Women’s swimming wins seven events in season-opening sweep

INDIANOLA, Iowa — The Simpson women's swimming team won seven events -- six by freshmen and newcomers -- while turning in five, top-five efforts in school history en-route to a season-opening sweep in a double-dual against Nebraska Wesleyan and Saint Mary (Neb.). 

The Storm beat Nebraska Wesleyan 149-87 and topped Saint Mary 177-68.

Simpson got two wins apiece from freshmen Brenna Yeutsy and Maren Hoferitza-Palermo and one each from newcomer Kayla Cary, freshman Cassie Bergman and senior captain, Haley Blum. 

"It's exciting to see our new swimmers add so much to the team," head coach Tom Caccia said. "Behind the strong experience of our upperclassmen, these freshmen are a very welcome addition."

Hitting the pool for the first time in their collegiate careers, Yeutsy and Hoferitza-Palermo wasted little time making an impact on both the scoreboard and the Simpson record book. 

Yeutsy won the 100 and 500 freestyle, swimming 5:42.93 in the 500 and 58.30 in the 100. Her time in the 500 ranks fourth in school history and is the fastest since 2012 and her time in the 100 ranks seventh in school history. She also helped the 200 freestyle relay to a third-place finish.

Hoferitza-Palermo won the 200 backstroke and the 200 butterfly, adding a second-place finish in the 200 IM and helping the 200 medley relay to a second-place finish. Her 2:31.45 in the 200 butterfly is the third-fastest time in school history and her 2:25.05 in the 200 backstroke is fourth.

Cary won the 100 butterfly, swimming 1:07.83 for the fifth-fastest time in school history. 

Bergman dominated the field in the 1000 freestyle, swimming 12:53.59 to top teammate Angela Eppens by more than a minute. Blum provided Simpson's other win, just missing a career-best by finishing the 200 breaststroke in 2:41.59. She added a second-place effort in the 100 breaststroke.

"I think some of the times and performances were surprisingly strong," Caccia said. "I thought we would have a good meet and I have been excited to get to the start of the season, but, I just didn't expect us to do as well as we did."

UP NEXT
Simpson travels to Estherville, Iowa to face Iowa Lakes CC and Quincy in a double-dual on Saturday, Oct. 22.

TOP PERFORMANCES
50 freestyle—3. Ane Skartvedt, 28.92
100 freestyle—1. Brenna Yeutsy, 58.30 (#7 at Simpson); 5. Cassie Bergman, 1:02.93
200 freestyle—1. Kayla Cary, 2:20.51
500 freestyle—1. Brenna Yeutsy, 5:42.93 (#4 at Simpson)
1000 freestyle—1. Cassie Bergman, 12:53.59; 2. Angela Eppens, 13:55.51; 3. Kristina Smith, 14:49.06
100 backstroke—2. Cheyenne Wiederholt, 1:05.78 (#3 at Simpson)
200 backstroke—1. Maren Hoferitza-Palermo, 2:25.05 (#4 at Simpson)
100 breaststroke—2. Haley Blum, 1:13.34
200 breaststroke—1. Haley Blum, 2:41.59
100 butterfly—1. Kayla Cary, 1:07.83 (#5 at Simpson)
200 butterfly—1. Maren Hoferitza-Palermo, 2:31.45 (#3 at Simpson); 2. Alex Vander Veen, 2:48.53
200 IM—2. Maren Hoferitza-Palermo, 2:30.38; 3. Haley Blum, 2:30.46
200 free relay—3. Wiederholt, Buitendorp, Yeutsy, Bergman, 1:51.95
200 medley relay—2. Wiederholt, Blum, Hoferitza-Palermo, Skartvedt, 2:00.21 (#5 at Simpson)