College sports are better when more athletes get to participate. I don't think that's a bold statement. The Iowa athletic department disagreed last year, though, when they went against that maxim by cutting four different teams due to the pandemic, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming and diving, men's tennis, and men's gymnastics. After a Title IX lawsuit brought by members of the women's swim team, Iowa decided to reinstate women's swimming and diving (although they weren't exactly happy about it). It was a victory for the team and for sport in general, but it left the current Hawkeye swimmers in a state of limbo, as athletes began to plan for a future outside of Iowa City or outside of swimming altogether before receiving the news that their team wouldn't cease to exist after all.
All of the upheaval and back and forth no doubt weighed on the team over the past few years and I'm sure the team was excited to kick off the 2022 season without having to look over their shoulders and fear for their athletic lives. While it was only one meet, the team certainly looked comfortable in their first trip back into the water.
This Week's Spotlight: Hawkeye Swimming and Diving
The women's swim team bested UNI 197-102 last week to open their season. Iowa tallied 13 event wins including three from both Alex O'Brien (1000 free, 500 free, 200 IM) and Scarlet Martin (50 free, 100 free, 100 fly). The Hawks also won the one and three-meter springboard events on the diving side and set four pool records at the UNI-hosted event.
Perhaps the most encouraging part of the meet is how many contributions came from underclassmen. O'Brien is a sophomore and Martin is a freshman. Lainey Woodward, who won the 1m springboard is a freshman as well. Last year's tension and upheaval certainly affected the Hawkeyes who had grown up in the program, but my biggest fear coming out of it was that even once the program was safe, its recruiting and retention would take a tumble. Would anyone want to come to a program that the athletic department only supported by court order? Did the current swimmers and divers feel respected and valued enough to stick it out with the program? At least at first glance, the answers to both questions appear to be a confident "yes."
Coach Nathan Mundt deserves a lot of credit for keeping the team together or at least shielded from as much of the outside noise as possible. The women on the team are more than capable of being their own advocates (four Hawkeye athletes were the ones who brought the Title IX suit in the first place), but having a coach that has your back and creates a space for you to focus on your sport is hugely valuable in a situation like this.
The Hawkeyes will likely take their lumps throughout the year as they look to regain the momentum and stability they had before their program was put on the chopping block. Last week's quick start shows that the ease and focus that comes with being able to focus entirely on their craft is already starting to pay off. The newcomers are contributing already and the experienced team members will help to ensure the culture that existed pre-crisis will return. It feels good to be optimistic about the team again and it's awesome to seem them excel. The Hawks will be back in the water on October 21st when they take on Nebraska.
Hawkeye Whiparound:
- The Hawkeye field hockey team fell 2-1 in OT against Penn State on Friday before bouncing back to beat #17 James Madison 1-0 on Sunday. The Penn State loss was another heartbreaker against a Top 5 opponent for the Hawkeyes, who have to be frustrated that the bounces haven't been going their way this year. They've played close with every single top opponent they've faced, but the key to their postseason success will hinge on finding a way to turn those OT losses into wins. No doubt Coach Cellucci and the squad are taking a hard look at it and they'll certainly have a few more opportunities to showcase their skill as the season goes on.
- Iowa volleyball lost a nailbiter against #9 Purdue, falling three sets to two last Wednesday, but bounced back to beat Indiana in five sets on Saturday. Iowa nearly upset one of the best teams in the country on the road last week and it's becoming clearer and clearer that this program is headed in the right direction. Turning the close losses into consistent wins is a step far easier said than done, but this team has bought in and they're competing hard. They may start making some noise even sooner than I imagined.
— Iowa Volleyball (@IowaVolleyball) October 10, 2022
A look back on our win over Indiana at @XtreamArena on Saturday.#Hawkeyes x #FightForIowa pic.twitter.com/hDQRUOgneC
- Iowa soccer came up just short, losing 1-0 to Minnesota over the weekend. Iowa again put up double-digit shots, but again wasn't able to find the back of the net. The Hawkeyes are doing enough to compete week in and week out, but they're still in search of that consistent conversion that will get them over the hump and into the win column.
