max Tjoa for the best Hawkeye finish with a 6-over card for the tournament. 

SOCCER

The week started well for Iowa soccer with team captains Samantha Cary and Macy Enneking being named Big Ten players of the week last Tuesday. Cary was recognized as conference's top defensive player for the third time this season, while Enneking captured the first goalkeeper honor of her career.

Saturday, the Hawkeyes dropped a 4-2 decision at Nebraska. Elle Otto notched the visitors' first goal on assists from Shae Doherty and Josie Durr in the 33^rd minute. With a minute left in the match, Zoë Bessert put a penalty kick into the back of the net for Iowa's second tally. 

VOLLEYBALL

Iowa volleyball (8-10 overall, 0-6 Big Ten) dropped a pair of matches in the rugged Big Ten last week. The Hawkeyes fell, 3-0, against No. 1 Wisconsin on Wednesday at home before a loss by the same score at 19th-ranked Purdue on Sunday. 

Caitlan Buettner's nine kills led Iowa in West Lafayette. Nataly Moravec added eight kills (.348). Sydney Dennis paced the Hawkeyes in digs (20), while teammate Bailey Ortega's 20 assists topped the squad. 

Buettner recorded a match-high 12 kills against Wisconsin, and Moravec chipped in 10 more. Dennis had 11 digs, and Ortega and Kaia Mateo each dished out 16 assists.  

GYMNASTICS

The Big Ten announced Iowa women’s gymnastics team’s '24 conference schedule on Wednesday. 

The Hawkeyes will play host to Nebraska and Ohio State, and travel to Minnesota, Michigan State and Rutgers during the conference season. They will compete at the Big Five Meet on Feb. 24 along with Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Penn State in University Park, Penn.

IOWA 2023 IOWA WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS BIG TEN SCHEDULE

Jan. 22 — at Minnesota — Minneapolis, Minn.

Jan. 28 — at Michigan State — East Lansing, Mich.

Feb. 4 — Nebraska — Iowa City, Iowa

Feb. 9 — at Rutgers — Piscataway, N.J.

Feb. 16 — Ohio State— Iowa City, Iowa

Feb. 24 — Big Five — University Park, Penn.

March 23 — B1G Championships — East Lansing, Mich.